8 Recent Reads I Loved vol. 2

Hi friends!

As many of you know the time leading up to when Jay was born aka the whole entire month of September seemed to stretch on forever for me. I was ready for him to arrive and with prodromal labor I wasn’t quite sure when he would make his appearance. Of course he waited until the absolute last day of the month which gave me plenty of time to find ways to keep my mind busy. One of my favorite past times is reading which I know is no surprise to you since I talk about reading all the time here (I even have a whole page on here dedicated to books!) but in the month of September I set a new record for myself and read 5 full books. FIVE. Obviously I needed the distraction! So I’m coming at you with another recent reads post and trust me these are all fantastic and worth your time. Don’t forget to hop over to GoodReads and follow my reading list, because I don’t share everything I read on here and it can be really tough to choose. But never fear I’m already halfway into another book post… there’s always more good things to read!

Mom Genes – By Abigail Tucker

Jon actually purchased this book for me for Mother’s Day last May and at first I didn’t really understand why he did. After several months of reading (it has a lot of content I wanted to digest after reading), and after having Jon read it, I’m so glad he bought it for us. This is one of those books that you have to be patient with because it contains so much information you need to take a break to process what you are learning. It also helped me understand myself as a mom and my own mom more than I could have imagined. The basis of the book is talking about the biology behind moms and why we are the way we are. That we truly can’t control many of the biological reactions that happen in order for us to become moms. Truly a fascinating read that was so appropriate for me to read while pregnant.

The Dollhouse- By Fiona Davis

Fiona Davis is quickly becoming one of my new favorite authors. She is so inventive in how she connects different timelines and characters while progressing all of their stories at once. “The Dollhouse” is based in New York City at two different times and somehow the women featured in these two times are connected by a mystery that unfolds as the book progresses. It was a fast and enjoyable read that made old New York City glamour come to life.

The Lost Apothecary – By Sarah Penner

I found this book on a random reading list and I had literally no idea what I was getting into when I picked it up. It took me all of about five minutes to get hooked and from then on I was totally captivated. Sarah Penner does a fantastic job of keeping the line of reality and what might be possible very blurry. The story features the unlikely friendship of an old apothecary and a young girl who didn’t realize they needed each other. The two main characters inevitably find themselves in a twisted predicament that binds them together and truly seems impossible for them to overcome. Do they? Well that’s up to you to find out…

The Defined Dish: Whole30 Endorsed, Healthy and Wholesome Weeknight Recipes – By Alex Snodgrass

This book was a gift from my sisters and another one that took me a while to get through. I am the worst when it comes to trying to process information I read. I love to take my time and spread it out over small doses to be sure I can absorb all the information. “The Defined Dish” is a recipe book so it was fairly easy to read through a section or two but then I wanted to try all the recipes which is where I had to slow myself down. I loved how easy yet complex the food is and Alex is a wonderful story teller and cooking instructor. This is a great read for someone who wants to shake up their weeknight meals like we do.

Birth Story Pregnancy guidebook + journal: A 42-week Discovery into Your Pregnancy – By Heidi Synderburn

This book is a super special one for me because it was written by my Doula and friend Heidi. It’s the most comprehensive and least scary maternity book I have ever read. Yes I am biased because I know the author but also I am being totally honest. Most pregnancy books are scary and don’t tell you everything you need to know. This book is broken into one week chapters so you can read it all at once or do like I did and read a chapter a week all the way through your pregnancy. Each chapter features a birth story that Heidi attended along with helpful information to guide you towards birth. Her goal is to help you not only feel prepared for birth but not fearful of it. Birth can be really scary, especially for someone who hasn’t done it before and Heidi takes those fears and replaces them with excitement. Highly recommend reading this book instead all the other maternity books on the market.

The Girl in the Mirror – By Rose Carlyle

“The Girl in the Mirror” is one of those books that I stayed up way too late reading and then when it finished I immediately felt like I needed to talk about it with someone. It was compelling, bewildering, terrifying, and thrilling all at once. It had me asking “Is this possible?” and saying “No way” all throughout. Its the perfect book club book or “buy a copy and share with all your friends” book. Go read it so we can talk about it, please!

The Masterpiece – By Fiona Davis

Fiona Davis did it again! Another split time line story based in New York City featuring the glamorous world of art and two women. I learned so much but also found myself appreciating aspects of New York I had never really considered before. Centered around Grand Central Terminal there were so many bits of history and information sprinkled into the story that I kept pausing my reading to go look up what they were talking about. I felt like the story ended too quickly for me and I wanted to keep living with the wonderful women who’s story was being told.

The Great Alone – By Kristin Hannah

I am forever a sucker for a good Alaskan adventure story and this was definitely no exception. Kristin Hannah who also wrote “Firefly Lane” is a fantastic author who gives her audience just enough but never everything. She is so good at helping her readers become totally invested in the long term journey of the characters while making you feel like you truly are right next to them seeing this through their perspective. “The Great Alone” is about Leni and her unconventional childhood in the 70’s with her Vietnam veteran father and her ever faithful mom as they start their lives over in the wilderness of the Alaskan bush. This is one of those books that satisfies the romance and the adventure lovers.

