Review #78: Dreambaby Stroller Fan

Dreambaby Stroller Fan

My son always get super hot when watching his older sister's soccer games from the stroller. With summer approaching I thought it would be a good idea to get a stroller fan. We purchased the dreambaby stroller fan and love it so far. It is battery operated and clips on to the sun visor on the stroller. It has an adjustable arm to help aim it in the best position to keep him cool. Most importantly, the fan blades are made of foam, keeping it very safe even if my son does reach up and grab it. 

Review #77: Brica Deluxe Snack Pod

Brica Deluxe Snack Pod

The Brica Deluxe Snack Pod is perfect for strollers that do not have a child console bar. The quick attach clamp makes it simple to adjust to fit on any stroller. The quick release button removes the entire pod for easy cleaning and putting it in the dishwasher. Includes a snack cup with cover to keep snacks contained. We have used this on our umbrella and lightweight strollers especially while traveling for easy use. 

Review #76: Just One You Burp Cloths

Just One You Burp Cloths

From when my son was an infant until about 6 months old, burp cloths were a staple around our house. We must have had at least 20 of them. The best brand we found were Just One You by Carters. They are sold in a 3 pack and shaped like a long narrow rectangle. It was the only brand we found that were not big & bulky like a blanket, but still were big enough that they covered your shoulder & protected you from spit up when burping the baby. They also come in a ton of adorable prints, most which match the Just One You clothes and outfits for the same age. 

Review #75: Munchkin Bottle Brush

One of the biggest annoyances dealing with bottle feeding is washing bottles. With many small parts & pieces thoroughly washing a bottle can take a few minutes per bottle. For a sleep-deprived parent, any tool to make this easier and more efficient is a huge help. The Munchkin Bottle Brush is the best option I found. The suction cup bottom keeps the brush from ending up in yucky dirty water in the sink. There is also a non-slip handle to keep it from slipping while washing. Lots of tiny bristles around the sides & top help scrub the bottle with virtually no strength. They have even added a smaller nipple washing brush in the base to get into all the small parts where the regular brush cannot. 

Tips to survive being a work at home mom!

My daughter was in kindergarten when my second child was born. At the time of his birth, my husband worked on ships and would be away for months at a time. During the pregnancy, I realized there wasn’t much of an option for me to go back to work full-time in my current position.  Toward the end of my pregnancy as well as during my maternity leave, I started the hunt for a work at home job, which would allow me to cut back on childcare expenses while still bringing in some income. I found a wonderful job, where I have been for 2 years. With the help of grandparents who watch my son(and daughter during school vacations) during some of my work hours, I have been able to continuously work with minimal childcare expense. However, my sanity is not always so lucky. There is a lot to do, a lack of adult interaction, and a large amount of self-control necessary to get everything done. Here are some of my top tricks of surviving life as a stay at home mom.

#1: Make time to get outside!

Especially when the weather is nice, I try to find time every day to go for a walk or to a playground. It gets the kid’s energy out while the sun rejuvenates me. During the school year, it may just be a walk to the bus stop, but its fresh air!

#2: Join a playgroup or schedule playdates!

If nothing else, this helps you connect with humans outside of your family. Although my son either screams or cries through most of the playgroup, we keep going back for everyone’s sanity.

#3: Buy toys that encourage self-play!

A few of our favorites are PJ’s train sets, the code-a-pillar, and his fisher price cars Speedway.



#4: Naptime is golden time! 
Naps happen on a steady schedule and it is when I get the majority of my work completed. I have taken an increased interest in making sure naps are consistent always with a MAM pacifier & a Tula Blanket. These tools help him know it is most certainly nap time.  




#5: Make lunchtime simple!
I don’t have time to cook up hot lunches while working. Lunch always consists of 3 items. Cut up fruit and cheese are a consistent two on the plate. For the third, I use leftovers from last night’s dinner! Always served on a replay plate with a replay no spill cup.  




These are just a few of my top tips about being a work at home mom. There are plenty more “parenting hacks” that I use on a daily basis to survive!

