My All-Time Favorite 7-Layer Dip

My favorite thing about get-togethers and parties is the appetizers and food. It's just what brings everyone together and it usually isn't something you eat all the time-- so when you do, it's a real treat. One of the most requested items I always want during Holidays and Birthdays is 7-Layer Dip. I figure, this is also a perfect Summer party snack so now was the perfect time to share it with you!

I am such a weirdo that anytime a 7-layer dip is at a party, I always count the layers. Much to my surprise, not many people actually have seven layers. They usually have around 5. But, don't you worry. We have seven FULL layers here, people.

[Ingredients]

• 2-3 packages of Fritos Bean Dip
• 16 oz. Sour Cream
• 1/2 Packet of Taco Seasoning
• 1-3 Avocados (Depending on how much you want)
• 1-2 diced Green Onions
• Handful of Tomatoes (Diced)
• 1-2 Cans of Black Olives (Diced)
• 1 package of Shredded Cheese (Cheddar)

[FIRST LAYER]
The first layer will be the Fritos bean dip. I like to spread it around a circular plate and keep it about an inch from the sides because once you have all the layers added, it ends up settling more so on the edge of the plate.

[SECOND LAYER]
The second layer is the avocado. What I do is smash up the avocado with a fork in a bowl. Feel free to add lime juice and pepper if you want an extra kick. The smear it over the bean dip.

[THIRD LAYER]
The third layer is the sour cream & taco seasoning mixture. I usually dump the taco seasoning directly into the sour cream container and mix it well. Then smear it on top of the avocado spread.

[FOURTH LAYER]
The fourth layer is the chopped green onion. I am not a huge fan of onion, so I ususally will add less of this layer, but honestly, you can't really taste it when you scoop it. So choose to add more or less as you prefer.

[FIFTH LAYER]
The fifth layer is the diced tomato. Feel free to cut them smaller or larger depending on your liking. Then sprinkle them over the onions.

[SIXTH LAYER]
The sixth layer is the black olives. I LOVE green olives, so I always open a few cans and eat them as I make the 7-Layer dip. I don't think I ever make a meal or appetizer without eating a little something as I make it. Please tell me I am not alone.

[SEVENTH LAYER]
The best part of this dip. The cheese. Notice the cheese almost goes to the edge of the plate? I told you this would happen. The dip ends up settling towards the edges so be careful when adding the cheese layer-- it could get messy! I think of it as a good problem to have though!

I also included a cute printable recipe card you can keep in your recipe box if you have one. This one is sure to be a hit at your next get-together. I know it is one of my favorites!
Plus, anything with tortilla chips is a win-win for our household!


Get your printable Recipe Card-- Download Link Below. 

What's your favorite dip to bring to parties? I'd love to hear!

Top 6 Must-Haves for New Moms

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help us keep food on the table for our little family. 

 

Before becoming a mom, I really had no clue what I needed or what to even look for. I would literally walk through Buy Buy Baby wondering why the heck anyone would suck a babies nose through their mouth? Turns out, that is one of my favorite and most used products. (And I promise, the snot doesn't go in your mouth)

Thankfully, I had friends who were super helpful and gave me suggestions, but I never truly understood what I would actually need and use. It can be extremely overwhelming until you actually have your baby and begin to understand and know what works and what you will actually need. I've compiled my list of must-haves for New mommies that I've found to be the most helpful.

[ Boppy ] (or Brest Friend) - I've only tried the Boppy but it has been the BEST and one of the most-used items. I have used it to not only breastfeed, but my husband has even used it to hold our baby girl. I also use it to prop her up and for tummy time. I love how it has so many uses! I've brought it on vacations with us too because I love it so much and has been a real lifesaver to help hold baby up! (Who knew they could be so heavy?!) I have gotten SO much use out of our Boppy and have nothing but good things to say about it.

I personally have not tried the "brest friend," and it looks great for solely breastfeeding. However, I liked that there's multiple uses for the Boppy, whereas the Brest Friend only has one use.

