Purple Power

There is only one word to describe the last 5 days:

purplelicious.

So, it all began with the new Gemini Beco.... I came home on Thursday from my tattoo consultation and there was a package at my door. It was the Gemini Beco and it was lovely. But more than comfort and style, it was purple. And really, the purple is what won me over.

Then on Saturday my new Ellevill Tri Purple Wrap arrived. Let me just say, if you have never tried an Ellevill wrap, you are seriously missing out. This is the 4th one I have owned and I absolutely love their wraps. But again, it wasn't the soft, silky feeling or the comfort of wearing Levi around all day downtown which made me fall in love, it was the purple.

And then Monday came. Most people hate Mondays but I couldnt wait because my wonderful, amazing, loving, sweet, caring (did I mention amazing?) husband had told me my big anniversary gift would be arriving. And it did.... a MAC BOOK PRO. And I know your thinking, "well what does that have to do with purple?" well, he also bought me a purple case.

Beautiful, right?

Ah, I love my life.

Gemini Vs. Beco Butterfly II

So, as you know I recently received the Gemini and I am very much enjoying the delicious purpley carrier! However, it is TOTALLY different from my other Becos. A lot of people are asking me to compare them but I'm finding it kind of hard. They are just.... different. But I am going to try and show some differences with details so you can choose for yourself.

There are definitely pros and cons about both carriers and I think the Butterfly II will probably always be my first love deep down because its the first Beco I ever had. But for other moms who prefer the 4th Gen, the Gemini might be just what you need.

Today I will be comparing Blue Scooters and White Leaves from PaxBaby with the new Natalie Gemini (which you can preorder).

Body

Width: G. 12.5in (base) 11in (middle) 10in (narrowest points)

BBII. 12.5in

Height: G. 14in (without headrest up) 18.5in (with headrest up)

BBII. 16in (without hood attached)

Padded straps

Length: G. 23in

BBII. 22in (from the Y seam) 14in (from buckle)

Width: Both carriers are 3in.

This shows the inside of the BBII which helps keep the baby secure when switching to a back carry or transferring to another person. Gemini doesn't have this feature.

Base Strap

Width: Both carriers are 4 in.

Length: G. 30 in.

BBII. 23in.

This picture is showing the most controversial part of the Gemini, the option to make the base more narrow and forward face.

Cross Straps:

I absolutely LOVE this feature

Hip Carry

Wearing my niece with the hood

Wearing the head rest up

My dear friend modeling the hood on White Leaves

So, this is basically my summary: Gemini and BBII are different. If you have the BBII and want the Gemini, try not to compare them too much because they are definitely different carriers. If you feel a little uncomfortable with back carries or your little one likes to move around a lot and you feel better with that insert, they definitely go with the Butterfly II. If you want to cross the straps and want a little more versatility than Gemini might be the way to go. And if your not sure, don't forget you can always try them out at the sling exchange!

I know that the Gemini is the hottest thing right now and a lot of people are trying to get pictures but these pictures do belong to me and this blog, so no authorization is granted to anyone to copy/use these photos for any reason. Photos are fingerprinted and re-posting is infringement on copyright and stealing. So please, don't do it

Who has the Beco Gemini???

Well as most of you Beco fans know, the Gemini is being released very soon. And its pretty exciting. Beco has kept it a pretty big secret which has made it a little difficult for those of us who are waiting for the release date. Well... I have good news for you...

Ok no, they havent released it yet... Im sorry!

However, you can preorder it over at PaxBaby. But that isnt the good news....

The good news is probably a little better for me than you but hey, at least you get a sneak peak and can drool a little...

Because....

My Natalie Gemini ARRIVED!!!

Yes, I am basically the only one who has one, and yes I feel pretty darn special! I entered the video contest and I actually WON with my video 12 Things.

So here is a little sneak peak of some pictures ;)

Beco Addict

Today started like any other day....

Okay, not really but it sounded good. After only 4 hours of sleep I woke up at 6am and laid in bed restless. Steve had already gone to work and Levi was snoring next to me. No matter what I tried, I could not fall asleep (So maybe I didn't really try to hard... maybe my iPhone kept me rather busy... but that is besides the point).

I finally fell asleep around 10:30 but after stocking the USPS page I saw that my package had arrived in Anchorage and was being sorted and I couldn't help but be excited that they might deliver it today.

Then it happend.... I heard the dog go crazy and I heard someone walk up the steps, set something down and drive off.

