This post is sponsored by Fawn Design. I received free product in exchange for this post.

You know how some fashion trends should never come back into style? Shoulder pads? Platform shoes? Boots covered in fur? Well I’ve got one fashion trend that is coming back into style, and I am THRILLED.

Welcome back, fanny pack. We’ve missed you.

Now you may be thinking, “I have kids. I can’t walk around with only a fanny pack! I need my entire diaper bag!” And that’s partly true. There are some situations where I definitely would not leave home without my diaper bag. Sometimes my kids just need the snacks and diapers and wipes and tissues and, well, you get the idea. But sometimes, we don’t need all that! Sometimes, I can get away with just my fanny pack, no problem.

I thought it would be fun to do a post all about the fanny pack, what to stock it with, where you can use it in place of a diaper bag, and how to rock it like the mother you are.

First, let’s talk about the best fanny pack on the market. The FAWNY PACK. It’s made by my favorite diaper bag company, Fawn Design, and it comes in several fabulous colors. They even just released fall colors, and mamas, they are gorgeous. Seriously, if any fanny pack could be called delicious, it’s this one. It’s made from high-quality faux leather, has gold hardware, a pocket inside the main zipper to securely hold your cards and money, a small zipper on the front pocket, and a medium zipper-less pocket on the front. You can rock it with any outfit and it’s just fab.

So what can you fit inside? It really depends on where you’re going. If you’ve got a diaper-wearing child in tow, it’s big enough to fit a diaper and a small package of wipes, plus your phone, cards, and keys. If you’re going out sans kids, it fits your wallet, keys, phone, tissues, lipstick, or gum. If you’re going adventuring, it fits a few small snacks, your phone, and a bottle of sunscreen. Most often, I just put my phone, keys, and wallet inside, leave my diaper bag in the car (since my youngest wears diapers and I have to have them at least somewhat close just in case). This works especially good for the park.

What about where you can use it in place of a diaper bag? No, you can’t bring your fanny pack everywhere. Sad, I know. But there are lots of places you can use a fanny pack! Here are five suggestions:

1.For a walk. We frequently go on walks around our neighborhood, and since I don’t need everything in my diaper bag when we go, but I usually still want to bring my phone and keys, a fanny pack is the perfect solution.

2. When you’re going out sans kids. Hopefully this means on a date, but it can also be to the doctor or on a Target run after the kids are in bed. I wore mine to the dentist recently and it was perfect.

3. Buying groceries. I always have to get those big giant carts big enough for two or three kids, so it’s a lot easier to push them around when all I’m carrying is my fanny pack. Plus, we can usually avoid diaper changes during that time, so I don’t have to have my diaper bag on me when we’re inside.

4. Hiking. One thing I’ve learned about myself is that when I’m adventuring (whether that’s hiking, geocaching, or standing on the dock while my husband and kids fish, it’s that I don’t want to be wearing a backpack. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE my Fawn Design Original backpack diaper bag. It’s the best diaper bag I’ve ever had. But when it’s warm outside or I’m walking a long distance, my back gets hot and achy when I have something on it. My fanny pack is the perfect solution!

5. At the park. It’s so much easier to chase kids around the playground when all you’re carrying is your fanny pack. And you don’t have to worry about setting it down and then moving it around so you can always see it! Because you’re always wearing it!

Fanny packs are perfect for keeping your valuables and necessities close, and they’re also the perfect accessory! I honestly think you can probably wear them with anything and look amazing. And I feel like it’s kind of a bold statement to wear one confidently, so there’s no way people are going to hate on you when you’re rocking one. Try it with a swing dress, a jumpsuit, overalls, a tee and shorts in the summer, or a sweater and jeans in the fall. And the Fawny Pack comes in several colors (like I mentioned before, the fall colors are heaven), so you really can match your pack to any outfit. Mamas, any time you wear it, you’ll rock it like a mother!

If you haven’t tried out a fanny pack since it’s re-birth, I highly recommend it. They’re the bomb (and I don’t use that expression lightly). And definitely make sure you check out the best one, the Fawny Pack, from Fawn Design!

The post The Fawny Pack: How to Rock it Like A Mother appeared first on Life With My Littles.

I received free product for this post.

As a mama and small business owner (because yes, blogging is a business), I appreciate and try to support other mama-owned small businesses as much as I can. I know how important word-of-mouth can be in spreading their brand, and I really appreciate when I see my own friends sharing my blog posts with others.

Today I want to share the love and talk about some of my favorite mama-owned small businesses. Some of them sell baby products, and some of them sell mama products, but they all sell fantastic products! If you’re looking for a baby shower gift or a gift for a new mama friend (Or yourself! No shame, girl!), look no further! These 12 small businesses are sure to please!

1. Tubby Todd. I mentioned Tubby Todd in my Mama’s Monthly Faves post in January, but I really am a big fan of their products. They make bath products that are plant-based and 100% natural. They are perfect for sensitive skin, which my kids have! Plus, it is hypoallergenic and leaves my kids’ skin soft and smelling clean!

