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Spent some time at one of my favorite places in th Spent some time at one of my favorite places in the world earlier this week, with some of my favorite people, and it was so dang good for the soul 🌸 more flowering tree and shrub content comin at you this week just because! Also...⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
🌿 Mini Gifting 🌿⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
A little thank you for supporting me!! I’m gifting a personally curated gardening package to one winner, all you have to do is follow me @christinemcovino and my other account @christineandcoliving, then head to my stories for the rest of the entry instructions 🥳
Happy national gardening day 🌱🌸 may you have Happy national gardening day 🌱🌸 may you have a bountiful crop this year, whatever you grow! ((Peony tip: feed early-emerging shoots with a high phosphorus fertilizer for strong, lush blooms!)). Find more gardening tips on the blog, link is in my bio 🌿
Liam ♡ In an alternate universe we would be cele Liam ♡ In an alternate universe we would be celebrating your first birthday. You should be crawling around, playing, laughing and eating too much cake today.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
You should be here.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
My sweet boy I miss you more than words, I ache to hold you. We walked the orchard and planted flower seeds in your memory. We got winks from you in the form of the earth waking up, all the yellow blooms, including your magnolia which couldn’t have had better timing. It’s comforting to see you say hi.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
And still, you should be here.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
He was here for a time. He existed. He mattered. He deserves to be celebrated.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I loved him from the second I saw the +test. I fell deeper in love every time I saw his energetic body bounce around on the ultrasound screen, I have all the blissful bump photos and I have the memory of his sweet little kicks. God I miss those kicks.⁣⁣⠀
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My love did not end when he died.⁣⁣⠀
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Liam’s ashes, a few scan photos, my memory and an index card with his footprints are all that remains. I both hate that this is all I have left and am eternally grateful that I have them at all.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I found some comfort today but these anniversaries are also hard. I relive the trauma. The terror, shock, fear, disbelief, agony of being told your baby is dying. So deep and so crushing. Part of me died in that moment, part of me will never be the same again.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
There is nothing in this world more painful than living without your baby. You feel the heaviness, the absence, the longing for them constantly. The grief is always there, it ebbs and flows but it changes you to your core. You adapt to feeling the constant emptiness, your aching heart, your soft but heavy eyes, the shortness of your breath, that lump in your throat.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
And yet, I feel immensely fortunate to have carried you for every moment of your life. I will never regret the time we spent together, loving you, carrying you, feeling you, celebrating you and envisioning the life you would have had. I will carry the insatiable longing to hold you until the day I die. You will always be my baby. You will always be missed. I will never stop loving and mothering you, my sweet Liam James ❤️
How did we do with the bow!? It’s growing on me How did we do with the bow!? It’s growing on me I think 🥰😍
April 3, 2021 • just us this Easter weekend 💗 April 3, 2021 • just us this Easter weekend 💗
I’m not quite sure how she turned 5 months in th I’m not quite sure how she turned 5 months in the blink of an eye 🥺 My Elora. We are doing great ❤️ we’re nursing and bedsharing and babywearing and contact napping and I’m literally soaking in every moment with her. Months 4 and 5 have been the best yet. My body knows what to do and I follow her cues. We’re super in tune and I feel like it’s making both of us happier humans.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
There is this unspoken narrative in our society that somehow attachment between mom and baby is a weakness, a crutch. I say f that, it’s one of the most beautiful strengths that exists in this universe. Period.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Mama if you’re reading this and need some validation or reassurance, I got you. It’s ok to cuddle and rock and nurse and sing your baby to sleep. Follow your instincts, tune out the noise, feel empowered in your motherly intuition and find your confidence in that. It is so incredibly liberating.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I know it’s a confusing landscape out there for new moms, I hear you, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and stress that you’re not doing something “right” or that your baby is “broken.” I’m not saying motherhood is easy for me, it’s the hardest (and best) thing I’ve ever done, but when women have the support they actually need and feel empowered in motherhood, that’s next-level world-changing stuff.⁣⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Mama knows best, never forget it ❤️
Pregnancy after loss (PAL). Wrapping up this month Pregnancy after loss (PAL). Wrapping up this month of #pregnancyafterloss awareness by answering my two most asked questions ——⁣⁣⠀
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How did I know I was ready to try again and how did I survive my PAL?⁣⁣⠀
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Well friend, I have no definitive answer for you. I don’t know how I knew I was “ready,” I just knew I desperately wanted to be pregnant again, and I do not know how I survived.⁣⁣⠀
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Contrary to what I thought prior to having my own PAL experience, I was not “better” or “healed” or “over” my baby’s death once pregnant again. I think the only thing I could do was lean into the conflicting feelings and accept that they coexist for me (grief and joy, for example).⁣⁣⠀
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I want to share with you the two thoughts that did help ——⁣⁣⠀
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1. We were not replacing our baby (Liam), we were adding a sibling. Luca would be a big brother, as would Liam. My heart would expand for another child, not an “instead” child. Truly believing and accepting this was very helpful to me in my moments of guilt.⁣⁣⠀
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2. This was the most profound realization for me: That I would love this baby whether she lived or died. How did I know this? Because the grief I feel for Liam is love. I love my babies from the moment I know they exist. So during my PAL I thought, if this baby died too it wouldn’t change that love. I embraced and accepted that. I think it’s actually what allowed me to take these maternity pictures two weeks before she was born. It wasn’t hope, it was that I loved her and would want to remember our time together either way.⁣⁣⠀
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So maybe that is how I was able to survive. One day at a time, one thought at a time, facing the hard truths, embracing the pain of loss. Because, I’ll be honest, hope was hard for me.⁣⁣⠀
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Do I have magical advice? No. PAL was hard, it was a shitstorm of emotions and I feel like I just held on for dear life. Do whatever you have to do to survive, just know you are not crazy for the feelings. You are human 🤍

