Creating Cozy Vibes with Candelles

With the official holiday season just about upon us, it seems like there is really no better time than to talk about one of my favorite ways to create those perfect, cozy, holiday vibes: a good candle!!

Today we're featuring some of the awesome candles from Candelles.  Candelles produces high quality, hand-poured soy candles.  They are located in Pennsylvania and focus on small batch production and eco-friendly products. On top of all that, their candles are totally delicious smelling! ;)  You can read more about Candelles and their awesome story here.

One of the things I really love about Candelles is seeing how they switch up their scents for each season.  There is always something new + fun available to really bring in the feel of the time of year.  If you're a regular here, you'll know that we get all kinds of excited for the holidays and changes in season, so Candelles' seasonal lines are probably my favorite from the bunch!  I tried out their Pomegranate Cider scent (currently still available!) and it is perfect for fall and will carry you right up through Thanksgiving.

If you're interested in seeing some of their upcoming seasonal scents, be sure to follow Candelles on Instagram (@candelles).  They frequently share sneak peeks at new products before they're released, like this festive line in collaboration with my favorite blogger which is being released November 7th!

If you're looking for something other than a seasonal scent, be sure to check out Candelles' Best Sellers + Punny Candles. I couldn't resist getting the "That's My Jam" candle since its one of my favorite sayings - total bonus points that it smells great, too! ;)  The Lavender Sage scent is part of their Best Sellers line and is awesome year-round.  Also, it just so happens to be the perfect addition to a hot bubble bath after baby's in bed if you ask me. :)

When of the first things I'll notice when I walk into someone's home is definitely if they have a candle lit.  It really is such an easy way to create cozy vibes no matter the time of year!  Candelles candles would be the perfect addition to your tablescape or gift to your friends + family this holiday season.  Knowing that everyone has their own preferences on scents and finding their favorite flavor, Candelles has generously offered one lucky reader a $50 gift card to their shop so you can pick out exactly what you like best!  The giveaway is happening now through Wednesday, 11/2 on Instagram (@linleynoel).  If you want to guarantee you get your hands on some of these awesome candles, you can also use code LIFEASANOEL15 for 15% off your purchase through 12/31/16.  Happy shopping!! :)

This post was sponsored by Candelles.  As always, all thoughts, opinions + love for the products are entirely my own.

Sunday Funday

It seems like it took a lot longer than usual for the leaves to really start changing colors this year.  When I got home from work on Friday, our entire driveway was covered in crunchy, yellow leaves and I couldn't wait to take Ellie out to play in them this weekend!

The weather finally cleared out on Sunday, and although it was pretty chilly, it was perfect for playing in the leaves.  The chilly weather also meant it was perfect for breaking out Ellie's new hat!  I am kind of shocked she kept it on and even wanted to keep it on when we went back inside after - she must know how cute she looks in it. ;)  

She seemed less than excited about the leaf pile Tyler made her, but had running around the yard nonetheless. We spent the rest of the day taking naps + watching football - pretty much fall Sunday Funday requirements.

In other news... someone must have been reading my last post because we got an offer on our house yesterday and accepted it!! There's still a decent wait until closing and of course getting all the inspections done, but we are excited and feeling a little bit relieved already! Woo hoo. :)

Life Lately

It's Friday, Ellie was sound asleep by 7:30 p.m., I got to enjoy an entire bowl of my favorite ice cream all by myself, the rain is coming down like crazy and I am just hoping the power doesn't go out before my freshly washed sheets come out of the dryer!  Also hoping Ellie is so sound asleep that the thunder + lighting doesn't wake her up tonight... not even once. ;)  

We have a quiet weekend planned and I am very excited about that.  After we clean our house for what feels like the nine hundredth showing tomorrow morning (but is maybe more like the tenth? I definitely lost count after the first week), we are heading to Target to check out all the Christmas stuff!!  Yes, SO very excited. :)  As for our house, we are keeping our fingers (and toes) crossed that we have good news soon.  The thing about being on the other side of the house hunting equation this time around is that you really don't realize as a buyer that for every minute you spend looking at house, there were at least five minutes spent cleaning it and making sure it looks "presentable".  At least. Needless to say, even though it hasn't been that long, we are looking forward to seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.  Also, as much as Tyler loves having Mickey Mouse as his co-pilot, I'm sure he would prefer to have his truck's backseat free of all the excess toys from the living room we packed in there a month ago. ;)