[ Baby Swaddle- Halo Sleep Sack ] So I used these religiously when my baby was a newborn till about 4/5 months when she started growing out of it. I noticed when I swaddled my baby at bedtime, that she was more content and slept better through the night. It relaxed her and really calmed her down. Nothing was more frustrating than her little arms breaking free from her normal swaddles (no matter how tight I tried to wrap her.) I also got nervous that she would suffocate if she kept breaking free from her swaddle blanket and it would cover her face. Using the sleep sack gave me peace of mind. {They also double as her pajamas. Win-Win! With one less step!)

[ Nose Frida ] Ok so I know I told you about this and it sounds super gross, but I swear has worked amazing for us! I honestly didn't think I would need this as the hospital provides a pretty great "sucker" for suctioning baby snot, until our little girl became pretty congested. The Nose Frida really got those suckers a million times better than any other suction. It's one of those things you don't think you need, until you need it. I remember talking to myself, saying "You know what, Lisa? You will do anything to make your baby feel better, it's worth a shot to try this thing." Lifesaver.  And let me tell you, heading to the store is a huge chore with a baby, and all you want to do is provide your little one some relief when they have a stuffy nose. Luckily, Amazon came to the rescue and delivered ours that same day! Otherwise I'd have one miserable stuffy nose baby. (And no one wants to see their little one suffer and miserable)

[ Aquaphor/Triple Paste ] So I know I discussed this magical combo for diaper rashes, but you seriously never know when your little one will get a diaper rash. So it's good to have these on hand for when they do. You can read about the 3 Best Products for diaper rash here. (Plus you can get a little printable to take with you!)

[ Pack'n'Play ] Depending on the layout of your home (and your preference), this may be a game changer for you as it was for us. I live in a two story house, with our nursery on the 2nd level of our home. We spend most of our time downstairs in the living room and it's a chore to carry our baby upstairs for diaper changes and afternoon naps. So having our Pack'n'Play in our living room has been great for us and we still use it every day. They make different versions of them with different variations, but the one we have has a changing pad, as well as a napper that has vibration and sound and can also be used as a play yard. With the amount of diapers you'll be changing, you may want to consider putting one of these on your baby registry.

[ Oogie Boogie Nose Picker ] So, I didn't realize how amazing this is for getting boogers out. I thought a Q-tip would do the job, but boy was I wrong. Not only was my little ones nostrils so tiny that a Qtip wouldn't fit, but the Oogie Boogie has a little "hook-like" tip so it really grabs those boogers. (The other end can also be used to clean out their ears.) I know the $12 price tag might seem ridiculous, but this product has been so much easier than accidentally pushing those boogers further in with a Qtip. Trust me on this one.

Hoping these suggestions come in handy for you! Knowing what I do now, I wouldn't have registered for a lot of items that we rarely use or don't find to be necessary. (Like a wipe warmer, and baby shoes. I mean.. I use the wipe warmer, but the wipes literally don't stay warm once you take them out)

What are some things you've found to be life-changing with your little one?

Friday Favorites #1 Week of 6/22

Happy Friday! I've survived my first week of my new blog! That's something to celebrate, right? I've also met and connected with several other mommy bloggers which is pretty awesome! We're all in this together so all the support is amazing! 

I've been following the Life in Leggings blog for sometime now and on Friday she has a linkup called Friday Favorites.  (Also joining Anna's linkup!) I love linkups, because it's a great way to connect and meet other bloggers.

Today I will be sharing my 5 Friday favorites.

[1] This week I bought Kenzie this little Pat and Play Watermat to use on the ground or her high chair while I prepare her meals. It keeps her entertained and the best part? It's $5.99. 

[2] This weekends Agenda-Heading to the River. Since this will be Kenzie's first river trip, I wanted to make sure to be prepared. I will be taking her long sleeve rash guard shirt to better protect her from the sun. I also purchased her some baby sunnies that have an adjustable neoprene strap. I wanted something that will stay on her while on the boat, while also protecting her eyes from the sun. The best part about these is they can bend without breaking. That was a huge buying point for me. Since babies like to play and drop everything, I wanted to make sure I had something sturdy but something that will also last us. They are also SUPER cute and stylish. I want a pair for myself!

