Diaper Bags: Now What?

So it's time...your little sweet baby is no longer.  Enter the days of toddler-hood and even better potty-hood!  You find yourself as a momma of a little child now.  No more lugging around diapers, which is one thing I am looking very much forward to (hopefully soon)!

So you ask yourself "what do I do with this bag now?!"  If we are all on the same page and are realizing that a good investment piece should never be put aside, then of course we will need to know how to transition it back into our "normal" lives.

If you invest in a good quality, well made, fashionable, and well sized diaper bag then transitioning it will not be difficult.

Here are some photos to show you how easy it really is!

Diaper bag as work bag:
Repurpose the insluated bottle holder as water bottle holder

•  laptop, binder, glasses

• iPad in case, binder, two manilla folders, stainless water bottle, stainless lunch container; glasses and phone in pocket +room for more!

Diaper bag as gym bag:

• Keep that water cool here too 
• shoes/socks
• t-shirt
• sports bra
• underwear, leggings, tunic top for post workout fetes
• slippers

• Look how nicely all that fits... 

Diaper bag as overnight bag:

• Jeans
• slippers
• toiletries
• underwear
• socks
• shirt
• Pj's

And it all fits without being bulky....

See that's not so hard!

Stylish Diaper Bags

I think every momma goes through what I call "the diaper bag dilemma" while pregnant, and it is a valid dilemma.  The problem is always incorporating her formal fabulous self into her upcoming new role as her momma self.  Let's face not only do you trade in your martini/wine glasses for bottles/diapers, but for months you also anticipate the craziness of adjustment to all the new things.  The new things are basic, to say the least.  Finding time to eat, sleep, and even shower kind of slap you in the face every second of every day, especially in the beginning.  So to even think of how to get dressed in a reasonably decent, much less fashionable, way can be overwhelming.  One thing I knew and believed was to arm my self with easy momma and baby friendly accessories. 
To be honest I have always had a shopping problem.  Mainly with shoes and bags.  I have way too many for one girl, way too many closets and boxes that yes, I rarely use, but really who cares.  If these are the things that are going to keep my identity as myself during the rough transition to find my momma self, I am sure going to keep on that path. 
A friend of mine had just gone through her journey with her beautiful little girl.  I was newly pregnant, but noticed her amazing diaper bag.  I remembered her telling me the brand, and decided that I wanted to continue to represent my bag obsession as a new momma.  Knowing that, and along with mine and my husband's defiance of any character themes, I was determined to get the same brand of diaper bag as my friend.  Once I find a bag that I love, I obsess over it.  I picture how I would use it, how I would carry it, what I would put in, and most importantly, what I would wear with it.  I know it's silly, but again if I can keep that sliver of myself post baby, you bet I am going to do it.  I was successful in my search to find the designer diaper bag I wanted for a steal of a price...Yay!

In line with the philosophy of Momma Love Baby Maternity the promise is that diaper bags will be fashionable, long lasting, and transitional.  So the opening line of diaper bags are OiOi diaper bags from our awesome friends down under.  I seriously considered this brand while searching for a diaper bag.  They are awesome!  Not only do they look great, they actually function wonderfully.  I had no problem spending a bit of cash on a different designer diaper bag, however I also admit that I try to justify spending a lot before purchasing a pricey item.  I have been doing some fun research to test out how much these bags really hold.  Here are some photos:

For those of us (myself included) who use cloth diapers here is the OiOi Ikat tapestry red slouch tote.  I was able to pack a very usual day of supplies in this bag.  6 cloth diapers, small wet bag, extra onesie, blanket, burp cloth, cloth wipes pouch with ~10 wipes in it.  Plus the included memory foam changing pad, and insulated bottle holder.  Can't go wrong with any of that.  This is enough for technically a 12 hour day, although I am never really gone that long. 



Here is a photo with the same things plus two jars of baby food.

For those of you that use disposable diapers here is the bag with about 10 diapers, baby food, snack container as well as the included wipes case. 

For all of the above scenarios, this particular bag can still close and not look like it is stuffed!

Also, technically, there was still room in the bag.  So if I wanted to fit one more extra onsie, a small toy/rattle, or even my wallet I'm sure I could do it easily.  There are pockets on the inside, and a small zippered pocket on the outside.  Any of these could fit keys, cell phone, and a few smaller accessories if needed. 

Here's my bonus photo...even the baby likes this bag!  Stylish bag, stylish baby, and of course stylish momma.  This particular bag retails for $160, but I will be following up with another post on how to transition these bags well beyond diaper years.  So before you die of sticker shock have no fear.  At every diaper bag's core, there is still just a great bag.  What do you guys put in your diaper bag?  Anything I missed?

Shupeas: Pure Awesome!

