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Tuesday

My Amwell Experience + Free Coupon Code For You

Don't you know that one of the scariest parts of parenting is when you need to ask a physician a question, and it's midnight?

Oh boy ... I have so been there.

My Camille, back when she was almost 4 months old

When Camille was around four months old, I was picking her up from daycare one afternoon, and I was chatting with her teacher about their day. Camille was in her teacher's arms, facing me. Next thing I know, BAM -- crazy projectile vomiting -- and the only thing I could think to do was reach my hands out and catch it. (It's a glamorous life.) I hurried to clean us both up and get her strapped safely in the carseat, and then I rushed home, trying to focus on the road but wanting to keep my eyes on her in the carseat the entire time.

We monitored her that evening, and she got sick twice more. I was really scared to put her down to sleep that night! Of course, my crazy mind was considering the worst case scenarios -- dehydration, choking on her vomit. I was on the phone a few times with the pediatrician's after-hours nurses, but I just felt like I was getting some contradictory information (and being a new mom, I just wanted an opinion from a DOCTOR -- yet my husband and I agreed that this particular situation didn't deserve an ER trip, where we'd expose our newborn to other scary germs).

Had I known that a simple "telehealth" company like Amwell existed, I would have hopped on the site in an instant. The opportunity to hand-select a physician, video conference with them, and give them the scoop would have definitely been my preferred method of dealing with her sickness.

Here's the gist of how it works:
Amwell is the nation’s largest telehealth company, connecting users with their choice of doctor for immediate, live online visits—day or night, on either mobile or desktop. Some general conditions their doctors encounter include: minor illnesses and injuries, general health and wellness concerns, prescription refills, and chronic condition management. They employ primary care and specialist physicians, as well as behavioral therapists and nutritionists, to meet patients’ needs. Amwell doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are dedicated to keeping you healthy -- and all from the comfort of your home.


I downloaded the free app on my iPad and I think that's one of the easiest ways to use it. When I first logged on, I answered a few registration questions and then was given the chance to choose a physician to work with. I loved that it was easy to see their experience and credentials, and from start to finish this just took a few minutes. 


I selected to visit with Dr. DeHaas because I was looking for a family physician and I liked that her experience specifically mentioned working with babies. 

Before the visit started, I made a list of questions to ask Dr. DeHaas, and I centered this visit on the weaning process and how to go about introducing the baby to cow's milk when she is a year old. I was curious if our baby was getting enough "real" food now (outside of milk), and I was looking for more ideas of finger foods. 



You wait for a minute while the doctor reviews your notes (just like a normal visit, but without the uncomfortable paper gown) and then you get a little ping when the doctor is ready to see you. And by "see you," I mean see you via your webcam or mobile camera! This is just so easy. 


A physician visit is $49 (or $25 to see a nutritionist), but I have a way for you to try the service for free. Just log on, register, and use the coupon code MOMSQUAD when prompted (see my screenshot below). You don't have to enter any credit card information at all to take advantage of this one-time offer.


Looking for a little more information before you try it out? They have a pretty funny YouTube video which gives a great outline of the service:


So that's my experience in a nutshell. The next time you need a quick medical opinion, or if you are feeling poorly and don't want to leave the couch, or if it's after-hours, or whatever the case may be -- I'd encourage you to give them a shot. I know we will be using them again. 



Disclaimer: Compensation was provided by American Well via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of American Well or Momtrends.


Monday

Weekend Notes

Good gosh, weekends fly by these days! Maybe it's because the concept of "lazy time" has been pushed to the backburner and we are just set to go, go, go. 

Be Amazing...

We did have some nice family time, though, and a highlight was grabbing an early dinner with friends on Saturday night at Chuy's. We were that table with four adults, two kiddos in high chairs, snacks and books and trucks and bibs scattered around the table, and maybe a littttttle louder than some of the nearby tables. But I've learned to embrace the craziness that is dining with a 10-month old, and a good bit of the other 5:30 diners were parents to little ones as well. 

Sunday we were able to have lunch with the same group which was quite a treat, and Braswells has a great menu (and $2 mimosas to boot!). I had the prime rib sandwich which had the most delicious horseradish aioli, perfect for dipping fries in. And their fries are GOOD. 


Also on the radar? Some work in the front yard, back patio beautification, a Home Depot trip, some house hunting, a pizza delivery on Friday night, a chilly walk Saturday morning, crockpot barbecue and slaw last night, and watching quality television shows like Cops (which really is funnier and more interesting of a show than you may expect). 

