With my new journey into blogging comes new topics I can write about! I'm really excited to blog about what is in my diaper bag! Now I know that I'm not carrying anything that is groundbreaking but since L is getting older, I've become more efficient at what I carry and how I carry it.

So, here is what's in my diaper bag!



HONORABLE MENTION: I had to start off with what kind of bag I have... I didn't splurge for much for myself...except for the bag. I knew I wanted this bag way before I became pregnant! You can't go wrong with Marc Jacobs.  Its a sturdy, super roomy bag and has a billion pockets. I also wasn't into colorful bags and this bag came in a variety of colors...including black.

1. Similac RTF Formula (Supplementation): In times that I can't breastfeed or if I've left the pumped milk at home, I keep a couple of spares of formula in the bag. They come in these 2 oz doses which are way convenient. Since she drinks more than that at a time, I just bring a bottle and will add multiple bottles into that.

2. Sweater: You never know when the weather will suddenly turn on you. Today it was awesomely sunny but in our part of town, we get what's called a "Delta Breeze," and it gets pretty windy and chilly so I make sure to keep a sweater in her bag just in case. This super cute sweater is from Target and I love the loose knit and the colors for Spring!

3. Supply Bags: These bags are GREAT for organizing! They have 7 different sizes and the biggest can fit all the diaper supplies and then some. They are also travel-friendly. Travelon Set of 7 Packing Envelopes, Clear with Black Trim, Assorted Sizes
4. Diapers: Well, this is a MUST to have as I'm sure you already know! I usually go between the BabyGanics and Seventh Generation Diapers when I'm out and about. When I'm home, I use cloth diapers.

5. Aveeno Diaper Rash Cream: Aveeno Baby Diaper Rash Cream, Fragrance Free, 3.7 Ounce I was using Boudreau's Butt Cream which has worked well when she has had a diaper rash BUT that particular product shouldn't be used with cloth diapers as we have recently found out. In high amounts, itt gives microfiber a fishy smell when they're dirty and that is NO BUENO. I've read that its the high amount of zinc oxide (and some creams use fish oil) that is the reason for the smell but the zinc is the reason the cream is so effective. The Aveeno Cream doesn't have as high of Zinc so it shouldn't give the diapers that smell and still help with diaper rash.

6. Arm & Hammer Diaper Bags: Munchkin Arm and Hammer Bag Refill I keep a roll of these in the bag to dispose of dirty diapers or keep cloth ones contained till we get home. They have a super pleasant smell to them and they come in bright colors so you can't miss them if you throw it in your bag.
7. Bebe Au Lait Cover: While I don't breastfeed in public, I do use my cover in the car (if I really do need to breastfeed). Its a light cotton and fits in the diaper bag in one of the pockets. I also use it to cover the stroller if extra shade is needed.
8. Happy Baby Organic Puffs: HAPPYBABY Organic Puffs Sampler  L is all about these snacks! These were a great snack to introduce practice with her pincer grip and they dissolve easily and quickly when she eats them. They don't taste sugary (the hubby and I have had a few ourselves lol) and 75 pieces equal 1 serving so a lot goes a long way.

9. Snacks for Mama: I think its very important to not forget about yourself when packing the diaper bag. I'm very much a snacker and if we're running errands, hitting up Starbucks for a coffee and snacks can add up quick. I like to take a piece of fruit or pack a sandwich and take a bottle of water for when we are on the go.

10. Mama Sunnies: Unfortunately L isn't with the sunnies trend yet so she wear a hat when we are outside BUT I'm pretty adamant about wearing sunglasses.

11. Phone: Ok, nowadays who doesn't have their phone with them?! Do you remember when cell phones (or the internet) didn't exist (I do!)? We do everything from taking pictures/video to searching the web for various things to making phone calls or texting. This is a MUST-HAVE! I do try not to use it a lot in front of her because I don't want to make an impression that people need to be on their phones all the time.

12. Mama Supplies: Lastly, I keep one small pouch for myself which includes
lipstick (Rimmel #08 from the Kate Moss Line is my go-to) , lip liner (Rimmel's Exaggerate in Epic), gum, and $20.


What's in your diaper bag?

Hello Lovelies!

I thought I'd switch it up a bit and write about baby stuff! If you don't already know (she's kind of all over my Instagram), I have a 9.5 month old little girl named Lily. As a new mommy, I'm sure all moms can relate when I say that there is just an OVERLOAD of products out there for your little ones! When I talk to my mom, mother-in-law or even grandmother-in-law, they all say they never had any of the gadgets that I talk about when they were having children.  Even before I had Lily, I was pinning all kinds of things that I wanted to get for her....anywhere from super cute clothes, products to make my life easier (like a baby food maker) or even the techiest of gadgets to keep tabs on my little one. When I started my baby registry, I was so overwhelmed because there was just so much out there. As it turns out, you don't really need everything (although a diaper wipe warmer is nice and won't wake a baby at 3am) and we've survived without all of the non-necessities.