I laid in bed thinking "no, you are not allowed to go get the package. Go back to sleep and get it later" but the temptation killed me. I jumped out of bed (quietly jumped so Levi would stay asleep) and ran up the stairs. I opened the door and there it was.

It was just sitting there calling my name. That beautiful package from PaxBaby just needed to be opened.

And I opened it. And there sat the beautiful new White Leaves Beco.

EEEEEEKKKKK. SQUEEEAL.

(those are a few of the sounds I made while jumping around my living room).

Now you may be wondering "hmm... I think AlisaMarie already has a Beco. I swear I have seen her in the Scooters Beco before... I am sure of it."

Yes, I do have a Beco. Yes, it is a Scooters Beco. And yes, this is the same exact style as my new Beco.

But I CAN justify having two. I swear I can. And I will.

The Scooters Beco is rad (yeah, I said it... rad) and super fun and bright. But if you haven't noticed, it is orange and turquoise. And I'm not sure if you know this but orange and turquoise don't exactly match everything.

And this is where the new White Leaves Beco comes into play. It is lovely and black and just a splash of beautiful colors on leaves on the panel. And It will definitely match a little more.

Also, Becos get dirty. Sometimes I spill something on it (since I wear it all the time) or Levi will leak or he will spit up or drool on it. Yes, Scooters has been through quite a bit. And poor Scooters needs to be washed but I cant bare to part with it (even for a day) because I wear it all the time.

This is when Beco White Leaves comes into play. If Scooters is dirty, I can wash it and wear White Leaves. If White Leaves is dirty, I can wash it and wear Scooters.

Perfect.

And last but not least, I can't wear the same thing every single day. I mean come on. People at Fred Meyer are starting to know me as the Scooters girl. I go in there and see the same people and they probably think I'm crazy since I am wearing the same thing every time. I have to switch it up. Surprise them. Make them wonder what Ill wear next....

and that is where White Leaves comes into play.

So my dear friends, I have given three very important, valid reasons that I should own two Becos that are the exact same style...

Did I convince you?

Okay Okay Okay.

Hi, I am AlisaMarie

and

I am a Beco Addict.

Getting back to photography

I have had a passion and desire for photography for a very very long time.
I remember being in 5th grade and seeing a Reading Rainbow that was talking about photography and I just fell in love.

Well many years went by and I did nothing with it but just recently I have picked it back up and have been dabbling in digital and doing editing. Its been a lot of fun.

Enjoy

PaxBaby Rocks My Socks Off!

So if you haven't been to PaxBaby, you are totally missing out!

There is a huge variety of carriers including many new prints of the Beco (my personal fave) and Jillian (also known as PaxBaby) is super sweet, easy to work with and she writes the greatest blogs!
There is a rockin' 90 Day return policy which I doubt you'll need because I know you'll love whatever you buy AND
FREE SHIPPING to every U.S address, every item, everyday.
Yes, you read that correct. 90 day return policy AND free shipping all the time.
But that's not all folks
She also has a Price Match Policy.

Come on, it doesn't get much better than that!

So, head over to PaxBaby, buy an amazing baby carrier (there are some new Beco prints I know you'll LOVE) and while you are there, check out her adorable blog.

Oh and for all you Beco lovers, she always has the latest updates about the new Beco Gemini that is coming out soon!

Okay okay, I admit it....
I'm a little bit obsessed.

Mothers Day

I love Mother's Day and I was very blessed.

First, DH got up early and served me breakfast in bed and then when I got ready I came upstairs to a nice card, boquet of flowers and a cute little bird hous with paints! My hubby is so creative. He said he wanted to make it a tradition to make bird houses in the spring and then be able to watch the birds eat through out the summer and as our kids get older they can pick out their own. Anyways, it was a super cute idea.

AND THEN...... Levi starts pushing a rather large present into the living room......

AND IT WAS A YUDU!!!!!!

I have been wanting a YuDu forever and I am so excited to use it! For those who dont know what it is, it is a very nice screen printing machine!
And the gifts didnt stop there:
We also went and picked out a very nice video camera
AND
he said he would take me this week to get a consultation on a tattoo!!!


I am very very excited

Grandma and Levi

Me and Levi and My Mom and Gabriel

It was the PERFECT day for a walk! My mom and I (with Levi on my back of course) walked and our husbands and little brother went on a bike ride

Hope all you moms had a wonderful Mother's Day!

I told my husband that really it's Mother's Year! I deserve to be celebrated every day. He thought that was pretty funny ;)