And gobs of time laughing with this child.


I hope your weekend was just as fun!

Saturday

Saturday Sip + Shop



Sip:

Ginger bourbon fizz from Snippet and Ink. This looks just ghastly and I would absolutely never want to drink a thing like this ever in all the days of my life. The nerve.

Ginger Bourbon Fizz
from Snippet and Ink (here)


Shop:


Straw Fedora
Only $18 with free shipping, free returns (here)
I've got my mind on VACATION and I think this would look so cute with a black bathing suit!
I've been wanting one of these for a long time but haven't found a quality one at this low price-point before. SCORE!

Friday

Five On Friday

It's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join me, DarciChristina, and Natasha!

Remember, all you have to do is post about five things on your mind, add our logo (found at the bottom of this post), and join the party using the linky tools below. Easy, and a great way to find new blogs and be found. :)

O N E
I had another great lunch this week with my girlfriends! This time we went to Cowfish and I had the best little bento box that featured a combination of a mini-burger, sweet potato fries, edamame, sushi, and cucumber salad.



T W O
I've been reading again before bed recently, and I just finished my book (I'm embarrassed to say what it is -- it is very 50 Shades-ish -- but once I started it, I felt bad not completing it). So anyway, I'm ready to move on to another book that I'm less ashamed to admit I'm reading :)

I could go the more predictable route and get the book on everyone's nightstands....


... or I could branch out and try a different one. I have heard awesome things about that book though, and I see it's under $7 for the Kindle price, not too shabby!

T H R E E
Last night I made Rice Krispie treats using Captain Crunch cereal. So ... yeah. They are as delicious as you'd expect.

F O U R
I'm still really enjoying Fickle Resale for buying and selling like-new items. Check out this adorable smocked bikini I got for Camille ... too cute, right?

Fickle is still being offered at no cost to the core group who signs up now. You do have to live in Charlotte, but it's expanding to other cities now, too (Atlanta -- look out!). If you live here and want to give it a shot, email the membership coordinator and she'll set you up quickly. You can reach her at keaton@fickleresale.com and just give her code AR101 to get on the site. I'm obsessed.



Fickle Resale

F I V E
Just had to share these spring blooms I clipped from the yard that smell so good (LOVE how fragrant hyacinth is). They bring a smile to my face every time I walk in the kitchen.



TGIF y'all, and hope you will join in on Five on Friday this week! Cheers to the weekend!



Thursday

Roasted.

Warning, warning, warning, photos do not do this side dish justice. These photos are dark and not so pretty. But this was such a great dish!

I'd heard about the concept of roasted cabbage before, and around St. Patrick's day, our grocery store was selling whole heads of cabbage for $0.25. I used half the head for corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot, and the other half got sliced up and roasted several days later.


So for this side dish, you'll slice the cabbage and keep the slices intact. These all get put on a baking sheet and drizzled with some olive oil. I used a silicone brush like this one to coat them liberally with the EVOO, and then I seasoned them with kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, fresh minced garlic, and dried parsley. 


They went into a 400-degree oven for about 40 minutes, until crispy and a little browned. 


These have a great flavor and definitely are easy to prepare and low-cost!

I served the roasted cabbage along with slow-cooker buffalo chicken (from Allie's blog) and an easy salad with carrot ribbons and goat cheese.


So, now that I've roasted asparagus, broccoli, green beans, heck -- even sausages with grapes -- I'm officially in the camp that you can roast just about anything and have it turn out deliciously yummy!

Tuesday

Spring Favorites

Yesterday and today were both forecasted to be not-too-great weatherwise, which of course means that I donned long sleeves and it turned out to be warm, sunny and gorgeous.

So Spring is here, and hopefully we have more warmer days ahead! When I think of Spring, I think of a few things:

1// Carolina Cup
The Cup is one of the best and most Southern events of the year. Held in Camden SC, these horse races are all about the tailgating and not so much about the horses (sorry, guys). Last year I was too pregnant to go, and this year is also a no-go, but maybe down the road I can throw my sunhat back on and join the masses for a day of mimosas, cute sandals, some dollar-bill betting, and a little sunburn.

Yes, a Lilly koozie is a definite must for the Spring, and if you don't have one yet, who knew you could pick them up here ... and only $6!