2. Fawn Design. If you haven’t heard of Fawn Design, you need to get on that right now. They make the most beautiful faux leather backpack diaper bags, and I was lucky enough to win one a few months ago in a giveaway! I chose the brown bag, and I love it so much! They pretty much sell out every time they restock, so make sure you get on their mailing list if you are interested in getting one!

3. Purl Lamb. This shop has been on my radar for a few years, and I finally got one of their adorable jumpers for Little R! It’s super soft, the zipper zips really smoothly, and there are cute little dinosaur spikes on the hood. I got a 0-6 size and I can hardly wait to put Little R in it soon! Not only do they have jumpers, but they also sell hoodies and sweatpants for boys and girls.

4. The Mama Tribe Designs. This shop sells teething necklaces that are super cute and come in tons of styles. Obviously Little R doesn’t have teeth yet, but sometimes I wear it when I nurse him and he loves holding onto the big, chunky beads. They have tons of different styles so there’s really something for every mama.

5. Modern Burlap. Modern Burlap sells the most beautiful black and white swaddle blankets, and they are the perfect size, texture, and softness! We have the Swiss Cross swaddle, and it might be my favorite swaddle blanket that Little R has. They also sell quilts, bibs, burp cloths, changing pad covers, sheets, and hooded towels. I love the adorable patterns and prints they have, and you can even get a calendar printed on your blanket to represent your baby’s birth month!

6. Ryan and Rose. I first heard about Ryan and Rose on the Pregnancy Perfect podcast (like so many of my favorite shops!). Lindsey started her shop after she couldn’t find any cute, high-quality pacifier clips. They sell so many adorable styles and I love that they are called Cutie Clips! If you’ve never tried a pacifier clip before, I highly recommend one, because it’s amazing not having to be constantly losing your baby’s pacifier!

7. Happy Baby Carriers. I got my first Happy Wrap when I was pregnant with Little A, and used it a lot when she was born. Their wraps come in lots of adorable colors and patterns, and they fit babies up to 25 lbs. They also just released new Happy Baby Carriers, and I would love to try one out because they look so soft and comfy! They support babies up to 45 lbs., and you can even nurse in them.

8. Made By Mary. So a few years ago I got an initial disc necklace that I loved, but the chain was really weak and after getting it fixed twice and having it break again, I just stopped wearing it. Then a few months ago I decided to ask my mom friends if they knew of any places to get durable, stylish initial disc necklaces, and I had at least six friends recommend Made By Mary. I checked out their site and immediately knew I wanted my necklace from them. I actually ordered one as soon as we officially named Little R! And they have so much more than just initial disc necklaces, too. I also love their bar necklaces and think I might want a date bar one with our anniversary on it for our anniversary this year! If you’re in the market for the perfect necklace, go check them out!

9. MaLyn Logic. I mentioned her shop in my Christmas gift idea post last year, but I really am a big fan of the clothes she sells! She sells super cute graphic tees, and then recently also started selling other cute tops, dresses, and bottoms. And of course there’s jewelry, too, because who doesn’t love to dress up a graphic tee with a bold necklace? I have two of her tees, and I love them both!

A post shared by Chelsea {Life With My Littles} (@lifewmylittles) on Dec 2, 2016 at 12:10pm PST

10. Loved by Hannah and Eli. Another shop that has been on my radar for a few years, their adorable bear-themed clothes are my fave. I have the pink glitter “Mama Bear” shirt and it’s super soft and extra comfy. They have shirts and sweaters for mamas, papas, and baby bears, and they have a few shirts that aren’t bear-themed, like this cute “Perfectly Imperfect” tee. If you like graphic tees, add one of these to your wishlist!

11. Scribble & Jot. Another mama-owned company I’ve mentioned on my blog before, Scribble & Jot sells the CUTEST coptic stitch notebooks. They are all handmade and you can even request custom orders. I have four notebooks (I know, I just love them!), and I use three of them for memory journals for my kids. If you’re looking for the perfect line-free notebook, you need one of these!

A post shared by Little Pretties || Kansas City (@littlepretties8) on Jan 17, 2017 at 8:20pm PST

12. Little Pretties. Last but not least, Little Pretties sells the cutest little bracelets for mamas and little girls alike. I got a few for Little A for Christmas a few years ago, and she still loves wearing them. The owner actually went to high school with my husband, so I can vouch for her and say she’s awesome 🙂 I love both the wrap bracelets and the stacking bracelets, and she just released zig zag chain bracelets that you should for sure check out!

Well there you have it! Twelve of my favorite mama-owned small businesses. Next time you’re looking for a gift for you or someone you love, check them out! Supporting small businesses is the way to go!

The post My Favorite Mama-Owned Small Businesses appeared first on Life With My Littles.

This post is sponsored by U-Pack.