Have you read anything interesting lately? What should I add to my list?!

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Halloween Books for Young Kids

Boo! Happy October! How fun is it to get into the seasons and holidays with young kids? I love experiencing each holiday through my kids eyes and making little fun seasonal changes to our house and routine. We usually put out a few small Halloween decorations that the kids can touch and move (I learned a long time ago not to use anything too fragile or special with all young kids). I also have a small collection of books to make bed time reading a little more exciting for each holiday. It’s a fun way to shake things up and teach the kids about the upcoming celebration.

This year on the blog I am going to do a series that will feature our favorite kids books for the upcoming holiday at the beginning of October, November, and December. So to celebrate the beginning of October and the arrival of the official Halloween season, here are some Halloween Books for Young Kids!

Room on the Broom By Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

This book has been around for a while, but with the release of a Netflix short movie a few years ago it has made a major comeback in popularity. We actually have two different copies of this book and I haven’t gotten rid of one because each time one kid starts reading it another wants to as well. They absolutely love this story and honestly so do I. The premise of the book is a sweet little witch who keeps adding to her little crew of friends. She cares for each one she finds and the message is just too cute. Highly recommend!

Little Blue Truck’s Halloween By Alice Schertle, Illustrated by Jill McElmurry

We first bought this book when Emily was little and every year I keep waiting for her to grow out of it, but she gets just as excited to see it again and again. It’s a lift the flap that includes animals, costumes, and some fun little rhymes. I don’t know that I can think of Halloween and not say “Beep Beep Boo!” anymore thanks to this book.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything By Linda D. Williams, Illustrated by Megan Lloyd

This was our new addition to our collection last year and at first I was a little wary our kids would be scared when reading it. Turns out they actually love it. The rhymes and rhythms that come from the story along with the hilarious story line are entertaining to read over and over.

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever By Steven Kroll

This story is great for your slightly older kids that have the attention span for a longer story and love a little mix up. The two main characters take care of the same pumpkin and it ends up being the biggest pumpkin ever! They use team work to each accomplish their goal and its a great example of the benefits of working together.

The Mouse in the Hammock, a Halloween Tale By Bethany Brevard

Every year we try to find one new book to add to our collection, and this year it is “The Mouse in the Hammock” which was just released this year. I love the repetition of directions in this book that the kids can catch on to and move to the words of the story. Its about a little mouse looking for the perfect Halloween costume while also discovering how grateful he is for the light!

Honorable mentions:

Halloween with my unicorn By Hanona Ras

Our kids LOVE to color, so finding a seasonally relevant coloring book particularly one that also includes unicorns is a major win. Add in some extra Halloween stickers that I saved from last year and this is going to be a big success. If they don’t fill the entire book this year, I will save it in our Halloween bin for next year- if the kids are willing to part with it! I will say this book ha a watermark in each picture and I’m not sure why. Wouldn’t recommend if this is something that will bother you!

Fancy Nancy’s Haunted Mansion: A Reusable Sticker Book for Halloween By Jane O’Connor Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser 

Last year’s activity book was a Fancy Nancy Halloween story with re-usable stickers and I’m happy to report that it survived to be able to reuse for this year too! Reusable stickers can be really hit and miss but this book was a big hit last year and looks like it will be again this year!

Are there any Halloween books that you would recommend? Did your parents do anything special with books for the seasons or holidays when you were little?

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Postpartum Must Haves To Stock Up On Before Baby Comes

Getting ready for a new baby takes a ton of work. Chances are if you’re expecting or know someone expecting she’s probably focused her “preparation energy” mostly on things that baby will need and may have totally forgotten what she might need as a new mom. As I head into my fourth postpartum journey here are a few “must haves” that I always stock up on or try to have ready for myself before baby arrives.

• Fridamom supplies– The hospital provides you with these kinds of things but it makes a big difference for me when I bring my own supplies to the hospital. The maxi-pad ice packs are amazing.
• Nursing Pads– I typically use these disposable ones but there are wonderful washable ones as well.
• Lanolin– Trust me.
• Hakaa– This wasn’t a thing for my first baby but once I got one it was a game changer. It helped me store so much extra frozen milk with my second and third kiddos. Also definitely get the one with the cap because it’s heartbreaking to knock it over in the middle of the night. I used this in lieu of a pump plenty of times and was so glad I had it.
• Nursing pillow- Absolutely a personal choice which one you use. I registered for a Boppy with my first pregnancy and ended up buying a “My breast friend” about two days into my nursing journey. This was what my lactation consultant suggested and I’ve used it for all my kids.
• Loose, forgiving clothes-Doesn’t matter what brand or if they are new, just that you can wear them comfortably and they give you easy nursing access. I love nursing pajama dresses for the immediately postpartum time and then usually opt for a piko shirt and leggings as time goes on.
• Ollie Gray Nursing Bra– After nursing three different kids for almost a year each, I think I can safely say I know what I want out of a nursing bra and Ollie Gray is my favorite. I will do a full review soon, but for now just trust me and get yourself at least one if not several of these.
• A heavy duty water bottle- Fill up a massive bottle to have next to your bed or nursing station overnight. I usually never drink from a water bottle with a spout except for overnight nursing. There were too many accidental overtired water spills all over me and baby that necessitated starting to use a lid. Its also really helpful to be able to open one handed because I usually get super thirsty as soon as I start nursing. I typically use my hydroflask for overnight and then something a little less bulky for during the day.
• Nursing entertainment- Doesn’t matter what you choose but definitely have a plan for something to entertain you. Staying awake during the overnight feedings can be hard and having something to entertain you is very helpful. Whether its the library app, a good podcast. a new vlog episode, or a bingeworthy TV series, find something that can keep you up.
• Frozen foods- If someone asks you for a baby gift idea instead of asking for an actual gift ask for a frozen meal. Or do what I do and just stock your freezer with Trader Joe’s and Costco frozen meal options. Either way works.
• Pumping supplies- Even if you don’t plan to pump or bottle feed it is always better to be prepared.
• A comfortable nursing place- Make yourself a little nursing or pumping corner in each section of your house. For me upstairs in my bedroom is always the first spot and then downstairs I have a comfy recliner with a table next to it.