Carolina Cup Style


2// Spring Planters
I do have to give Walmart props for having a pretty good garden department! I picked up some snapdragons, violets, lavender, dusty miller, and tulips the other day. Our planters and pots were in baaaad shape. They are now looking all spruced up again. It's nice to feel proud again of the front of our house!

gold leaf terracotta pots

3 // Patio Cocktailing
The baby goes to sleep at 7(ish) these days, and there's still plenty of light out to enjoy a little back patio sittin' and sippin'. I want to recreate this easy pineapple upside down cake cocktail that I made last year. It was simple and yummy!

A. Liz Adventures: Pineapple Upside Down Cake Cocktail (Say It Three Times Fast)

Your top three Spring favorites ... GO!

Monday

Monday Catch-Up

Mondays are always a little rough on us, yes? 

Too pretty to work, which is why I love my hobby of going to "work" for 10 hours a week. Jer says that it saves him money because that is 10 hours that I can't shop. Silly Jer. Thanks to the ShopBop app, I can always shop!

I am back to working in the office on Mondays which means an early alarm clock so I can get completely ready before the baby wakes up. I then have an hour with her to get her fed, clothed, and ready for daycare before I head into the office. It's the craziest day of the week, but if I can make it through the day, the rest of the week is just a little less hectic.

We took this past Friday off of work and went to the mountains to visit my in-laws. It was a great escape and I just loved seeing the way they adore Camille. Her two cousins really love helping and seeing all of the cute things she does.

Saturday night we had a babysitter! We had a sushi date at Sushi Guru and then saw the Charlotte Symphony perform a Led Zeppelin tribute. 

I did buy the L'Oreal primer spray I mentioned last week and am on day three now of using it. Love, love, love the smooth results and it is not weighing my hair down at all. If you purchase it online, don't forget to go through Ebates ... you can currently earn 4% back on drugstore.com, 2% back on target.com, and up to 2% back on walmart.com. I was texting a girlfriend this weekend about some tickets we want to buy, and even Groupon is on Ebates with 6% back .... if you need an invitation to join Ebates, click here. If you purchase anything online, it's worth signing up!

How do we find ourselves at Monday so quickly?!

What was the best part of your weekend?


Friday

Five On Friday

It's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join me, DarciChristina, and Natasha!

Remember, all you have to do is post about five things on your mind, add our logo (found at the bottom of this post), and join the party using the linky tools below. Easy, and a great way to find new blogs and be found. :)

O N E
The weather has been lovely this week - sunny and warm for the most part! Yesterday was just a bit crisp but it was the perfect time for me to break out my new seersucker vest from The Palm Tree Boutique. Love this cute vest which is perfect for transitional weather. They have it in blue seersucker, like I have, and also in pink seersucker. I adore it! Now, should I get it monogrammed?!





T W O
So, I am already getting really excited about Camille's Easter basket (which is d-o-n-e!) and she has quite a few fun treats in her basket. I considered all types of Easter basket options and was prepared to spend a pretty penny on a timeless one, when I found a green felt basket with a pink gingham tulip applique on it for $4.99 at Walgreens. I snagged it and went ahead and bought plastic eggs, grass, and other basket fillers at the same time. Sooooo unlike me to just scratch it off the list and actually make it easy on myself. But I'm loving knowing that her basket is filled and done!

Create a tree out of pussy willows and dangle glittering Easter eggs from the branches.

T H R E E
One very appropriate item found in her Easter basket?
These.
Can never have enough these days.

F O U R
When I was little, on special occasions my sisters and I used to love ordering a Vanilla Coke from TGI Fridays. Guess what is super easy to recreate at home ... and tasty, too? I put about a tablespoon of vanilla extract over ice and top with Diet Coke. DONE AND DONE.




F I V E
Happy Friday, and soak up every minute of this weekend!

treat yo self.




TGIF y'all, and hope you will join in on Five on Friday this week! Cheers to the weekend!



Thursday

Makeup and Skincare Updates

I know I love to talk about makeup and skincare with girlfriends ... how about you? Here are some quick updates.

I am still loving my Clarisonic Mia 2 (here on Amazon). Around the same time that I started using that nightly, I also implemented the hot lemon water habit and switched my nightly moisturizer for organic coconut oil. I'm not sure which step to attribute it to (or maybe it was the combination of all three!) but I really saw some nice improvements in my skin. I'm not doing the hot lemon water daily any more, only sporadically, because I've really needed plain ol' coffee recently!