I hate to be a party pooper over here, but I'd be lying completely if I said I wasn't completely over Halloween right now.  And it's not even because I've had one too many tiny boxes of Milk Duds (if there even is such a thing?!), because somehow we have yet to buy a single bag of Halloween candy this season.  I'm just looking forward to a slightly more fun (merrier, if you will) holiday season!  I know, but I can't even help it.  As for Ellie's Halloween costume, I am planning to pull stuff together from her existing wardrobe and run with it... although,  I am kind of loving this swan dress that just came out.  Cute, right??  We did a little "practice" trick-or-treating this week and I totally feel like any saying that involves the phrase "smell my feet, give me something good to eat" is right up this girl's alley.  If you know her personally, you will definitely agree. :)

Since it's Friday, one of my many favorite finds this week are all of these basics for babies + toddlers!  Something about these solid colored jammies is especially appealing to me.  PLUS, there is a color for every holiday. :)

Lastly, finishing up the most random post ever, is quite possibly one of the cutest Ellie looks yet! ;)  Obsessed with her perfect little ponytail earlier this week and currently scheming how I will ever get another one in her hair without letting her play fully-clothed in the bathroom sink.  Anyone else's kids hate (like end of the world kinda hate) when you touch their hair?  Maybe one day she will enjoy it...?

I guess that's enough ramblings for now.  Hope you all have a fun weekend! :)

Sixteen, Seventeen + Eighteen Month Favorites

Ellie will be eighteen months old next week, can you even believe it?!  It feels like after she turned one, she really started to turn into a little girl.  Of course it's sad to think about my baby not being such a tiny baby anymore, but watching her grow is also so much fun!  With new ages come new things to love, so today I'm sharing some of Ellie's faves from the past few months! :)

Piggy rocker - This was one of Ellie's birthday gifts this year.  Even though she was already running around + climbing like a monkey by the time she turned one, it took her a little while to be able to climb up on the rocker by herself.  It's made for ages 18 months+, which I can totally understand because it is pretty tall and wide around making it difficult for littler kids to get up on it by themselves.  Ellie loves this thing so much more now that she can climb on and rock herself (so hard she scoots herself all the way across the floor!).  It's crazy cute and something I know she will love for a long time.

Mother Goose Club Playhouse - This show is such a lifesaver.  Sometime within the past few months, we came to a point where I feel comfortable leaving Ellie alone in a room by herself for short periods of time (like if I'm making us breakfast, not like I'm leaving her unattended for an hour at a time), and this show is the best at keeping her attention.  It's super obnoxious, but it's definitely worth it if I want to get anything done... or just sit on the couch for a few minutes! ;)  We have Amazon Fire TV, so I'll put it on YouTube for her and it will just play for hours.  I honestly don't remember the last time I put on cable for her to watch - YouTube videos (Chu Chu TV, anyone?!) or Netflix are the way to go in Ellie's world.

Makeup - Another lifesaver... for my makeup at least!  I really wanted to save this idea to give it to Ellie for Christmas this year, but she was hardcore ruining my makeup because she loved to play with it, so I ended up getting it for her about a month ago and she has really loved it so far.  I wasn't sure if she would call me out on it being fake, but it feels pretty real and she loves doing anyone's makeup who lets her! :)

Stuffed kitty - I think she actually got it as a Christmas gift before she was even born, so I'm not sure why the infatuation now but I'm not complaining!  Ellie loves cuddling and knowing that someone is there when she's sleeping.  Almost every night when I go check on Ells before I go to bed, she's holding onto this kitty tight and it completely melts my heart into a puddle.

Slide - Another first birthday gift that has been so loved!  I completely forgot to put this in last time I did one of these monthly updates, so I thought it'd include it this time around. Up the down, down the up, up the up and down the down - repeat two hundred times over every single day.  Hands down one of Ellie's all time favorite toys.  I would recommend it to anyone!

Juice bars -  We have a not-so-funny running joke that whenever we find something new that we love at our grocery store, they stop selling it.  I found these juice bars over the summer at our Stop & Shop and Ellie loved them - they're great for teething and the packaging makes for minimal melty messes!  Unfortunately, I can't seem to find this exact kind anywhere anymore.  Help!

Of course Ellie has tons of toys + books that she loves, but these are just a few that stand out in my mind the most.  We're still loving many of our past favorites, which can all be found here. :)

Next on our list is potentially potty training!! I haven't committed to this yet, and I know she is young, but she is very interested in the big girl potty these days.  Of course, the thought of not paying for diapers is also pretty enticing. ;)  We have a potty and I have read a tiny bit, but would love to hear if there are any methods or things that worked especially well for you and your kids if you've been through this rodeo a time or two already before.  My (hopefully realistic) goal is to have it down by the time she turns two. I will certainly update here if we give potty training a shot.  For now, I'm just going to let the tiny plastic potty chair intimidate me from the other side of the room. ;)

Friday Favorites

Hellooo, Friday. Ellie’s cold spread like crazy (surprise, surprise), which meant it was a week of early bedtimes (or at least attempts) and sniffles for all.  This picture of Ellie watching TV pretty much sums up how we’ve been feeling the past few days.