While I would say there are plenty of other things to add to this list, with modern day online shopping you can get what you need as you need it so it’s better not to get too much in advance. Online overnight Amazon shopping is totally fair game when you are feeding a newborn and there’s always something you’ll need but didn’t think of in advance. Just have the essentials for the first few days and then order or have someone pick up what you need. No need to have absolutely everything before baby comes.

What did I forget? What is a must have for you postpartum?

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Lululemon Align Leggings Review- Best leggings for maternity and postpartum

Remember a few weeks ago when I said I was growing out of all my clothes? I have literally gotten down to about four to six outfits I rotate through at this point. Whether its comfort from the heat or just fitting into something, there’s not a ton left in my maternity wardrobe lately and I’m ok with that. I do laundry most days and it will make packing up my maternity bin much faster once baby arrives. One clothing item that is in the rotation and never fails me are my Lululemon Align Leggings.

I seriously can’t believe it took me until my pregnancy with Maggie, who is our third kid to realize how awesome these leggings are. For my first two pregnancies I had to have a whole selection of multiple sizes of leggings that would only fit me for a few weeks at a time. I would wear leggings that were way too big waiting for them to fit only to grow out of them way too fast. Not to mention that they were not comfortable at all and it gets expensive very quickly to have to replace your entire wardrobe every few weeks. So when a friend mentioned that I should look into getting a pair of Aligns I was skeptical because let’s be serious what kind of pants are actually going to fit throughout your entire pregnancy and postpartum? I headed to the store and picked up a pair one size larger than my normal legging size which is what they suggested and then I didn’t stop wearing them the entire pregnancy or afterwards.

Seriously I have no idea what they weave into the fabric of these pants, but they fit from day one of my pregnancy with Maggie all the way until the day that I delivered. Then they were still my top choice months into my postpartum journey and still remain my preference all the way into this pregnancy as well. I added a second pair to my rotation with a longer length for colder days and then a third with the “super high rise” option. I now typically prefer to wear the super high rise because they feel the most comfortable with my giant belly but my other pairs still fit great as well. Here I am multiple years later, and almost an entire second pregnancy later with the same pants and they still fit.

So besides the fact that they have super soft magical fabric (NULU fabric to be specific), what else makes these leggings my top choice for maternity and postpartum? No matter how far you stretch them out, and I REALLY stretch mine, they always go back to their original size. If you find the right fit, they stay put. I don’t have to adjust them or pull them back over my tummy a lot (especially the super high rise option). The align design also comes in multiple lengths (21-28 inches), bike shorts, and joggers so there’s a lot to work with. I stuck to just the leggings for a while but my mom gifted me a pair of the bike shorts for my birthday this year and they have been a fun new addition.

Nothing is perfect and neither are these pants although they do come pretty close. The fabric was originally intended primarily for yoga which it is why it is so soft. This can also mean that if you wear them a lot like I do or for high impact exercise like I do the inner thighs of your leggings MAY pill. It can also happen if you ignore their washing instructions which I also happened to do. I was super disappointed when this happened and the store actually replaced mine for free. They have reformulated the fabric since I originally purchased and I haven’t had a problem with any of my newer pairs. As it turns out I wasn’t the only one living in my aligns?! 🤷‍♀️

So are they worth the $98 price tag? Yes. In general Lululemon is a favorite brand for me and I honestly think the align leggings are worth every cent. I have started gifting them as a maternity or postpartum gift to friends and family because they have been so wonderful for me. Align leggings are not made specifically as maternity pants but every time I wear them I feel like they were custom made for me.

Now do you understand why I really don’t mind that most of my clothes don’t fit anymore? Who needs to fit into anything else when you have the perfect pair of buttery soft leggings that work for exercise, lounging and everyday life during every part of your pregnancy and postpartum journey.

This is not a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.