Here are my Top 10 choices:
1. Cloud B Sound Machine Soother, Sleep Sheep: White noise around a sleeping baby is a MUST in my opinion. How frustrating is it when your baby wakes from a dog barking just as you put her down to sleep? The Cloud B comes in several different animals and has 8 different sounds (we liked the mother's heartbeat/water sound the best). It has two timers, 25 and 45 minutes and is battery powered. This has come in handy when we are traveling!

2. Marc Jacobs Diaper Bag: I looked at several diaper bags and this one by far was the roomiest and has a lot of pockets in the interior. It has a pretty decent zipper on it so I feel secure packing it to the brim with stuff and know that it won't unzip. It also has a decent sized diaper changing pad. While its a little pricey, I think that I'll be using this after we've outgrown the baby stage.

3. Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin: We LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Its well written and the illustrations keep our little one entertained. If you love dragons and you love tacos...this book is the way to go!

4. ErgoBaby 360 Carrier (in black): I had another carrier before I purchased this one and the one feature it was lacking was the front carry but the ErgoBaby made up for it! We can even do a side carry. I also feel that the Ergo has less fabric than my previous carrier so she stays cooler when being carried. I do wish it had a small pocket though for keys.

5.  Philips Avent DECT Baby Monitor with Temperature Sensor and Night Mode: There are so many monitors out there but we loved this monitor for the range. We were able to go outside into our front yard to get the mail and it never signaled us. The battery life on it is great as well, we were able to use it for a week before having to charge it. It definitely gave us the piece of mind when we had to leave the room.

6. UppaBaby Stroller (Cruz): This stroller is AMAZING. We didn't want to get the bigger version (the Vista) because I didn't feel I was going to use all of its features like the bassinet. I think the biggest thing about the stroller I was sold on was the basket space. There is A LOT of it! When we go to the Farmer's Market on Sundays, we are able to fill that bad boy up and have room for her diaper bag. The seat also has a lever which can recline to almost a flat position and the lever feels well constructed. We also bought an adapter for our car seat (which is a Graco), (7.) the infant insert which helped when she was under 6 months and a (8.) stroller caddy which holds so much in its pockets (and a bottle of water and my iced coffee).

9. Aiden&Anais Swaddle Blankets: I absolutely love these blankies! They're super soft after washing and they double as breastfeeding covers, stroller covers, light blankets. And they come in really cute prints. I chose a subtle coral printed set. 

10. Medela Freestyle Breast Pump: If you're breastfeeding, at some point, you may need a breastpump if you'll be away from your little one for a few hours (or just for a little sanity!). I recommend the Freestyle because it's easier to use if you travel (whether it be on vacation, business or just to Grandma's house). And don't forget the accessories...and the hands-free bra!

11. Cuisinart Stick Blender: Since we make all of Lily's food at home, we absolutely had to have a stick blender to puree her food. We have another stick blender but we found the Cuisinart is quieter and feels sturdier than the other. 

12. Baby Einstein Jumper: When Lily was 6 months old and definitely able to sit unassisted, we bought this fabulous-ness. We have a galley style kitchen so it was hard to keep an eye on her if she was sitting in the living room while I was doing the dishes. So now, when i'm in the kitchen, I'll put her in this jumper so I can see her. We love the classical music it plays and she enjoys jumping around in it (for at least the time it takes for me to clean the kitchen - 20 minutes). It has 5 different height levels too! We have an older version but thought i'd post the newer. I wish we had the newer version becuase I read that it can fold flat for storage. 

13. H&M Nursing Tanks: I didn't think I was going to like these when I first opened the package because they felt flimsy to me but I ended up really liking them because they were lightweight as I was nursing in the summertime. They have great support and they were perfect to put under other shirts if we were going out. 

14. OrganicKidz Baby Bottle Tree: I really wanted a drying rack for all the bottles and this was perfect. It has varying sized pegs for different things (bottles, nipples, etc.). And it was super cute on top of the counter. The bamboo is antibacterial so mold won't grow on it.

Honorable Mention:

13. Medela Nipple Ointment: When I was in the hospital, this was the ointment that the nurses gave me when I started breastfeeding. This gave me more relief than the natural one I had packed in my bag. I ended up ditching the natural nipple butter and buying more of this ointment.

What are your favorite mom necessities?