Two weeks ago we moved all the way from Idaho to Texas. In case you’re wondering, it was a 23 hour drive that took us across five states. It was a long trip.

And if you’ve ever moved a long distance before, you may be familiar with the whole packing your moving truck and driving super slow at 55 mph, which adds like a million hours onto your drive. Plus, if you have two cars, you also have to tow one of them behind you. This was us when we moved from Iowa to Idaho last year, and it was the worst move ever.

But this time, we decided to go with U-Pack. If you aren’t familiar with them, they bring a large trailer to your home, drop it off so you can load it up, pick it up when you are done, and then drive it to your new home for you. You only pay for the space you use, and it is amazing. It is by far, the easiest way to move with kids.

U-Pack made our move 1,000 times easier this time, and I am so grateful! If you are ever planning a move where you have to go a long distance, I highly, highly recommend them. Here are ten reasons why using U-Pack is the easiest way to move with kids.

1. You can take your time loading and unloading. When you use a regular moving truck, you pay for every day you have it. That basically means that you have to fill it up and unload it asap or you are going to be paying for extra days. When you have kids, this is no good. With U-Pack we scheduled the drop off two days before the pick-up, so we were able to take our time and we didn’t have to rush to fill the trailer in if we didn’t want to. And with the unloading, we were able to do it on our terms, which was amazing because we didn’t have as many people helping unload as we did load! Also, they sent an email with tons of tips on loading and unloading, which was really helpful!

2. You don’t have to pick it up or drop it off. Because the trailer gets dropped off and picked up by a driver, you don’t have to worry about going to pick it up or taking it back like you would with a moving truck. It’s nice because you don’t have to waste any time getting ready to leave or getting settled in your new house.

3. You can leave before your truck leaves and get a head start if you want. We had scheduled our pick-up to be on a Friday, but we finished a day early and had it picked up Thursday afternoon. We were able to leave on Thursday morning and get a head start on our trip. With two kids, it was really nice to be able to leave when we were ready instead of waiting around or planning our trip around driving a slow truck.

4. You can drive your own car. Or more importantly, you don’t have to tow your car. This was a huge deal for us. Last time we moved my husband had to tow his car behind the moving truck while I drove our van with the kids. It was hard. Most people aren’t used to driving something so big and it can be scary! Being able to drive your own car instead of having to tow it is huge. My husband and I both took one of the kids in our cars and then traded off a few times. It was perfect and a great way to mix it up on the drive.

5. You can drive the speed limit, which means less time in the car. Like I mentioned before, you have to go like 55 mph when you drive your own moving truck, and it adds a lot of time to your journey when you can’t go the speed limit. When you are driving your own car and you’re able to drive the speed limit, you get where you are going faster, and have to spend less time in the car. Our kids did exceptionally well on the drive, but by the time we got to Texas we were very ready to be out of the car, and so were they.

6. Everyone is incredibly helpful and friendly. I interacted with several different people on the phone and in person during the whole process of scheduling, pick-up, and drop-off, and everyone was very friendly and answered all the questions I had. When you are moving with kids, you have enough to worry about, and getting to work with kind people definitely helped make the move easier on me.

7. You can track your trailer throughout the whole process. One thing I LOVED was that U-Pack sends you text messages, e-mails, and a tracking number so you can track your trailer online. It was fun to see where our trailer was at the end of each day, and how close it was to getting to our new home. Other companies who move your stuff don’t always offer this, and when you are able to know where your things are and how soon they are coming, it just makes the whole process a lot easier.

8. You can get to your new house and clean before all of your stuff gets there. Up until our new house, I have always lived in apartments where cleaning checks are done, so I’ve always moved into a clean house. I didn’t realize that when you buy a house, sometimes they aren’t always clean when you get there! One thing that is nice about U-Pack is that you can get there ahead of your things and clean anything that might need cleaned before your stuff arrives. We didn’t have a problem with this personally, but it can definitely make a difference for some people!

9. Peace of mind. During the whole experience with U-Pack, I just had such a calm peace of mind. I didn’t worry about our stuff crashing or getting damaged or stolen. U-Pack drivers are experienced truck drivers, so you don’t have to worry like you would if you were driving your own moving truck. They also provide a heavy padlock on the outside of the trailer that only they have the key to, so you don’t have to worry about anything getting stolen. When we moved to Idaho I was so worried that someone was going to break into our moving truck and steal things in the night. I didn’t worry about that at all this time, and it was all thanks to U-Pack. I knew our things were being taken care of, and that was one less thing for me to worry about!

10. Affordability. Sometimes getting a moving truck can be crazy expensive, which I think is why a lot of people choose to go with the drive-it-yourself option. But U-Pack is affordable, which makes it the best and easiest way to move. You only have to pay for gas in your car, which is way nice since the tanks are smaller and can be filled cheaper. Plus since cars obviously get better mpg than a moving truck, you are saving money everywhere you look!