Veer Wagon Review

I started looking at purchasing a Veer over two years ago when Sophie (our second oldest) grew out of our double stroller. I wanted a safe place for her to be able to sit, that was comfortable, and would be easily transportable because I was finding more and more frustration with assembling our stroller every time we would go somewhere to have her not want to squeeze in, or have trouble maneuvering the stroller around obstacles/terrain one handed while chasing after kids. After Maggie was born it became very obvious that our double stroller was no longer serving much of a purpose at all (it is actually just taking up space in our dining room currently), but nothing had taken its place. The Veer was repeatedly an obvious option for us to try as our family continued to grow but we were deterred by the cost and kept thinking if we held out we could make our stroller work.

Fast forward to earlier this summer when we took our first beach trip of the season and discovered how much help we were going to need for our next beach trip when we knew we would be staying farther away from the beach and I was going to be very pregnant. We weighed the pros and cons and essentially came up with the agreement that we would go see a Veer in a store and then decide. So I toted all of our kids to a local store that carries Veer products and left within the hour as the proud owner of a new Veer.

So what is so great about this thing? It’s just a wagon right? Yes but no.

Veer wagons are made for hauling kids and stuff. They are meant to be used in all kinds of elements, terrains, and configurations. The wheels remind me of a BOB stroller but they are smaller and don’t require any air. The steel frame folds flat and the handle can adjust for pulling next to you, pushing like a stroller, or pulling as wagon behind you. The seats have buckles for each kid plus a footwell to accommodate longer legs as kids grow. Unlike a stroller I think a Veer wagon is perfect for a family who wants something to haul their kids from very little to much bigger. Taller kids wouldn’t be able to fit into a small wagon or stroller but the Veer allows plenty of space for growth.

Veer has been very smart in the engineering of this wagon and they have pretty much thought of everything you could possibly need. When you buy the wagon it comes with a snack tray, two cup holders, and the inside walls of the wagon are full of little pockets. You can hose it down after getting dirty which makes it much easier for me to feel ok with getting it dirty. Accessories are all sold separately but each has an awesome purpose. There’s an attachment you can use for an infant car seat, a nap system to turn the entire wagon into a bassinet, canopies and visors to keep the sun off, a bug net, a cargo basket that attaches to the back, a toddler comfort seat that has a five point harness for little kiddos that aren’t quite ready for the bigger seat (also comes in a fluffy warm fabric for colder weather), a weather shield, misting fans that fit inside the cup holders, and a travel bag. You can customize your wagon with color or printed side walls and purchase canopies that match. When we purchased ours, we also purchased the cargo basket, two canopies, and a nap system. We have a carseat attachment on order but just haven’t gotten it yet.

I think it’s fairly obvious that we have really enjoyed our Veer and found it to be a very suitable replacement for all our stroller needs and then some. I would say that nothing is perfect and neither is the Veer but it has been a really fantastic thing to own. It is odd to me that you have to purchase the canopies separately because they are such a vital part of the Veer message to “go out and explore” so I would definitely add that in to your initial cost. I also think having the cargo basket takes the Veer to another level. I can fit so much in that one basket and its nice to have my hands free. There’s plenty of room on the handles to attach a diaper bag so you can really carry a lot of stuff if you have the cargo basket too. When we were at the beach we were able to fit a tent, two beach chairs, a beach bag, several towels, a cooler, and two kids in our Veer for going back and forth to the beach. We used the snack tray to feed them meals on the beach and when we left we just hosed it all off to be ready for the next day.

Steering does take some time to adjust to (it definitely doesn’t steer like a stroller) but overall I think it is very easy to use. Tight corners and turns can be tedious at times (like maneuvering in and out of restrooms) but I also had trouble with those with strollers so that hasn’t been that much of an issue to me. On the beach the wheels rolled so well over compact sand but it did take some finagling to traverse the soft sand. We figured out that if you keep the front wheels elevated just slightly you can roll through fairly easily. One feature I did not realize how much I would enjoy was the ability for it to fold down. I was able to wagon Maggie into the doctor’s office recently and then fold the wagon down in the exam room for extra space when I wasn’t using it. It takes so much less time to unpack from my car so I feel more inclined to use it and take the kids places. I also greatly appreciate having a safe, clean space that the kids can be in that allows them to see and experience plenty without getting out.

If I could go back to when I was purchasing our double stroller I would seriously consider skipping it all together in lieu of a Veer. I love that it serves so many purposes and can be so versatile for our family’s needs. We’ve taken it on neighborhood walks, on city adventures, we’ve gone to the park, to the mall, even bridesmaid dress shopping, we’ve used it with just one kid, and we’ve squeezed in three kids (although that’s not how it is intended to be used), and yet each time it serves us so well. It is definitely an investment but unlike any stroller we have ever owned, we plan to use our Veer for many years to come.

Cheers to the Veer makers, they seriously know how to make a solid, smart, and awesome product.

All opinions are my own and this is not a sponsored post!

Moost Bag Review

Hi there! I hope you’re having a great week so far, we are spending ours at the beach and it has been lovely! Today’s post is about an amazing brand called Moost Bags. Stick around until the end because I may or may not be giving one away!