Fingers crossed we all feel a little better in time to enjoy some of the weekend!

First off, we are a little late to the game but we watched the first episode of This Is Us this week and are hooked!! You guys, I never watch TV.  Like, I’m pretty sure the last show I watched regularly was Gossip Girl if that gives you any idea about what I mean when I say I don’t watch TV, but this is definitely an exception. Can't wait to catch up on the other episodes this weekend before the next new one!  Huge bonus points for finding a show that hubs enjoys watching too.  It's kind of like a date-night-in, right?

For those of you who asked about Ellie’s kitty slippers in the past, I think they’re only available in infant sizes but am so excited to have found these ones to replace them!  They’ve been ordered and I plan to put into Ellie’s stocking this year.  I just know she will love them! ;)

I’ve been on the hunt for a pair of budget-friendly winter boots for Ellie that are both functional and cute, which has proven to harder than I had thought. Or maybe I’m just picky… either way, obsessed with these duck boots!

Target is already putting out their Christmas stuff and I am not even the slightest bit mad about it. Fa la la la la la la la la.  However, if you haven’t gotten some already, be sure to check out the Mrs. Meyers fall scents for soap + dish soap (found on the most random, tiniest display ever at my Target).  The mum scent is just too good.

If you follow me on Snapchat, you might have already seen this, but this adorable Etsy shop is celebrating their five year anniversary and has some awesome deals + sales going on!  Check out their Instagram page
for more details.

Loving this fallfireplace décor idea, if you have a fireplace that you don’t actually intend on using. ;)  It could totally take you right through to Thanksgiving.  Also, have I mentioned how excited I am to have a fireplace (a mantel!) in our new house?!

  Lastly, I realize after my last post, some of you may have thought that all I feed my child is ice cream, cake pops + chocolate covered pretzels.  I think she had about four licks of Tyler's ice cream cone and two nibbles of a pretzel before she chucked it on the floor.  Of course, she always finishes her cake pops though! ;)  Anyway... Ellie is a huge snacker and doesn't always eat junk food.  She is not at all picky when it comes to things that she likes, but occasionally will go bananas over something one day and want nothing to do with it the next (#lifewithtoddlers?).  One thing she consistently seems to enjoy is when I put a small variety of snacks in our ceramic egg crate for her to eat! Not sure if it's the mix of foods, the fact that she gets to dig through each little "bucket", or both; regardless, it's always a hit.  Here's a random one from earlier this week - muffin pans work great if you have more than one pint-sized cutie to feed! :)

Hope you have a good weekend!

Our Weekend

It was nice to have a long, low-key weekend - something about three day weekends always makes the week afterwards seem nineteen days long though, no?  Saturday afternoon was pretty mild out so we decided to go on a family ice cream date!  The place we've been going to lately had a huge corn maze and all kinds of activities for kids who are a little bigger than Ellie, but she still had fun people watching, animal watching and running around through the leaves like a crazy girl!  Also, I tried pumpkin flavored ice cream for the first time - because how could I resist?!  It was pretty good, but I think it would be even better with something like a slice of apple pie on the side!

Afterwards, we decided to do our grocery shopping while we were ready and out the door... always the hardest part of shopping over here!  A mummy cake pop from Ellie's favorite barista + a shopping partner who suggested we look at in the clothing section while we were at Target made for two happy girls! ;) 

We spent Sunday at my parents' house, visiting and watching the Patriots game of course!  Today we just ended up relaxing at home.  The sun was shining for really the first time all weekend and although it was much cooler, Ellie and I were so happy for a sunny day!!  Poor Ells is fighting a little bit of a cold, so we've spent a good portion of the day wiping boogies away + watching Room on the Broom on repeat.  I hate a sick baby, but a little bit of extra snuggles aren't so bad!  Ellie doesn't usually sit still for very long, so I had to capture her sweet little snuggles... even if she dropped a half eaten chocolate covered banana in my lap to do so - I don't dare move in a snuggly-situation like that. ;)

I made some festive chocolate covered pretzels for Ellie while she took her afternoon nap and we made sure to get some chilly fresh air afterwards. :)

Apologies in advance if things get a tiny bit slower on here over the next month or so!  Instead of five hundred other things I should be doing, it's now more like a thousand (including sleep), but I'll probably still be posting a couple times a week or so. :)  

Hope you all had a good weekend!!