And as a bonus number eleven, your kids will LOVE watching the trailer get dropped off and picked up! Both of my kids were in awe watching out the window and on the doorstep when our trailer was dropped off and picked up!

We loved using U-Pack for our big move, and it made the moving experience so much easier with our kids. If you have a long-distance move in your future, go check them out. They are an amazing company to work with, and I don’t think I could ever go back to driving a moving truck! We won’t be moving for 4 or 5 years, but next time I am definitely giving them a call! They made the move with kids 1,000 times better!

The post The Easiest Way to Move with Kids appeared first on Life With My Littles.

This post is sponsored by Life Organized.

It makes sense that my kids are constantly moving and playing because I am the same way. I have a hard time just sitting still. I am always trying to get things done and stay on top of my schedule before it swallows me whole.

I am definitely not the busiest mom out there, especially since my kids aren’t really involved in anything yet, but I think it’s important to learn how to manage your schedule before things get out of control and you have basketball games and dance recitals and school meetings that take up all of your free time.

So what is my secret? How do I meal plan and keep track of appointments and schedule our tot school activities for the week without losing my mind? How do I get things done?

I use a planner! And not just any planner, either. The ones at Walmart just don’t cut it for me. Last year I was introduced to Life Organized and their fabulous Mom-on-the-Go Planner.

I immediately fell in love with all the space for writing, the different worksheets and calendars, the pages to keep track of important information, and the beautiful bright colors and dividers. Plus the covers are laminated so it will hold up all year. It’s like a busy mom’s dream come true.

First I want to tell you about the pages I use the most. Every week is spread across two pages, giving you maximum writing space. I hate trying to cram everything into tiny spaces because I’m bound to forget something. There are three boxes for each day, so you can divide them according to what you want. I usually do appointments, tot school, and then menu. Here’s a picture of my planner from 2015 so you can see it in action, all filled to the brim!

There’s also a section for notes on the side, under each day, and then a few at the top. Seriously, you are not forgetting anything with this planner! Here’s a shot of the first week of January. As you can see, it’s pretty empty right now!

You can also get this adorable laminated planner bookmark to help you keep your place! It’s especially helpful if you refer to your week a lot like me.

Like I said earlier, each month has a divider (plus there’s a divider for Home and Family at the back with lots of helpful worksheets). And they all have beautiful song lyrics and pictures on them!

Each month has a calendar, weekly pages, and then a planning sheet, a budget sheet, and a planning matrix. You aren’t going to miss anything with this planner, guys. It’s the best!

In the back of the planner, there is a Home and Family section with family focus pages (for birthday planning, keeping track of sizes), and wants and needs), preparedness planning pages, daily tasks, vacation planning, and a spot for thank you card tracking.

There are also holiday pages spread throughout the planner with pages for helping you plan holiday meals, gifts, and activities.

Seriously guys, this is the best planner out there! If you’re tired of using tiny little planners with no space to write things, or even using multiple planners to keep track of different things, then this is the solution. There are pages for keeping track of addresses, birthdays and anniversaries, and your favorite things, plus the quotes spread throughout help motivate and inspire you to keep going! I love it so much and I can’t wait to fill it up with everything we have coming in 2016!

Guys, this is how busy moms get things done!

Okay, so now that you are also in love with the Mom-on-the-Go Planner, I’m going to make it easy for you and tell you some good news. I’ve teamed up with Life Organized and I’m giving away a 2016 Mom-on-the-Go Planner to one lucky Life With My Littles reader! And you can even choose what cover you want on your planner!

The contest runs from today, December 14th, until next Monday, December 21st at midnight MST (as soon as it turns into the 22nd). You must be 18 years or older to enter, and be a resident of the United States. Other than that, anyone can enter! Just complete the entries below and the winner will be chosen on December 22nd. What a fun Christmas present!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

The post How Busy Moms Get Things Done {plus a giveaway!} appeared first on Life With My Littles.

I received free product in exchange for this post.

Teething is rough. In the last two months, our daughter has gotten five teeth and has one more coming in. Needless to say, she has been extra grumpy. She drools so much that she soaks through bibs in a few hours, she cries and is super clingy and whiny, and she has not been sleeping super well. It’s been rough.

So I have been looking for a way to help her out and make her little mouth feel better. Besides cold things and medicine, nothing was helping up until two weeks ago. I had a chance to try out three teething toys from The First Years, and they have made a definite difference in Little A’s mood!

Today I want to share these three toys to help with teething so that I can help other moms help their babies and their painful little gums!

The Star Power Teether is my favorite of the three toys. The yellow star vibrates when Little A bites down on it, and each point of the star has a different texture, so she can find the one she likes.

It’s easy for her to hold and still bite on, and it has a fun little spinning part that also has little texture bumps and ridges so she can chew on something else if she wants. It’s a great toy with lots of features and Little A loves it.