More resources can be found in my PAL highlights, reels and on my blog (link in bio) under ‘baby loss.’
This sweet babe is growing so fast!⁣⁣⠀
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Our beautiful @shoplovedua bassinet has been one of our most used baby items this time around! Functional and timeless, it is an item that grows with your babe, AND it’s discounted 25% today — head over to their page to shop 🥳⁣⁣⠀
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📷: @mymotherhoodstory
Growing through it 🌿 I was thinking back and re Growing through it 🌿 I was thinking back and reflecting on the past 365 days this morning. It’s been a rollercoaster to say the least.⁣⁣⠀
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Early March 2020 I found out I was pregnant again after back to back losses. I was hopeful and relieved but also doubtful, disconnected and terrified. I spoke in “ifs” not “whens.” I felt guilt and resentment and anger but also was so incredibly grateful.⁣⁣⠀
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We were quickly approaching Liam’s edd in April, a time that I deeply dreaded, and not even one week later went into full lock down pandemic mode.⁣⁣⠀
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I was a total wreck. Things felt veryyy out of control and uncertain.⁣⁣⠀
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I did the only thing I could do, I focused on what I could control. I continued therapy, started using tools like essential oils to help me stay grounded + present and threw myself full force into gardening.⁣⁣⠀
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I quite literally and physically GREW through my anxiety, pain and grief last year. My garden kept me grounded and sane and helped me feel connected to my body and my heart, out in the garden was one of the only places I felt safe letting my mind wander and imagine a living baby in my arms.⁣⁣⠀
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Growing veggies and flowers for my family was within my control and was exactly what I needed in this situation of heavy uncertainty — uncertainty both within myself and in the world.⁣⁣⠀
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March 2020 and March 2021 Christines are very different, I’ve realized the journey isn’t TO healing, healing IS the journey, it’s doesn’t ever end. I’m proud of where I’m at and humbled to think about where I’ve come from 💗
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Christine Covino

- The Blog -

Small Shop Holiday Gift Guide

November 30, 2019 / Gift Guides

This post may contain affiliate links.

Small Shop Holiday Gift Guide- Support small businesses with this small shop holiday gift guide poster

Small Shop Holiday Gift Guide

As always, just click on any pink words (those are the links) or any image to shop!

1 // THE LITTLE MILK BAR “MILK MAKER” TEE  2// HAND LETTERED ORNAMENT  3// RAW ROSE QUARTZ RING  4// ALPACA MOBILE FOR BABY  5// WOODEN TOY TRACTOR WITH CHEW BEADS  6// FOR MOM! DELICATE NECKLACE WITH HAND STAMPED CHARMS  7// DOUBLE HORN CHARM NECKLACE  8// CUSTOMIZED DOOR MAT  9// LEATHER EARRINGS  10// PERSONALIZED TUMBLERS  11// PERSONALIZED TRAVEL CASE  12// LAVENDER BATH SALTS  13// AMETHYST SPIRIT QUARTZ CRYSTAL POINTS  14// FARM & NATURE-INSPIRED APPAREL  15// COMPLETE HEALING CRYSTALS GIFT SET  16// HAND PAINTED CERAMIC CUP  17// HIMALAYAN PINK & DEAD SEA SALTS FOR BATH SOAK  18// PERSONALIZED LUGGAGE TAGS  19// ONYX EAR CRAWLERS  20// WOODEN NAME PUZZLE

“When you buy from a small business an actual person does a happy dance.”

It’s no secret that I love supporting small businesses, our family runs one of our own! As much as I love my go-to shopping retailers like Nordstrom and Amazon I have a TON of appreciation for how hard small business owners and their employees work.

CHECK OUT MORE 2019 GIFT GUIDES!

