morning walk

since today is national happiness happens day, i would like to share how my happiness happens.

we live in the city of chicago. and yes, there are plenty of buildings, stores, restaurants, construction sites, loud sirens, people walking, traffic.. but chicago is one of the great cities with amazing parks. we are lucky enough to live near, in my opinion, the BEST park. we have our little slice of nature a few blocks from home. i shouldn't say little slice. its a big park.. so big slice.

anyways, happiness these days revolves around peace. i am not a morning person (and neither is nick), and trying my best to adapt to being up around 6am every morning. since nick works nights, i have the lincoln morning shift. on days like today, where i make an effort to get out of bed and head out the door early in morning, i always seem to really enjoy myself. everything is quiet, nothing is really happening yet. some people are jogging, but mostly its just us and the park and the trees. we walk and talk (sometimes sing because no one can hear us), we collect things... like sticks and flowers. we have an area where we love to go feed the ducks. even if lincoln is in a cranky mood, watching the ducks swim around and quack soothes him. its a great place to go and clear my head before starting our day, and i come home and feel happy. happy to be outdoors, happy to get some exercise, happy to enjoy the silence of morning, and happy my guys could be there with me.

and what makes it an even happier morning, is having some snacks. 

currently we are really loving [happy family brand]. i pack a few of their [super toddler bars] and fill up a little container with some [best friend cookies] to enjoy on our morning walk.

this post was sponsored by happy family

follow along on happy family brand's 

[twitter] [instagram] [facebook] 

for all kinds of giveaways all month long.

for all ya'll baby snackers

whether your a traveler, or a mom on the go, 

these are great treats to keep the little ones busy/ give their bellies something yummy.

1. [traderjoes] crushers - apple & carrot

trader joe's doesn't have an "official" baby food section, but since lincoln loves applesauce 

i grabbed these and he can't get enough. (also trader joe's makes a dehydrated fruit and lincoln loves the mango pieces)

2. [happy puffs] & [happy creamies]

happy puffs are similar to cheerios but they sort of dissolve easier which makes it good for 2 teeth or less. happy creamies are our alternative to happy yogis because lincoln's belly sometimes can handle milk and other times rejects it. the happy creamies are made from coconut milk, which anything coconut gets my approval!

3. [ella's kitchen] - yum yummy baby cookies

these are great because little hands fit perfectly around these. and they take a while to eat. if you have a feisty eater like myself, that's an important factor. 

4. [earth's best] - sunny days snack bar

 earth's best is a really solid brand, we buy a lot of their products (like baby oatmeal and diapers on occasion). 

5. [plum] - baby yuma

these are great for lasting a long time, but are a little sticky. would recommend at a restaurant and not so much on an airplane. 

6. [mum mum] - strawberry

pretty much a baby strawberry shortcake for baby... yum. 

7. [plum] - mish mash

because lincoln eats so much fresh fruit, i like these because they incorporate grains which i don't make as often. yeah, baby quinoa! 

8.  [happy yogis] 

if you've pinned the frozen yogurt drops and haven't made them yet, i'll let you know, the frozen yogurt drops are pretty messy and you probably shouldn't leave your house with them unless you bring a cooler. (they are great for teething because of how cold they are) these are such a great substitute for the mess and you still get the benefits of yogurt. 

side note: some packages i purchase say "12+" or "toddler" because of choking hazards. i respect that, but because lincoln is so curious with food, i like to stretch it a little. i either give him really big snacks and he will suck/gum on them or i cut his food up really small. we are sort of on the "baby led weaning" kick  but also throw in some pureed food on the side, because this boy loves to eat.

for the most part, i do my baby food shopping at whole foods, trader joes, and target