In May of 2020 our daughter Maggie made her own special entrance into the world with a fast and scary birth. She ended up in the NICU for a few days and then had to have minor surgery at the age of three months old. We spent a lot of time in the hospital or doctor’s offices for the first six months of her life and every time I took her it was increasingly difficult for me to feel like I wasn’t bringing germs home to a very fragile baby. I am grateful that our time for extra medical needs has since passed but while we were going through it I found myself trying to figure out how best to carry what we needed in a bag that wouldn’t bring Covid home. (at the time we still were learning whether Covid was transmittable by surfaces). I tried old Lululemon bags that I could wash in the washing machine or I was continually dousing my lovely Dagne Dover bag in Clorox, but that got old really fast. I was mentioning this to my friend and doula Heidi, and she suggested I look into getting myself a Moost bag.

Moost is a company owned and created by a mom and her mom. They wanted to make an interchangeable, fashion forward, functional, and customizable bag for moms, and I think they most certainly have done a wonderful job executing their vision.

Each Moost bag starts with a shell and you have over a dozen different colors to choose from. Each shell is the same size and made from the same easily wipeable material. I love that no matter where I put my bag, I have solid peace of mind that I can clean up whatever decides to stick to the waterproof shell. I can take the whole bag apart and wash the shell in soapy warm water or just use a wipe for a quick wash. I chose a blush pink for my outer shell and it still looks brand new after months of use.

Step 2 in your Moost bag assembly is to pick your handles. Yep, you read that right you get to pick your own handles. Each Moost has the option for several different styles of handle plus plenty of color options. Your bag really is totally unique, unless you choose to purchase one of the pre-assembled ones. I have black rope handles currently and for my next bag I have my eye on a pair of the vegan leather handles.

Next up is to pick your inner bag. You technically don’t have to use an inner bag if you don’t want to, I’ve seen a lot of people using just the outer shell and handles for an extra tote for water bottles and snacks but the inner shell makes these bags really special. All inner shells connect to the handles so they don’t slide around, zip closed, have two interior pockets, and are waterproof. I have spilled an entire water bottle of water inside of my bag, and found all my stuff floating inside but not a drop leaked out. (Maybe its time to find a better water bottle?) Inner shells come in canvas, linen, textured vegan leather, & a foiled texture vegan leather, and all with multiple color options. I currently have the beetlejuice inner canvas bag.

Once you have your bag assembled you can accessorize it with different trims. Whether its fur for the winter or a specialty tie dyed inner bag, the combinations are endless. Best part is that if you want to go for a slightly different look you don’t have to purchase a completely new bag. You can buy all the individual pieces separately so you can tailor your bag to your needs and look for any given day.

I am amazed with the amount of stuff I can fit into this bag. I currently have diaper supplies, my wallet, keys, multiple masks, sunglasses, all the little things that go in a purse like gum, plus I can fit my water bottle, extra diapers, and snacks if I want to. I love the size it comes in (although I wouldn’t be mad if there was a bigger one), it never feels bulky on my shoulder and it coincidentally fits perfectly into our wagon cargo bag.

I think it’s safe to say I’ve enjoyed using this bag.

Want a chance to win a Moost bag of your own? I’ve teamed up with Lauren Palmer (@Lgpalmer) to give a Moost bag away to one lucky winner! Hop over to either of our Instagram pages to enter!

Organizing with Jillian- New Pantry Edition

There are few things that will still make me actually giddy as an adult, and a freshly organized space turns me into the 7 year old version of myself when I saw a pony at a birthday party. Among the many amazing things Burn Bootcamp has added to my life, it brought my friend Jillian and I together. Jillian owns her own professional organizing company and I have had the honor of having her work on several of our spaces over the years we have known each other.

In our old house she overhauled our teeny tiny pantry and made it into a far more functional space. She took care of a major junk drawer issue in about five minutes, built us an adorable art corner in our old playroom, and helped us move Sophie and Emily into the same room, closet, and dresser before Maggie was born. We could find or categorize almost anything thanks to Jillian’s brilliant thoughts on everything from where certain items to go, to what to print out on the label. With the right bin that lady can transform any space.

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From the moment I knew we were moving, I was in Jillian’s ear asking her for help with our new space. Last week she came over and brought two of her sweet kids to play with mine while she worked. Project of the day was our new pantry, which is actually located in our laundry room and not in the kitchen. As we have been living in the house I’ve noticed that when I go to grab something out of the pantry I’m doing it quickly so having a super organized system is a must for this space. Here’s the before picture, and yes its a mess. You can totally judge because I’m judging just looking at it!

The first thing she does is come over to see the space, measure, and talk about what you’d like done with it. Then she goes and buys all the “product” aka the bins that make your junk look beautiful. On organization day she unloads her car with the caveat of “don’t get stressed by all the product I’m about to bring in, I always overbuy to be prepared” and then she makes a giant mess. She takes absolutely everything out of the space she’s working on, goes through each item and decides if it needs to be tossed, repackaged, or relocated.

A big part of our project this time was unpacking a lot of our Costco buys and re-doing bins from the old house. With such a big family we are definitely bulk shoppers but what things come in at the store is not necessarily what they should live in at your house. Jillian unloaded all our canned goods into dedicated bins and even found a bin to store our ginormous bag of rice she always makes fun of us for. She also re-labeled our old bins to repurpose them to work better for our new space.