[3] The husband and I have been needing a new cooler. We've been looking, researching and comparing all types. From YETI to RTIC to OZARK to L. We were surprised that most stores we went to already sold out, and we wanted to look at them in person rather than just online.  We ended up loving the Lifetime 55 Quart cooler. We don't care pay extra for a "brand name" like YETI to get virtually the SAME cooler. (if not better) I'd rather put the extra money away in a savings account for my daughter. And honestly, it's a cooler people.. I really could care less what it looks like. No one is going to say, "Sick cooler bro!"
Anyways, get your coolers now, they are already selling out fast at Walmart. (and it was cheaper to purchase in store than online... weird, right?)

What also sold me on this cooler was this really awesome bear posed for a photo with the cooler. Totally kidding. kinda.

[4] Although my sweet girl cannot read yet, she still gets excited when I pull a book out. It's never too early to get your little one started with books. Her favorites are the ones with touchy-feely animals and anything with flaps. This one from Usborne is her absolute favorite right now.

[5] Currently watching: The Bold Type. I don't have much time to watch TV these days, however, I still get to record some shows and when I finally get to watch them it's pretty awesome because then I can watch like 3 episodes at once!  Which is pretty awesome.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! I am heading to the river with the family! I cannot wait to soak up some sunshine!

What are your weekend plans? What is your current favorite TV show?

Getting REAL about Post-Partum Recovery: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help us keep food on the table for our little family. 

 
I really had no expectations when it came to being pregnant and the aftermath. I kind of just had a "whatever happens, happens" attitude because I really didn't know what ACTUALLY happens. I didn't want to scare myself and I just wanted to prepare myself for whatever was going to occur. No two birth stories are the same so anything my friends told me was totally different from my experience. People are so vague with details about the recovery after giving birth. I get it, it's not pretty. But, Why don't people discuss the postpartum recovery?! This is what I wish I knew.. before I knew.

So here I am, getting REAL with you on Post-partum Recovery. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. 




The Good

Of course there is good. You get a wonderful, beautiful baby at the end of the day. Another bonus, is you are no longer pregnant! (Although, some days I do miss this) Especially if you are like me and had morning sickness. This is something I will not miss. I was miserable the first trimester. I had a pretty good pregnancy otherwise, but towards the end things just get... uncomfortable. Well, unfortunately that pretty much sums it up for the good. (A baby! Whoo hoo!) Just being honest here, people. 

My sweet baby girl. 1 day old.

The Bad

Are you ready for this? It's a doozy. So...you just grew a little human inside of you for 9ish months and then in a matter of hours (or in my case, 14 minutes) that human is outside of you. Your body is going through some crazy stuff--total and complete shock! Your insides stretch, your hormones are whack and your body is trying to figure out what the heck just happened. Not only do you give birth to a child, but you also need to deliver the placenta. Gross, I know, but it needs to happen. So once that baby is out, don't think you are done. Not quite sure why the Drs were tugging so hard but apparently my placenta wanted to stay a little while longer. Luckily, I didn't feel much other than pressure and tugging because I had a wonderful epidural. (Which may or may not work for everyone) Now, your body is trying to start the recovery process which means your hormones are partying all over the place. You'll be happy, sad, angry, maybe even depressed and then happy again.

It's weird, people. Really weird.

I heard all this talk about the baby blues and honestly never in my wildest dreams thought I would get it, but months after birth, I did. My hormones were still so crazy, and of course I loved my baby, but I just felt some sort of disconnect. Others may feel it differently. Some may even have postpartum depression. I really was not prepared for the roller coaster of emotions. It's pretty a crazy roller coaster. Plus, your sleep schedule is all over the place and your really just trying to figure everything out day by day.