Boo Baskets + Festive Favorites

I'm sure some of you think I'm totally crazy for putting together a Halloween basket for Ellie, but that's just how I roll.  It's really just meant to be a way to incorporate some fun things + activities during the month of October... a little bit of extra festiveness, if you will! Today I'm sharing what went in Ellie's boo basket this year, as well as some of my favorite festive finds for boys + girls!

 cat socks // witch jammies // stuffed black cat // kitty masks // meow tee // kitty cup // Five Black Cats // bat masks // ghost cup // mummy pajamas // Ghost in the House // monster tee // spooky socks // stuffed monster

H&M is a close second on my list of favorite places to shop for Ellie.  They have so many cute Halloween things this year for babies + toddlers (clothes, accessories, party supplies, etc.), so definitely check it out if you haven't already!!

Ellie's age can still be a toss up when it comes to things like this.  I already have a couple ideas for next year when she's a little bigger and can be trusted to do more things... like paint pumpkins without eating all the paint. ;)  Here's what went in her basket this year - everything except the book that I ordered off Amazon came from Target (mostly dollar spot finds!).

A cute Halloween tee, a seasonal sippy cup that will inevitably leak everywhere (we picked the monster for a reason, FYI!), a book, stickers, the sweetest bandaids ever for the girl who is constantly getting boo-boos, candy and a pumpkin stencil kit that Ellie will "help" me with.  Her reaction?  She went straight for the sippy cup and brought it over to the fridge to have it filled up with water, and then she realized there were Peeps in the basket and that was the end of that.  Girlfriend loves marshmallow anything so I knew those would be a hit!

Adding a new festive book to Ellie's collection is going to be a staple each year.  Ellie's most favorite Halloween book is definitely Little Blue Truck's Halloween.  She loves the illustrations and lifting all the flaps, but finding the black cat on each page is probably her favorite part about it!  We also love the movie Room on the Broom - we have the book but the movie keeps Ellie's attention so much better at the point.  The animation and the music are really awesome, and as shocking as it sounds, Ellie loves the cat! ;)  Such a cute movie that we both enjoy watching.  It's super cheap to buy and worth the whopping $4 investment, but you can also find it on Netflix or watch for free if you have an Amazon Prime membership!

Have some favorite festive finds or fun activities planned with your littles this month?  I'd love to hear!  Hope your October is off to a fun start! :)

Our Weekend

 Do you ever stop and think to yourself: "why on earth am I awake making cookies at 10:30 on a Friday night?".   For the love of all things festive, folks.  I had it set in my mind that I wanted to decorate cookies with Ellie on Saturday morning, but wanted to have the cookies made beforehand so it wouldn't turn into an all day affair.  After Tyler helped me dig my letter cookie cutters out from our giant pile of storage bins in the basement,  I knew there was no turning back. ;)  The cookies were freshly baked on the kitchen counter when Ellie woke up on Saturday morning - October FIRST!

Ellie and I got straight to decorating right after breakfast.  She seemed to really enjoy it, of course sampling all of the toppings was probably her favorite part of all.  She especially loved the little sugar eyeballs that I grabbed a few months ago at Target for occasions such as this! ;)  It was all kinds of messy, but cookie decorating was good practice for Christmas... just the thought of which kind of makes me want to do a back flip into a cup of s'mores hot chocolate with "Elf" playing in the background immediately (if not sooner).

kitty slippers // pajamas // bow c/o

 I gave Ellie her "boo basket" afterwards and will share what was in it + some more festive ideas later this week!  In the afternoon, we headed over to Tyler's parents' house where Ellie got to do one of her favorite things - jump on the trampoline!  But not before she rode some of her sugar high off on her piggy rocker. ;)  This thing has been one of Ellie's favorite toys lately now that she can climb up on it all by herself and it is way too cute.

It was pretty gloomy out all weekend, but the rain held out for most of the day Sunday.  We went grocery shopping in the morning and of course I had to check out all of the pumpkins they had displayed out front!  I am notorious for asking Tyler to go all over creation looking for some extra cool-looking pumpkins, so I was SO happy (and a little surprised) to see so many pretty ones at our local Stop & Shop!  We had our cart half-filled before we even got into the store.

We put our new babies out on our front steps, which Ellie promptly rearranged fifty-five times after her afternoon nap.  Tyler's dad also gave us one of the pumpkins he grew when we were over there on Saturday and it fits in perfectly with the bunch!  Totally makes me want to grow our own next year... we'll see how well that works out. :)

tee // boots // vest is from Baby Gap last fall (finally fits her!!), similar here

I made chicken noodle soup for Sunday dinner and tried using this recipe for the first time.  It was really good, but not-so-soupy.  I am also notorious for not following recipes but I did a pretty good job at following this one and totally could have used another thing or two of chicken broth.  Regardless, we will definitely be making it again!

If you have a favorite soup recipe, I'd love to hear!! 'Tis the season for soup-making! :)

Hope you all had a great weekend!