Once everything was unpacked, she repacked it into a new nicely labelled home while I cleared away all the extra trash. It’s crazy how much space packaging can add to your pantry and just removing something from a box can allow you to fit so much more! What do you think? I keep going in just to admire her work.

One item checked off of our list for Jillian, and plenty more to go. Our whole kitchen needs some help, plus we haven’t even started with closets upstairs, or GASP baby prep. If you are in our area, look her up! Here’s her extremely satisfying instagram page that never disappoints with a before and after picture.

I wish I could say the rest of our weekend was as exciting as getting a newly re-organized pantry, but it was actually just an enjoyable and quiet few days. We checked off a few more home projects including getting a new baby gate installed, a trip to Costco (big surprise!), haircuts for the big girls and myself, and spent some much needed time together.

What does your week ahead look like? Are you a Costco shopper too?

Undercover Mama Review

I’m growing out of all my clothes.

Regular non-maternity clothes are long gone and now my maternity clothes selection is dwindling. Usually I keep a separate pile of extra big clothes for this time frame and also I raid Jon’s closet for anything I can find that might be comfortable for the last few weeks, but this time is different. I still have a whole trimester ahead of me and only a few things to wear. I was telling a friend about this and she made the obvious statement “well why don’t you buy something new that fits and makes you feel better?” My answer was that anything I buy won’t fit after the baby comes so what’s the point? Enter Undercover Mama. A brand I just happened upon that is helping bridge the gap for me. (literally there’s a gap between most of my shirts and pants these days)

Undercover Mama is a brand for moms developed by moms. The two co-founders are both moms and have 12 kids between the two of them so that alone makes me feel like they know what they are doing. I was so excited when they reached out with the chance to review a nursing tank and nursing/maternity top and I added in one of their dresses that doubles for maternity and nursing as well. My order shipped quickly and arrived right on time.

I picked an Olive green color for the nursing top and was elated to see that it fits me right now. The shirt is on the longer side which works great for my ever growing belly and for later when I’m nursing and want more coverage. It has a higher neck line which is pretty much the only kind of neck line I will wear these days and a nursing flap that isn’t too obvious but will be easy to use. The shirt actually comes with little clips or loops that you connect right to your nursing bra for easy access. I think that once I get the hang of the loops with a little practice this is easily going to be one of my favorite shirts for maternity and nursing.

All the nursing tanks, tops, and dresses come with the clips and loops to attach to a nursing bra. I do wish they had some options to clip separately because right now I’m only wearing them as maternity clothes so I don’t need them for nursing access yet and I keep forgetting they are attached when I go to take them off. But once I start nursing I know that the clips will be a huge advantage that I look forward to having.

I chose the gray fringe maternity and nursing dress in a size small and the sizing is more than generous. It has the same nursing clips/loops as the shirt so it will serve me well now and moving forward. I love that it is a longer length so when I’m chasing after my older kids now or later I don’t feel like I’m exposing the world to things they don’t need to see every time I bend down. I also really appreciate the higher neck line because it offers plenty of coverage for the ever changing situation on top plus a nursing flap that has a lovely little fringe detail.

The next piece I got was the nursing tank, which sadly isn’t maternity so it doesn’t exactly fit right now. The tank has the same loops/clips as the other pieces I tried. No straps! It clips right to your bra which I can imagine is a huge help for having less to mess with when hurrying to feed a hungry baby. All their clothing comes in multiple color or print options depending on what you choose.

I feel good about supporting a business who’s sole goal is my comfort and style. Nursing and pumping moms don’t always have the best options for cute, comfortable, and reasonably priced options so I’m grateful to have been able to add a few new items to my wardrobe to help get me through this pregnancy and into my next nursing journey.

If you’d like to check out Undercover Mama click here!

Family Vacation Packing Tips

One of the hardest parts of taking your family on vacation happens before you leave home. Trying to remember everything to pack and making sure it fits can be such a challenge! What if we need this? Or what is someone is sick? Or what if we don’t have a washing machine? Over the last few years I have started keeping a very specific and detailed packing list for our vacations to make packing easier. Every year I refer to the list and modify as needed because as kids grow or we have more kids a few items may change but the basic structure of the list always stays the same.

I’ve broken the list into five major categories: Bed, Bath, Outdoor, Kitchen, and Other with items listed in each. I also find that what we pack in makes a difference for how we pack so I have included a list of what kinds of packing supplies we use. Each trip is different so I edit as needed. I also will refer back to my list while we are traveling or have returned to remember if there’s something I wish we had packed or something we didn’t need at all.

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Packing Supplies:

What you use to pack for your trip can make a huge difference in how prepared you feel. If you can’t find what you need it can make things complicated and stressful. I find that less is always more when we pack so I try to have a bag for each category, and then it makes it easier to keep track of what we brought.