So.. the next part is something I didn't even consider. Tearing.
Those dreadful words of your nether regions tearing, just sounds frightening. I was lucky that I only tore a stage 1 out of 3. (At least that's how the nurse explained it.- Stage 1 means very little, and stage 3 is extreme.) My recovery time was much quicker than if I were a 3. Most women will experience horrendous pain. Luckily, I did not. Yet, I still took the pain killers they gave me, because how am I supposed to know if I was going to be in pain or not. I mean, a baby just came out of my hoo-haa. It does feel all sorts of weird. Like, almost numb. Sitting down was uncomfortable, and laying down a certain way was uncomfortable. The nurse actually had me switch positions because she said I would put too much pressure on my nether regions.

Now, the contraption they make you is almost comical. I mean, the super grande large mesh underwear, the amount padding and all the steps to put it together. They have you squirt your lady parts with water and lightly dab yourself, then you have to spray down there with dermoplast spray and then add the witch hazel pads or tucks. I mean it took an army of nurses to help me step into this contraption and THEN add all the other goods. I remember thinking, "If all these nurses are helping me put this damn thing on, how the hell am I going to do this myself?" (This is why I recommend purchasing Depends which does not take an army to put on.) I literally tell all my soon to be mom friends to get Depends. Lifesaver.

So the one thing I couldn't wait for when I was pregnant was to be able to sleep on my stomach again. Well, I couldn't do this for a good month. It was just uncomfortable, my stomach still felt weird and it just didn't feel right. I had to move super slow getting in and out of bed. Walking also felt weird, but I am also crazy and went out to dinner the next day. Don't follow in my footsteps. I am highly motivated by food, so ... that's why that happened.

 
The Ugly

Alright, so you think I have been real enough with you and you can't handle anymore? Then do not read any further. I always heard about bleeding like a period post-baby but I really didn't think much of it because I did have heavy periods to begin with.

HOLY MOLY.

The amount of blood that was coming out. I thought, "Am I going to bleed to death?!" 

No. You won't. But it sure ain't pretty. Also another reason why Depends are lifesaving. They won't leak. Unfortunately the mesh underwear they give you in the hospital will leak and the pads are just so awkward and they move around and it just isn't pretty. So, I didn't know how long the bleeding would last. For me, it was a few months. Yes, MONTHS. Not to mention the swelling. Oh man, the swelling. I didn't even have it that bad. It was just so weird and I thought my lady bits would never be the same again. (Don't worry, I am good as new now! And you will be too!)
So.. it doesn't end here ladies.

The first pee and bowel movement is probably the scariest thing ever. I am just being real. But don't worry, this phase will soon pass. Just make sure to keep taking the stool softeners they give you, because those are going to save you and make the "shitty" situation better. Sorry for the pun, but I had to.

So, your body is still going through some crazy changes in the weeks following. The hormones are here to stay for a while. I remember being more sweatier than usual and just feeling gross. This will soon pass. And ladies, do not worry about your little baby pouch, this will too slim down in the months to follow. Especially if you are eating right and taking care of yourself. Just don't go too crazy. (Also, If you are breastfeeding, this will help speed up the process). I remember wondering, "Where will my stomach go after the baby pops out?" Well, ladies.. It doesn't just GO away. I mean it shrinks down some, but doesn't just disappear. That would be great though, wouldn't it?

So, the fun doesn't stop here. Next step in the upcoming months (usually around 3-4 months) is post-partum hair loss. Now, I have always lost a lot of hair so I thought maybe I would get lucky and this phase wouldn't happen. But boy was I wrong. I mean chunks of hair would come out. It was disturbing. My husband was worried about me (and also getting annoyed that my hair was everywhere-- more so than usual). But this part really isn't so bad. It's temporary. So basically, during pregnancy the increased levels of estrogen in your body freezes your hair in the growing phase. Then after you give birth your estrogen levels decline, which is when all the hair that "froze" during pregnancy falls out.