The Bristle Buddy is super cute and ours is even shaped like a hedgehog! It has nobby bristles that help massage Little A’s gums.

The bristles give your baby a sensation similar to that of a toothbrush, and it’s super lightweight so it’s easy for Little A to hold on to. She loves getting her teeth brushed, so it’s no wonder she loves the Bristle Buddy!

The Buzzing Bee Massaging Teether is the third toy we got to try out. Again, awesome! When she bites down on the little antennas, they vibrate and help soothe her little gums. And the shape of the toy makes it easy to get to her molars when she starts getting those eventually.

I think Little A’s favorite part about this toy are the fun little rings that surround the bee’s body. They have even smaller tiny rings on them that add in another texture for babies to bite on. And they make it easy to hold on to, too! The Buzzing Bee Massaging Teether has so many different features and materials that it is perfect for any preference a baby might have.

Since we have started giving these teething toys to Little A, she has been a little bit happier! I mean as happy as a baby who is getting teeth can be. It’s nice that we have something we can keep in the diaper bag when we are out that we can just grab when she starts getting cranky. I brought all three of these toys to our family reunion this week and Little A was not nearly as fussy as I thought she would be. And one of her teeth is right about to break through, so that’s saying something!

Good luck with your teething adventure! The good news is, it doesn’t last forever!

The post 3 Toys to Help with Teething appeared first on Life With My Littles.

I received free product in exchange for this post.

One of our favorite things to do in the summer is go to the zoo. We had a pass to the Blank Park Zoo last year when we lived in Iowa, and we got a pass to our local zoo when we moved to Idaho last month. It’s the perfect way to get outside and spend a fun afternoon, especially when you have younger kids!

One of the most important parts of having a good day at the zoo is coming prepared. I had the opportunity to try out some of the JJ Cole Collections’ new spring collection, and it inspired me to write some tips on how to enjoy a day at the zoo!

1. Get a pass. One of the best things about getting a pass last year (and why we did it again this year) is that you can go whenever you want and you can leave whenever you want. If you get a pass, you don’t have to feel bad about leaving if the baby is crying or your toddler throws a tantrum after you’ve only seen half of the zoo. And if you are planning on going to the zoo a lot, a pass is probably cheaper anyway!

2. Wear your baby. Sure, you could push your baby around in the stroller, but she isn’t going to be able to see anything from in there! Zoo enclosures usually are taller than most stroller seats, so if you wear your baby, she can see all the animals! I got to try the JJ Cole Agility Stretch Carrier (available at Babies R Us, buybuyBABY, Target, and Amazon).

It was perfect for Little A! It was really comfy and unlike some carriers, it didn’t make my back hurt after wearing it for several hours. It was also super easy to slip on by myself, and Little A was snug enough that I was able to be hands-free in the even that Little J decided to run away (which happened).

Little A loved being able to look out, and she was bouncing her legs almost the whole time. It works for babies 8-35 pounds, and there are multiple positions for your baby, depending on how big they are. I loved having Little A close, and when we were done, I was able to get her out by myself, too.

The best thing about the Agility carrier is that you can get it on and get your baby in really fast. You don’t even have to look in a mirror to try and figure it out. Super simple, and perfect for a day out at the zoo! The only thing about is that if you are tall, you might want to get the next size up. I got a small because I fit in the size range for it, but when I put it on it was pretty high up on my chest, so Little A’s head was right by my chin. It was fine, but a little bit weird if I turned my head.

3. Keep your diaper bag handy. You never know what kind of trouble you are going to get into when out with young kids, so it’s super helpful to keep your diaper bag handy. The JJ Cole Caprice diaper bag (available at Babies R Us) comes with Grips stroller attachments so you can hook your diaper bag onto your stroller handles. It is really nice because I was able to just grab my wallet when we got lunch instead of having to dig around underneath the stroller trying to get it out.

The side pockets on the bag are also amazingly deep and insulated, which are things I really appreciate as a mom! There is a lot of space inside to keep everything I need for a baby and a toddler, and with an included wipeable changing pad, I can forgo bringing my own changing pad. I also love how many pockets and zippers there are, inside and out. There is definitely a place for everything!

The only thing I didn’t love was that the regular handles are a little short to keep on your shoulder. But it comes with a padded shoulder strap, and I have been using that so it hasn’t been a problem.

4. Bring a blanket for lunch. If you are planning on staying at the zoo for longer than an hour, I would recommend bringing a blanket for lunch! And even if you aren’t going to eat lunch, you never know when your toddler will suddenly just decide he wants to take a break and sit down for a while (or you might need a break from chasing him!).

The JJ Cole Outdoor Blanket (available at buybuyBABY) was perfect for our little family of four to sit on and eat our lunches.

My favorite thing about it is that it is easy to carry when you aren’t using it. It has a strap, velcro, and a sewn-in guide that makes folding it quick, easy, and compact. When you have two kids and a diaper bag to carry, a blanket with a strap is a huge help!