Packing cubes: I used to laugh at people who use packing cubes but now I never pack without them. As we had more kids it became super challenging to remember which bag had a particular child or set of children’s items in it. I also found that multiple bags added to logistical challenges when packing the car. So each family member has a set of packing cubes in a specific color. Depending on the trip we are taking we may only use one cube per family member and then all the cubes go into on bin or bag. I typically use my oversized Scout bag for all our cubes if we are driving and when we fly I can fit more in one suitcase instead of everything getting mixed together. When we arrive at our destination I will put each person’s cube in their designated room. The kids know which color their cube is and they can find their belongings easily versus having to dig through a shared bag. We have two different kinds of packing cubes and each have worked great. I picked them based off of color choices because they are such similar options. I use these for myself and Jon or these for the kids (each kid has a different color).

One bin for all toiletries and first aid: I have struggled with how to transport toiletries and medicine for years. We all use mostly the same products so it feels really redundant to pack small individual sets of things when I know the kids stuff will end up in the same bathroom as ours. So to conserve space and mental energy I started putting all our toiletries and medical supplies into one small rubbermaid bin. I will have individual items separated by Ziploc bags or by toiletry bags but it helps to keep it all in one easily moveable bin. I haven’t tried this method with flying yet but I imagine you could do something similar with one large bag. When we arrive at our destination we take the whole bin and place it on the counter so everyone knows where toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and all the other stuff is. This way all these items have a home base and have a better chance of making it home again.

One bag for kitchen supplies: If we are going somewhere that has a kitchen I always try to pack some supplies to make cooking easier. I will go into detail what those supplies are below in the kitchen category but for now just wanted to mention that I use a medium size Scout bag to transport any kitchen supplies. Then when we arrive that bag goes straight to the kitchen and we can keep our belongings organized and have less risk for leaving something behind.

Cardboard box for non-perishable food: Along the same theme of kitchen supplies, I usually try to pack snacks and dry goods if we are traveling somewhere that has a kitchen. This helps save on time in an un-familiar grocery store and can help save money. I have tried bringing items in other bags or bins, but a cardboard box always works great because you can get rid of it if you have emptied your supply of food (although I have yet to have that happen thanks to a husband who loves to shop at Costco).

Cooler: We tend to pack a cooler when we travel with things that transport well, that will allow us less shopping time while on vacation, and maybe even keep us driving longer with a meal on the road.

Car toys vs. house toys. vs. outside toys: I debated adding this category but it is a part of my packing process so here it is. I try to have a bag for car entertainment that includes things the kids don’t normally play with regularly at home. I keep the bag put away when we are home and then revamp it before we head out onto the road. Once we arrive at our destination it comes inside with us along with extra books, puzzles, and our Duplo basket. I know… of all the things to over pack with, we do bring our entire Duplo collection. Mainly because they are in an easy to carry bin and all of our kids can play with them right now. We then also will have an extra outdoor items like bubbles or pool floats that tend to make it into the “outside” bag with pool towels and sunscreen.

Now onto the list! This is a copy and paste of our master list, so not every item goes for every trip. We adjust according to where we are going and what we may be doing. Also you know your family best so if there’s something that would make a big difference for one of your family members, it may be helpful to make room for it. On our most recent trip Emily really wanted to be sure we brought our pencil sharpener for her colored pencils. Normally I wouldn’t pack something so un-useful and random but she LOVES coloring with colored pencils right now so it was a big deal for her to be able to sharpen them. I am also very pregnant so sleep is not the most comfortable which meant bringing my huge maternity pillow that would have been much easier to leave at home for packing logistics but was very helpful for me to bring.

Family Vacation Packing List:

Bed:

• Sound machine
• Nightlight
• Bed rail
• Pack n play with sheets
• Extra water proof mattress cover
• Wipes/Diapers
• Bed time books
• Clothes w/ suits and jammies for each family member

Bath:

• Toiletries
• Razor
• Toothbrushes
• Hair detangler
• Kids shampoo/conditioner
• Soap
• Extra toilet paper
• First aid
• Kids Benadryl
• Kids Tylenol
• Aloe
• Thermometer

Outdoor:

• Beach toys
• Bubbles
• Stroller- sometimes we opt to leave at home if we don’t think we will need it
• Sunscreen
• Floaties
• Towels
• Beach bag
• Kids sunglasses
• Kids shoes (tennis, water, play)
• Baby backpack- in exchange for the stroller

Kitchen:

• High chair
• Eating utensils
• Cups
• Reusable Water bottles
• Dishwasher soap
• Dish soap
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Ninja food processor
• Frying pan
• Baking sheets
• Any small amounts of spices we may need for meals we’ve planned
• Cast iron skillet
• Spatulas

Other:

• Video camera
• Chargers
• Apple TV- we tend to bring our own instead of trying to figure out how to work a new TV. Also nice to have music!
• Toys
• Art supplies
• Laundry detergent
• Travel baby entertainment chair

A lot of my packing skills come from my parents and from watching our favorite youtube family of travel journalists “The Bucket List Family”. I’ve learned that we can definitely do with less but also that it is really important to pack the essentials. There are stores most places you go so if there’s something you really need like more children’s Tylenol you can usually get some. We typically end up somewhere with a washing machine which means we can re-wear outfits so we pack minimal amounts of clothes especially for the beach where bathing suits rule anyways. Packing can be such a painful task or it can be super fun. Having this list has helped me make preparing for a trip much easier and keep my focus on the exciting vacation ahead.

Now tell me, what did I forget?!