CLICK HERE to browse my other gift guides including for HIM, HER, KIDS AGES 0-3, THE BEAUTY LOVER, THE GARDENER, THE HOSTESS, THE TRAVELER, ALL THINGS COZY.

 

Small Shop Sales Round Up

Below I’ve rounded up sales from my favorite small shops! Thank you for supporting the little guys!

Artifact Uprising

My go-to spot for prints, albums and photo cards of any sort! Plus we have their baby book and it is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen! 10% off sitewide, 15% off $100+, 20% off $175+, use code VERYMERRY

Careha & Co.

My favorite shop for amber necklaces, teether and teething necklaces! Plus she has so much more! 25% off sitewide, use code THANKS25

Bannor Toys

Timeless, classic, handmade wooden toys. We have the stacker, blocks and wooden tractor for Luca. Plus you can customize some by adding the child’s name! Free shipping

Black Butterfly Signs

Gorgeous one-of-a-kind signs for the home, plus seasonal items as well! 20% off sitewide, no code needed

Cuddle & Kind

These stuffed animals are adorable and your money is going to a GREAT cause. 15% off site wide + double your impact (1 doll = 20 meals), use code KIND15

Dreamy Presets

I use the “Millenial Pink” lightroom preset and it’s on sale! Up to 75% off, no code needed

Gathre Mats

Beautiful leather play mats for babies, yoga mats, place mats and more! We have two of their mats! 15% off + free shipping with code GATHREBFCM15

George Hats

My favorite wide brim hats for Luca, so freaking cute!! 15% off with code GHSS19

Hello Birdie Birdie

The most beautiful hand-made mobiles for your baby’s nursery! We have the llama one, it really is gorgeous! Discounts vary, up to 30% off

Kortni Jean

Superrrrr cute swimsuits for women and matching for the whole family (we have a set)! They also actively promote body positivity, #swimsuitsforall, which is near and dear to my heart! Buy more, save more up to 20%

Leah Alexandra Jewlery

My ear crawlers you guys always ask about plus so many more beautiful pieces! 20% off your order with code BLACKFRIDAY2019

Lindsay Letters Co.

Gorgeous hand lettered prints and artwork. Seriously one of my favorites! 20% off sitewide, use code TIDINGS20

The Little Milkbar

No sale, I just love their merch (I own a few tees) and their mission!

Lovevery Baby

Beautiful and functional playgyms and play kits, we subscribe for Luca and also gifted the play kits to my new niece! $20 off your purchase of $100+ with code LOVEFRIDAY20

Made By Mary

Gorgeous handmade, feminine jewelry! 15% off select items with code BLACKFRIYAY

Mini + Meep

My favorite onesies! They’re organic and the designs are hand drawn! 25% off sitewide, use code JOYFUL

Mebie Baby 

Swaddle blankets, onesies and accessories, I had a few of these for Luca and the quality is awesome! 20% off sitewide, use code HOLIDAY

Nancy Anderson Fit

I’ve done her 30 day slim down, ab rehab and c-section courses and I swear by them!! Everything is on sale, up to 30% off!

Nature Supply Company

The best farm and nature-inspired tees for adults, babies and kiddos, I have several styles for the whole family! 20% off sitewide, no code needed

Porter Lane Home

Some of my favorite pillows I’ve ever bought! Very modern-farmhouse and high quality! 25% off, no code needed

Rachel Allen

Intentionally designed products for the joyful, inspired, and creative dreamer!

Rags to Raches

Super cute clothes for kiddos, fashionable and functional! 25% off sitewide, no code needed

The Silver Wren

Beautiful, handcrafted and personalized jewelry created using the art of hand stamping each letter one at a time. The perfect gift for any woman! 20% off sitewide, no code needed

Solly Baby

The wrap we used every day from birth to 6 months, so many memories! 20-30% off sitewide

Starlis & the Galaxy

The MOST beautiful crystals! Free Shipping on $125+

Tubby Todd

The only shampoo/body product I use on Luca! 15-20% off sitewide

Whimsy & Wellness

My favorite shop for essential oil accessories! Everything is on sale, up to 40% off

Wild Bird

My favorite slings for babies and toddlers, the best fabrics! Lots of markdowns up to 40% off

 

Hope you found this small shop gift guide helpful! Let me know if you have any questions, you can leave a comment on this post or always catch me in DM’s on Instagram!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING SMALL SHOPS!