The blanket is also water-resistant so even though the grass was a little wet when we went, we all stayed nice and dry! And we were able to eat our lunches and feel re-energized for the rest of our time at the zoo!

5. Bring sunscreen. I feel like this might not be as obvious as it should, so I am going to include it. If you are going to be in the sun, you need to make sure you bring sunscreen. Put it on your kids before you get to the zoo, and toss it in your bag so you can put more on if you are there for a long time. Sunburns hurt, and I can only imagine how bad I would feel if my kids got burned because I neglected to put sunscreen on them. Even though I put a hat on Little J, I still made sure to get his face, neck, and ears all sunscreened up, too. I would even go so far as to recommend keeping sunscreen in your diaper bag throughout the summer. Mine fits in my JJ Cole Caprice diaper bag with everything else I have in there no problem. You never know when an impromptu play date outside might happen!

6. Stay hydrated. Another important thing to remember is to bring water! Bring water for yourself, bring water for your kids. And with those super deep pockets in your JJ Cole Caprice diaper bag, you definitely don’t have an excuse not to bring a drink!

If you don’t stay hydrated while you are out in the sun, you could get heat exhaustion or dehydrated, both of which are awful. And you most definitely do not want your kids to go through that. So bring some water and you will be fine.

So those are my tips to have a fun day at the zoo! I was super lucky to get to try out all these great JJ Cole products, because they really did make a difference! I’ve already used the Agility carrier at the grocery store, the Outdoor Blanket is in my car so we can be ready for outdoor play, and I’m loving all the extra pockets on the Caprice diaper bag! If you get a chance, check out the JJ Cole Collections website and check out all the other awesome things you can have!

Also, thanks to my awesome husband who was my personal photographer for the day. You are amazing!

Do you have any other helpful tips for a day at the zoo? Let me know which JJ Cole Collections product you want to try the most!

The post How to Enjoy a Day at the Zoo appeared first on Life With My Littles.

I received free product in exchange for this post.

There is so much that happens as your children grow up. There are the typical baby milestones like first smile, first laugh, sitting up, crawling, and walking. But then there are also things that happen that you never want to forget. The way your toddler says “Oh, come on, Mommy!” any time you say no, the way he loves getting chased by anyone, anywhere, or the way your daughter’s hair is super long on one side of her head but not the other. And if you are only using a baby book, not only are you going to run out of pages to write things down before they are a few years old, but you won’t be able to give the details you want and write about things that aren’t “typical milestones.” Baby books just aren’t enough, especially past the first year! What about starting memory journals for your kids?

I think everyone should start a journal just for writing down things their kids do, say, and learn. I wish I would’ve started Little J’s notebook sooner because there are already so many things I have forgotten. But I am starting his now, and I am starting one for Little A while she is still little!

And if you are going to be writing things down until your child graduates, you are going to need a good, sturdy notebook. Meet Scribble & Jot.

Scribble & Jot is an Etsy store run by the amazing Dana. She makes all of the notebooks she sells by hand, and they are all gorgeous! I was lucky enough to try out the beautiful Bright Floral Notebook for Little A, and before it even was shipped, I knew I wanted to get another one so I ordered a custom notebook with blue and cream paper for Little J!

I love the attention to detail in these journals. Since they are handmade, each one is special and unique. The pages are all torn by hand, they are bound with waxed linen thread in the Ethiopian Double Needle Coptic Stitch, and they even lay flat. They are perfect.

There are 200 pages in each notebook, so there will be plenty of room for me to write little notes and details I want to remember for my children. And you can get them in lots of different sizes, so there really is something for everyone.

I know I’m going to be flipping through them a lot as they grow to look back and remember things from when they were this age. Children grow way too fast (classic mom phrase, I know), and it’s important to have a way to remember the things they do. Pictures are great, but they don’t capture words or stories like writing can.

I love my Scribble & Jot notebooks so much, and they are perfect to use as journals for my kids. I know it’s a long time in the future, but it will be fun to be able to give these gifts to my children when they are grown up!

Now go check out Scribble & Jot on Etsy, and tell me which journal you love most (and if you can’t find one that is perfect for your little one, ask her about a custom order!).

Scribble & Jot on
Etsy Facebook Instagram

The post Keeping Memory Journals for Your Kids appeared first on Life With My Littles.

I received free product in exchange for this post.

Chances are, you have heard of the company Freshly Picked. It was started in 2009 by Susan Petersen after she couldn’t find any well-designed baby shoes (it’s a real problem, guys). She used some scrap leather she found at a yard sale and came up with a design that was cute and stayed on her baby’s feet (another real problem!). Something I love about her is that she worked hard to get where she is, and she still is able to stay at home with her kids and be a mom. She said “when you’re doing your business, focus on your business, and when you’re with your kids, focus on your kids. You can’t do both at the same time.” Isn’t that so true!?