It Cosmetics - Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50  in Light #ultabeauty

Thanks to everyone who recommended the It Cosmetics CC Cream. Mine is from Ulta, and if you are shopping online you can go through Ebates you can get 6% back (join here). I love the SPF 50 in this product and it's a heavier coverage look but not a heavier feel. Some days I do switch it up and just wear the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, but I always top my CC cream or tinted moisturizer with this mineral powder. It's been my favorite for years.

I raved about the $3 Elf blush in the bright pink color that's similar to Bobbi Brown Pale Pink, but it has not lasted very long at all, and half of it broke out of the compact. So, as soon as it's dunzo, I'm splurging again on Pale Pink. It's pricier than I'd usually spend but completely worth it -- my last compact of it lasted several years. Which is probably a no-no in the makeup world, but oh well.


One of my aunts is a product junkie like me and we like trading beauty finds. She recently texted me that this L'Oreal Blow Dry It quick dry primer spray is amazing. She said that it doesn't weigh her hair down, that it gives you a salon blow-out look, eliminates frizz, cuts drying time down, and recently earned rave reviews from Allure magazine. 

L'Oreal Paris Advance Hairstyle Blow Dry It Quick Dry Primer Spray - 4.2 oz

I tend to think L'Oreal can do no wrong ... that section is my first stop at the drugstore when I am looking for new, lower-priced beauty finds. 

Lastly, I've been using a sample of the Aveda Dry Remedy Oil on my hair every day before blow-drying it and really enjoying the smoothness it adds. I'm going to try it for a bit longer before deciding on whether to buy it for myself. 

Hit me up with your latest beauty find!

Wednesday

Independence.


Know how sometimes you just sweat the small stuff?

And then you have a night that totally puts it all into perspective?

That was last night for me. A dinner devoted to helping war veterans realize that there are groups out there completely dedicated to them. Dedicated to their welfare, their wellbeing, their growth, their independence, their right to a happy and healthy life. Dedicated to helping them navigate the murky waters of pain management, PTSD, and medical issues. Helping them to not be part of the scary statistic that each day, twenty-two veterans' lives are lost to suicide.

This isn't a political post and this isn't a sponsored post. I am just so, so proud of my friend Sarah and all she is doing for this valiant group of men and women. Brava.


Monday

St. Patrick's Day Fare

Last night, Ian and I sat down to a dinner of corned beef and cabbage and a big glass of Guiness! It was fun getting in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day.

LUCK: St. Patrick's Day Printable {FREE}
(pssst - this is a free printable!)

I also made this really fun snack from Cory at Playdates & Prescriptions ... Lucky Charms rice krispie treats, yes please!

Are you adding a little green to your menu this week?


Friday

Five On Friday: Facewash Fave, Birthday Girl, Finger Foods

It's time for another edition of Five on Friday and I do hope you'll join me, DarciChristina, and Natasha!

Remember, all you have to do is post about five things on your mind, add our logo (found at the bottom of this post), and join the party using the linky tools below. Easy, and a great way to find new blogs and be found. :)

O N E
First of all, happy 31st birthday to my middle sister!



T W O
Lately I have been loving the Philosophy Miracle Worker lactic acid cleanser (here). Not only can you use it as a basic face wash, but you can also put a thin layer all over your face and leave it on for 3-5 minutes to work as a gentle exfoliating mask. My skin feels so smooth afterwards. Gotta love a dual-duty beauty product!


T H R E E
Remember the three-ingredient peanut butter cookies I made recently? (Real quick: cup of peanut butter, cup of sugar, one egg, chill dough, roll in balls, press down, criss-cross fork to make hatch-like indentions in top, bake 350 degrees for 12 minutes.) Well, I made another batch this week, and I added in a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the mix.

Chocolate peanut butter.

Mind = blown.



F O U R
We have been experimenting around with finger foods for the baby, because I guess I'm coming to terms with not being able to spoon-feed her purees her entire life. She is enjoying raw squash (depending on the day), soft carrots, banana teething biscuits, yogurt melts, string cheese, puffs, thin apple slices, bananas, and smooshed blueberries. She also tried peanut butter on wheat waffles last weekend!

This stage also means that I really need to invest in a great mop.



F I V E
F-R-I-D-A-Y. That is all.
This girl is ready for the weekend!!!!!

Lets pop bottles.


TGIF y'all, and hope you will join in on Five on Friday this week! Cheers to the weekend!