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  1. 50 Holiday Gift Ideas For The Cozy Girl - Christine Covino says:
    December 5, 2019 at 6:49 pm

    […] Small Shop Gift Guide […]

    Reply
  2. 50 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Beauty Lover - Christine Covino says:
    December 7, 2019 at 6:28 pm

    […] Small Shop Gift Guide […]

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  3. 100 of the Best Holiday Gift Ideas for Her - Christine Covino says:
    December 8, 2019 at 5:49 am

    […] CLICK HERE to browse my other gift guides including for HIM, KIDS AGES 0-3, THE BEAUTY LOVER, THE GARDENER, ALL THINGS COZY, SMALL SHOPS. […]

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  4. 5 Easy Ways to Support Local Businesses - Christine Covino says:
    December 12, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    […] CHECK OUT MY SMALL SHOP 2019 GIFT GUIDE RIGHT HERE! […]

    Reply
  5. 30 Unique & Thoughtful Gift Ideas for the Hostess - Christine Covino says:
    December 16, 2019 at 5:06 am

    […] CLICK HERE to browse my other gift guides including for HER, HIM, KIDS AGES 0-3, THE BEAUTY LOVER, ALL THINGS COZY, THE TRAVELER, THE GARDENER, SMALL SHOPS. […]

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Spent some time at one of my favorite places in th Spent some time at one of my favorite places in the world earlier this week, with some of my favorite people, and it was so dang good for the soul 🌸 more flowering tree and shrub content comin at you this week just because! Also...⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
🌿 Mini Gifting 🌿⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
A little thank you for supporting me!! I’m gifting a personally curated gardening package to one winner, all you have to do is follow me @christinemcovino and my other account @christineandcoliving, then head to my stories for the rest of the entry instructions 🥳
Happy national gardening day 🌱🌸 may you have Happy national gardening day 🌱🌸 may you have a bountiful crop this year, whatever you grow! ((Peony tip: feed early-emerging shoots with a high phosphorus fertilizer for strong, lush blooms!)). Find more gardening tips on the blog, link is in my bio 🌿
Liam ♡ In an alternate universe we would be cele Liam ♡ In an alternate universe we would be celebrating your first birthday. You should be crawling around, playing, laughing and eating too much cake today.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
You should be here.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
My sweet boy I miss you more than words, I ache to hold you. We walked the orchard and planted flower seeds in your memory. We got winks from you in the form of the earth waking up, all the yellow blooms, including your magnolia which couldn’t have had better timing. It’s comforting to see you say hi.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
And still, you should be here.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
He was here for a time. He existed. He mattered. He deserves to be celebrated.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I loved him from the second I saw the +test. I fell deeper in love every time I saw his energetic body bounce around on the ultrasound screen, I have all the blissful bump photos and I have the memory of his sweet little kicks. God I miss those kicks.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
My love did not end when he died.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Liam’s ashes, a few scan photos, my memory and an index card with his footprints are all that remains. I both hate that this is all I have left and am eternally grateful that I have them at all.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I found some comfort today but these anniversaries are also hard. I relive the trauma. The terror, shock, fear, disbelief, agony of being told your baby is dying. So deep and so crushing. Part of me died in that moment, part of me will never be the same again.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
There is nothing in this world more painful than living without your baby. You feel the heaviness, the absence, the longing for them constantly. The grief is always there, it ebbs and flows but it changes you to your core. You adapt to feeling the constant emptiness, your aching heart, your soft but heavy eyes, the shortness of your breath, that lump in your throat.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
And yet, I feel immensely fortunate to have carried you for every moment of your life. I will never regret the time we spent together, loving you, carrying you, feeling you, celebrating you and envisioning the life you would have had. I will carry the insatiable longing to hold you until the day I die. You will always be my baby. You will always be missed. I will never stop loving and mothering you, my sweet Liam James ❤️
How did we do with the bow!? It’s growing on me How did we do with the bow!? It’s growing on me I think 🥰😍
April 3, 2021 • just us this Easter weekend 💗 April 3, 2021 • just us this Easter weekend 💗
I’m not quite sure how she turned 5 months in th I’m not quite sure how she turned 5 months in the blink of an eye 🥺 My Elora. We are doing great ❤️ we’re nursing and bedsharing and babywearing and contact napping and I’m literally soaking in every moment with her. Months 4 and 5 have been the best yet. My body knows what to do and I follow her cues. We’re super in tune and I feel like it’s making both of us happier humans.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
There is this unspoken narrative in our society that somehow attachment between mom and baby is a weakness, a crutch. I say f that, it’s one of the most beautiful strengths that exists in this universe. Period.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Mama if you’re reading this and need some validation or reassurance, I got you. It’s ok to cuddle and rock and nurse and sing your baby to sleep. Follow your instincts, tune out the noise, feel empowered in your motherly intuition and find your confidence in that. It is so incredibly liberating.⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
I know it’s a confusing landscape out there for new moms, I hear you, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and stress that you’re not doing something “right” or that your baby is “broken.” I’m not saying motherhood is easy for me, it’s the hardest (and best) thing I’ve ever done, but when women have the support they actually need and feel empowered in motherhood, that’s next-level world-changing stuff.⁣⁣⁣⠀
⁣⁣⠀
Mama knows best, never forget it ❤️

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