Review #74: Lily Jade Madeline Bag

This Lily Jade Madeline bag is so much more than a diaper bag. It is an amazing and stunningly beautiful purse, with all the features desired of a diaper bag. I received this bag to review and was so very shocked at its beauty when I opened it. Made with the softest leather and finest craftsmanship, not a detail was overlooked in creating this bag. The details are polished with a coordinating tassel hanging from the strap

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There are multiple interior and exterior zipper pockets as would be desired in any purse to hold wallets, phones, keys, etc. Inside there is a removable baby organizer with its own handles, 12 pockets and a changing pad. The bag also includes a detachable extra long strap to transform the bag to messenger or backpack style. 

Lily Jade bags are like no other I have ever seen. To me, this bag is in a class above everything else I've ever seen. 

Review #73: The Mommy Hook

The Mommy Hook is a very simple but incredibly useful stroller accessory. We use ours to carry shopping bags, purses, toys, etc. It's a wonderful easy additional storage solution while out and about. It is made from heavy-duty aluminum to keep it from breaking. Its padded with a rubber glide to keep it from slipping and sliding. 

Review #72: Jeep liberty limited stroller

We love this all terrain three-wheeled stroller! The Jeep Liberty Limited Stroller is very simple to push while featuring inflatable 12" tires, locking front wheel, removable child tray, two cup holders for mom and a storage bin for cell phones. This is also one of the best storage strollers I have ever used. It has two sections underneath(one accessible from the front and one from the back) as well as two side pockets which are perfect for little ones to store their own toys. The recline seat has a seatbelt with shoulder straps to keep the child safely restrained in the stroller.

Review #71: Smart Bottoms Small Wet Bag

We do not cloth diaper however, we still get plenty of use out of our Smart Bottoms small wet bags. We like to use them whenever we are around water. Whether it's the pool, the beach or just the splash pad these wetbags are perfect for transporting wet clothes or swimsuits. It is a perfect size for 2 swimsuits, has a snap handle to attach to the diaper bags or a beach bag and has a double layer of fabric to prevent anything from leaking out. 

Review #70: Brica Baby In-Sight Soft-Touch Mirror

When shopping for a car seat mirror for my second child I had one major requirement. I wanted a mirror that I was confident would stay attached to the headrest in the event of an accident & wouldn't injure my son. I was happy to find the Brica Baby In-Sight Soft Touch Mirror. They clearly had the same requirement when designing this mirror. It attaches to the headrest with both velcro & a separate strap and clip.  It has a shatter-resistant lightweight mirror surrounded by a padded frame. I am confident this mirror would not come disconnect in an accident & if it would, its padded & lightweight features leave me confident it would not cause any injuries. 

Review #69: Little Tikes Backyard Barbecue Get Out 'n' Grill

The Little Tikes Backyard Barbecue Get Out 'n' Grill Set is a favorite of both my children. It has a two shelf "grill" with closeable cover, a side sink & a side double burner. The bottom opens with two doors to be able to hold all the pieces. There are also two hooks to hold the grill tools. My 2-year-old is a huge fan of the ignite button & the temperature knobs, which are what he always wants to play with on our real gas grill. The set comes with one pair of tongs, one spatula, a hamburger and bun, a hot dog with bun, and a bottle of ketchup. There is an optional set with plates, utensils, napkins, and extra food like corn on the cob. 

Review #68: Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies City Skyway

My nephew had the Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies City Skyway and my son loved it so much we bought another one for our own house. It is a little over three feet tall with one starting launch point. With two different switch points, it ends with 3 different ramps to keep little ones guessing and entertained to see which ramp the car will come off.  It also has a spinning traffic light, gas pump, side crane, parking meter and moveable gate. To put the cherry on top it comes with two race cars!

Review #67: American Girl historical dolls

The American Girl Dolls have been around since the mid-1980s. There are two different categories of dolls, the historical & contemporary dolls. The historical dolls are all 18 inches tall, have a line of clothing, a pet, furniture, accessories, a series of books, and an in-depth story all based on a historical time in the United States. The dolls are all made with a high, heirloom-like quality. The stories are all written for an audience of girls age 8+ with the purpose of introducing girls to history in a new way.