Okay, so now that you love Susan and think she’s awesome, let’s talk about these ADORABLE moccasins.

The first thing I thought when I took them out of the bag (besides how cute the bag was) was how soft they are. I wasn’t expecting them to be so flexible and soft! Perfect for little baby feet!

All Freshly Picked moccasins are made with 100% durable, genuine leather. Nothing cheap about these babies.

I ordered the Rose Gold – Limited Edition Moccasins. They are girly and classy and perfect for Little A. I just want her to wear them everywhere (and she has)!

I love how easy they are to get on Little A’s feet. And they stay on her feet, too! They have an elastic opening so they slide on easily, but don’t come off on their own.

Freshly Picked moccasins come in all different colors and even some patterns. They just released their spring collection, and they make me want to travel somewhere with a beach! But since the Mister doesn’t get any breaks, this nice purple field will do!

And since they do come in all different colors, they are great for both boys and girls. So I definitely think Little J needs to get a pair next! And since they come in kids’ sizes 0-10, he can!

I am so in love with Freshly Picked moccasins that I wanted to give one lucky reader a pair of their own! Just a quick note, you have to live in the United States to enter, and you cannot have won a pair of Freshly Picked moccasins in a giveaway in the last 60 days.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck! I know that whoever wins will love their new moccasins as much as Little A loves hers!

The post Freshly Picked Moccasins Review & Giveaway appeared first on Life With My Littles.

I received free product in exchange for this post.

When you become a mom, you give up your purse and trade it in for a diaper bag. Your diaper bag is one of the most important things you will buy before your baby is born, because it goes everywhere with you when your baby arrives. And it becomes even more important in your life when you have your second baby and twice as much stuff to haul around!

I was lucky enough to try out the new JJ Cole Camber Diaper Bag, and I am absolutely in love with it! It gives me room to fit everything I need, and it doesn’t feel bulky at all. And when you are already going out with a toddler and a baby in a car seat, you do not need any extra bulk to carry!

Picking a diaper bag that you are going to carry around all the time can be overwhelming, so I am going to tell you all the reasons why I love my Camber so that you will love it, too!

First, it’s stylish. Classic black and white and I love that floret design. I also love that the pattern is only on part of the bag, and the top and straps are solid black. Some bags have patterns that are overwhelming and way too much, but this one is perfect.

It also isn’t super girly. The Mister used to hate carrying around my old diaper bag. It wasn’t pink or anything, but it was pretty feminine. I love that my Camber is black and white, has a classic pattern, and doesn’t scream “GIRL!” It’s simple but still cute. But not so cute that my husband can’t carry it!

I also love that it comes with three different carrying options. My favorite so far has been the shoulder strap because I can swing my bag to the back and free up both arms for carrying Little J on my hip and Little A in her car seat. You can also use the tote straps and carry it on your shoulder like a regular bag. The straps are long enough that when it is on your shoulder it’s not right in the way of your arm. The third option uses the included no-slip stroller attachments. I also love this because it keeps my bag right where I need it without me having to carry it. It’s a lot more convenient than shoving your bag underneath the stroller in the basket.

The Camber also holds everything I need without feeling bulky. I love that it is more of a boxy, tall and narrow shape, because it’s not awkward to hold, it doesn’t stick out in weird directions, and everything stays nice and organized inside. I can fit my things like my changing pad, diapers, and wipes, snacks for Little J, extra outfits for Little A, and my nursing cover, without having my bag feel like it is overcrowded. This is another of my favorite things about the Camber!

The material of the Camber is a laminated canvas, so if you get something on it (easy to do with a toddler!) then you can wipe it right off! And the inside is polyester so if you get crumbs or spill some juice in there it will wipe quickly instead of absorbing. This is such a plus with diaper bags because when you have a little there is pretty much no way around a few spills and crumbs! There are also four big and stretchy pockets on the inside. Perfect to keep you organized!

There are a few other features of the Camber bag that I love, too. It comes with a wipeable changing pad, so if you don’t have your own it’s no big deal. The zippers in front are also more than decoration and the pockets are perfect for putting things that you need to use a lot (like chapstick or sanitizer). There are also two side pockets that I have been using for my cell phone and Little J’s sippy cups. They are deep enough that there’s no way they are falling out, and because the straps on the bag are so long, I don’t have to worry about constantly hitting his cup (which I had a problem with on my old bag). There are also two deep pockets on the front and bag that are perfect for storing papers you need to carry or things you need to grab fast. Which as a mom, is pretty much everything. I also love the interior pockets. It helps keep me organized so I know where everything is in there.

Basically, I love my JJ Cole Camber diaper bag. It is everything you need in a diaper bag, and more! I know that sounds cheesy, but it has so many amazing features and the construction of it is just perfect for a busy mom. I will never go back to another diaper bag because it really has everything I need. And when you are a busy mom, an amazing diaper bag will save you from craziness on-the-go!