Some of my Mom Wife Design Life tips for recovery:
*Get Depends for post-partum recovery
*Make some padsicles. (I made these, and it was something I actually looked forward to using)
*Take ALL the goodies from the hospital. (The mesh undies, extra pads, witch hazel, dermoplast, squirt bottle)
*Epsom salt (or sitz bath) - to soak and heal your nether regions
*Enjoy your new little one, and don't worry about your post-partum belly

Hopefully, this post will help you be more prepared than I was. Everyone's stories are different, but I wish I had known a few things before actually going through them.


I'd love to hear your thoughts on the post-partum recovery! Leave me a comment below.

Best Products For Diaper Rash and a GIVEAWAY

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help us keep food on the table for our little family.
 

We all hope our littles don't get diaper rash, but the reality is all babies will get diaper rash at some time in there little baby lives. For that reason, I've compiled a list of my favorite products that I swear are magic, and included my tips to rid diaper rash. 

1. If your baby gets diaper rash, make sure to wipe the entire area clean (no soap! Water works just fine.) 
If your baby is extra sensitive to products, try just using warm water. 

2. Make sure to completely dry the area before applying any products or diaper. (You can even let them crawl around without a diaper for a bit to help get rid of the irritation. Just make sure to put down some towels!)

3. Once the area is completely dry, apply a layer of Triple Paste and then seal it in with a layer of Aquaphor. (The pediatrician said the baby aquaphor and regular aquaphor work the same- so whatever you find at the store). You will then put the diaper on and let it do it's magic! 

Within hours, your babies little bum will look so much better, but it's best to continue to use this method until it completely clears. Depending on how bad your babies rash is, it may be a couple days or a little over a week. Most cases it clears in 1-2 days. 

Another product I use to prevent diaper rash is this Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom balm. A girlfriend of mine gifted it for me at my Baby shower, and it's pretty much been a heaven sent ever since. (They also have a fantastic nipple balm if you are breastfeeding. It's called Earth Mama Nipple Butter. I swear it saves your nipples and is better than any other nipple creams I've tried. Which were a ton!)

Hopefully all these tips help out your little babes bum! I also included a free printable to keep in your diaper bag in case you need to remember some of the tips to prevent diaper rash! Trust me, Mom Brain is for real so this may come in handy! (Or make a cute basket for a mom-to-be and include this cute card to go along with it.. or the babysitter... etc! The list is really endless!)

Are you ready for our first GIVEAWAY? To kickoff the start of this blog I am giving away a $25 TARGET gift card. Giveaway is open to US Residents and will run from 12 AM on 6/20/18 through 12AM on 6/28/18. For an extra entry, comment your summer plans below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Blog!

Hi guys!

I decided to start blogging more frequently, but it just didn't make sense with my old theme "Showered With Design." I wanted to create a blog that was more current with my life now. Which is where Mom Wife Design Life was born!

This blog will be a Lifestyle blog about being a mom, wife, tips and tricks, and I will offer FREE printables to help other moms and wives!

My life is currently pretty chaotic, having a newborn turning into a toddler, a husband, and it being baseball season, we are on the go-go-GO! Our weekends have been consisting of traveling to my brother-in-laws baseball games and attending the current weddings that have been happening. I just don't see it slowing down in the near future! Plus, summer is RIGHT around the corner and we have a long Nebraska trip planned and of course river trips on the weekends! So you most likely will be seeing plenty of weekend recaps coming your way! (Mixed in with baby updates too!) Make sure to follow me on instagram to see what I am currently up to. You can also check out the About Me section to learn a little more about Me.

Here is a little sneak peak of my family and what we've been up to lately:






So glad to have you join me on this crazy journey. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the crazy life with me!

Since I am re-starting this blogging life, I am bringing a fun GIVEAWAY to you! Stay tuned and keep an eye out for the post tomorrow to enter!

Follow along on social media too:
Instagram
Twitter


My goals for this new blog were to create some useful printables for my readers, so here is the very first one for you to enjoy! (A fun, colorful July calendar!)