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8 Recent Reads I’ve Loved

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Hi there! I know many people pass the time with Netflix or TV but I am a total book lover. I have been such a bookworm my whole life that when I was a kid my parents would take my current book away as punishment. I fill any free time I can snuggled up on the couch with a good book, so grab a mug and a comfy couch spot, here are 8 books I’ve read recently and loved.

The Rose Code By Kate Quinn

Anything Kate Quinn has written I have read and loved. Sometimes I think I should have lived during WWI/WWII because I am so fascinated by everything about that era. All of Kate’s books are about women working during the wars and making massive contributions to the war efforts that sometimes no one knows about.

“The Rose Code” focuses on women code breakers and leaves you sitting on the edge of your seat the majority of the book. It was one I read in about two days despite it being very long. I stayed up late and woke up early just to find out what happened to these ladies and how their journey panned out. The best part of the book is that at the end Kate gives you all the historical comparisons she used to tell you which parts are actually based off of real people!

Firefly Lane By Kristen Hannah

“Firefly Lane” is one of those books you fall into and never want to come out of. It’s the story of two best friends and spans over the course of decades in their lives. You feel like you know them as your own best friends and have lived so much of their lives with them the way that Kristin tells their story. I fell so deeply into this book that it had me in tears several times throughout the book. At one point my husband asked me why I would keep reading a book that kept me feeling so emotional and my response was “I just can’t stop loving this journey”.

Fly Away By Kristen Hannah

“Fly Away” is the next book in the “Firefly lane collection” and it was just as compelling as the first. Without giving too much of the story away I will say that by the end of the first book I was ready to jump into the second because I didn’t want the story to end. It feels right to be able to continue with these characters and delve deeper into their lives for longer than just one book.

Minimalist Moms: Living and Parenting with Simplicity By Diane Boden

I think “Minimalist Moms” is going to be my new gift to give to all expecting mothers. Whenever you hear the word minimalism you immediately equate it to a single guy living in a studio apartment with one fork and one shirt. If you have kids minimalism is just not a concept that seems reachable, but Diane presents it as a totally acceptable and normal part of parenthood.

She details everything you could imagine when it comes to managing all the “stuff” that comes along with kids and gives you permission to fall away from what mainstream organizations make you feel is necessary to purchase before having a baby. She also touches on topics that expand away from just “kid stuff”. Talking about minimalistic schedules, mental clutter, and a big one for me- holiday decor. I couldn’t share this book fast enough after I finished reading it, and have also become a huge fan of Diane’s podcast as well.

Cradling Time: Poems on Motherhood By Erika Lynn

A friend of mine gifted me this book for Mother’s day and it was one I never would have picked up by myself. I have always thought of poems as something I was made to learn about in high school English class and never considered it would be interesting reading as an adult. Each page of this book is written in poem format but tells the story of a mother from conception and pregnancy all the way through her child no longer being baby. When she gave it to me, my friend said “it’s a book about everything you are experiencing as a parent right now” and she was so right. The author Erika wonderfully describes the overwhelming roller coaster of joy, fear, and frustrations that all come from motherhood and I had not read a book in a long time that made me feel so understood.

Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster By Jon Krakauer

I have always been really curious about what it would be like to attempt to climb Mt. Everest and after reading “Into Thin Air” Jon Krakauer painted a clear enough picture for me that I don’t have that desire any more. His detail oriented description of his death defying journey made it clear that Everest is one adventure I am ok to only read about. Krakauer was one of the fortunate members of his team to survive an unthinkable tragedy that is almost unbelievable but the only reason it is believable is the immense detail he is able to provide. Grab a blanket because this book will make you cold!

The Push: A Novel By Ashley Audrain

“The Push” was one of those books I literally kept saying ‘no way’ out loud as I was reading it. A chilling, thriller that explores motherhood and some of its darker places while also bringing to light some very scary realities. I was hooked from the very beginning and could never tell what was going to happen next. This is the perfect rainy weekend read or a super captivating summer beach read, either way just make sure you plan for plenty of time to be consumed by this story because you will want to know how it ends.

Cozy Minimalist Home: More Style, Less Stuff By Myquillyn Smith

I found Myquillyn (aka “The Nester”)’s work through my mother in law who purchased her first book “The Nesting Place” for me. Myquillyn’s voice resonated so deeply with me I immediately purchased her other two books, one of which was “Cozy Minimalist Home”. I was intrigued by the seemingly oxymoronic title of the book not fully appreciating that minimalism and cozy can go together. Again when we hear the word minimalism we rarely associate the lifestyle as cozy, more like stark, bare, and empty. Well I was wrong!

“Cozy Minimalism” teaches you to quiet your home by emptying your space completely and then adding in decor in a certain order to prevent over-decorating and continuing the trend of being a “stuff manager”. It helps you create beautiful comfortable places to live without feeling closed in by too many things around you. Myquillyn proves that sometimes opposites really do blend and the minimalist lifestyle can be cozy. I’ve used her methods as we settle into our new house and have found them to be especially helpful in slowing myself down to not over fluff any spaces.

What are some good books that you have read recently? Are we friends on Goodreads yet?

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