If you want to check out how amazing the Camber bag is, or see it in any of the eight colors it comes in, check out the JJ Cole Collections website here! There are several different patterns and colors so I’m sure you’ll find one you love! And check back on Monday to see what my diaper bag essentials are for the first six months of baby’s life!

The post JJ Cole Camber Diaper Bag Review appeared first on Life With My Littles.

I received free product in exchange for this post.

When Little J was born, I had no idea what to expect with breastfeeding. I had heard stories about people who had horrible bleeding nipples, people whose babies would never latch, and people who had to give up breastfeeding because of their babies’ digestive issues. Needless to say, I was a bit worried. But I got lucky and Little J was able to nurse without any problems until he was 8-months-old. The only thing I had a problem with was that some shirts weren’t very nursing friendly, and in the winter, it was hard to nurse him with all the layers I needed to keep warm. I never heard about nursing tops, so I just toughened up and dealt with it. But when he was done nursing, I was a little grateful that I could wear what I wanted again. Now that Little A is here and nursing well, I am dealing with the same things.

Two months ago, I was contacted by the UK-based Seraphine. I talked about them in my post about the best places to shop for maternity clothes in store and online. Celebrities and royalty (Kate Middleton, anyone?) have worn their cute clothes, so I was thrilled that they wanted me to try out a nursing top! I didn’t have any nursing tops when I was feeding Little J, and while I dealt with it, there were definitely times when I really wished I had one. After getting to try out the Green Glitter Long Sleeve Nursing Top, I have come up with a list of reasons why you should definitely invest in a nursing top (or several!). Note: all the shirts pictured can be found on Seraphine’s website.

1. A lot of nursing tops are a bit baggy, so you can easily hide your post baby belly. I love my top because it is form-fitting in all the right places, and that doesn’t include my tummy! I was able to put it on a few weeks after Little A was born and feel confident in it that nobody would be looking at my post-baby bulge!

2. They make it much easier to nurse in public. You can’t always plan your schedule around breastfeeding, and sometimes, you have to nurse while you are on the go. Whether you wear a nursing cover or not, a nursing top that just pulls down makes it a lot easier to nurse when you are in public. You don’t have to worry about your stomach being flashed when your baby moves around, and you don’t have to feel like you have so many layers when you are wearing a nursing cover. It is definitely a lot more comfortable to wear a nursing top when you have to nurse in public.

3. They keep your stomach warm. Winter is fast approaching here in Iowa, and I am not looking forward to the bone-chilling cold that comes with the humidity. But with a nursing top, you don’t have to pull up your shirt, so your stomach stays nice and warm!

4. You don’t have to pull up your shirt. This sort of goes with the one above, but it’s nice to just be able to pop, zip, or pull down one side of your shirt. I especially hate having to always get readjusted and tuck things in after pulling up my shirt. Much easier to be able to just pull down a little spot and nurse.

5. There aren’t a bunch of layers falling on baby. This probably isn’t a big issue in the summer when you don’t wear a lot of bulky layers, but as it gets colder and I start wearing sweaters and more layers, it gets harder to keep Little A’s face uncovered. It’s nice to just be able to pull your shirt down and not have to hold up all those layers the whole time you are feeding your baby!

6. It’s easier to see your baby. I like to be able to see my baby when I am feeding her (part of why I am not a fan of nursing in public), and when you wear a nursing top that zips, pops, or buttons down, you can see your baby a lot easier. This may just be a preference I have, but it is definitely a reason I like to wear a nursing top as opposed to a regular shirt.

7. There are several different types of nursing tops so you can find what works for you. On the Seraphine website, there are tops with zippers, with buttons, with double-layers (wraps, panels, and flutter tops), drapes, and shawls. So you will definitely be able to find your own style. And the tops don’t look like they are nursing tops, which is my favorite part. The zippers, buttons, double-layers, and drapes just look like features on the shirt!

8. Some tops allow for discreet nursing. Similar to number two, but some tops make it so you don’t even have to wear a nursing cover. Flutter tops are great because you don’t necessarily have to wear a cover. Which, as a mom who has to tote around things for a baby and a toddler, it’s nice to be able to leave a nursing cover at home!

9. A lot of them double as maternity tops, too! A lot of nursing tops are made with stretchy material like stretch jersey, linen blended viscose, or bamboo knit, so you can wear them over your baby bump and then continue wearing them after your baby is born. This is really handy for people who don’t want to buy maternity clothes and nursing clothes on top of their normal wardrobe. It’s nice to have a dual-purpose shirt!

So, have I convinced you yet? Seriously though, I highly recommend investing in at least one nursing top, because once you try it, you are going to want more! And Seraphine is the perfect place to look for one, because they have so many cute styles and options for nursing tops (as I’m sure you have seen from the pictures!). So go check them out, because if you are nursing, you definitely need to invest in a nursing top!

The post 9 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Nursing Top appeared first on Life With My Littles.