Here at Momma Love Baby Maternity we are promising to bring you great maternity fashions.  Another promise is to bring you a few baby items that are eco-friendly, new, innovative, and creative.  Welcome Shupeas to our inventory!  They are new, innovative, functional, and best yet for mommas with babies, long-lasting!  Here in Hawaii baby shoes may be something of an anomaly, but as an occupational therapist I am well aware of the benefits of soft sole shoes for babies to promote proper foot development.  I for one do not enjoy the frequent buying of baby goods.  They grow so fast, and as any parent knows, you are lucky if you get every outfit in a size on the baby before they outgrow it.  Baby shoes are no different.

So why not love Shupeas?  The company motto is "Growing Shoes for Growing Feet."  What does this mean exactly?  Well believe it or not it means that these baby shoes are made to grow with your baby!  They generally fit from 3-20 months and come in a bunch of fun colors and styles for boys, girls, and unisex options as well as a mocassin with insole or soft sole style.  They are made of 100% soft leather and have a slip resistant, flexible suede sole.  Here is a photo comparison of the red beachball shoe on the smallest setting (to the left) and the largest (on the right)

 



I don't know a single momma friend of mine that doesn't love this idea!  My only regret is not having them earlier in my baby's life.  She is currently 17 months and a usual toddler shoe size 4 or 5.  The best part about these shoes? Aside from the fact that they fit her, they are easy to put on her chubby feet!  Yay!  I am a happy momma...check out the Shupeas website for more information.  To view our current inventory, please visit our facebook page or website and send a message if interested in purchasing.  Thank you Shupeas for making a great product! 

Overwhelmed by the Process?

I know that I was completely overwhelmed with information that I wanted to learn about while pregnant so that I could formulate a thorough and functional baby registry.  I was very unsure about adding cloth diapers, cloth diaper accessories, and baby food making items.  The baby food making didn't last long since I had registered for some items that I felt would make the process quick and easy to make healthy food for the baby when the time arrived.  I read my gifted cookbooks cover to cover...twice!  I was as prepared as I could be. 
Thankfully my registry came through for my with those items.

In the more recent weeks I have had some thoughts on the overwhelming process of registering for cloth diapers.  A friend of mine recently had a beautiful baby boy.  I was there throughout her pregnancy to answer all her questions about cloth diapers as best I could, show her my stash, explain what I use and why, and how to use everything.  Despite all this, after the baby came she expressed still feeling intimidated and confused about cloth diapers.  So I visited and helped again.  (Happy to say that they have successfully transitioned to using cloth for the majority of the time!)  I feel that there is really no reason to be intimidated by cloth diapers, especially if there is a place to learn, ask questions, and get good demo's.  When putting together my registry I definitely added cloth diapers hoping that they would get purchased, however like my friend, despite all the things I learned online I still didn't understand or feel sure of what I was adding.  Unfortunately to put it frankly, I got one (yes, one) cloth diaper from our registry.  I realized that not only are cloth diapers intimidating for the new parents-to-be but also for the family and friends who are potentially buying them.  In hindsight, I wish that I had pushed the issue more with my registry.  Maybe if I had spread the word more or really only focused on registering for the diapers I would have gotten more.  Little did I know that I should have been a cloth diaper advocate even before I started using them. 

With that in mind, I have decided to offer you registry assistance services and in-home nursery setup consultation services to make your start with cloth and all the awesome accesories as easy and fun as possible. I live in a small home so the tricks I've learned and the info I've received from others can make your transition into motherhood and hopefully using cloth diapers a lot easier...

What other things caused you to feel overwhelmed throughout your pregnancy?

Style...on a budget

Lining up some inventory to open my maternity clothing store has been a fun task!  I am defintiely a shopaholic, and even better, this has allowed me to research trends in fabrics, fit, function, and colors!  I think that for basically my entire life I have searched for deals and bargains with my clothes shopping adventures.  In conceptualizing this new maternity clothing store, I knew that I had to put my lifelong learnings into good use. 
The first reason for this is to accept the challenge to offer Maui great style for maternity wear without having to spend a lot.  The second reason for this is that I know we live on Maui.  It is expensive to live here, and when you take into account the fact that pregnancy is temporary I know that the average woman is not willing to spend too much.  I am hoping to keep second reason in mind to form my business vision.
Summer is a fun time for fashion!  Sandals, tanks, shorts, maxi dresses, and color are all around.  My thoughts on this subject...where are the maternity styles that fall into this category?  Why does it seem that the pregnant woman has to sacrifice all of these things in order to have a baby?  Well I am hoping that this will no longer be the thoughts in my mind and soon everyone elses mind as well. 
By bringing affordable maternity fashions here, I know that the pregnant momma will be pleased to still express individuality, comfort, and versatility, all without breaking the bank.
The research I did while pregnant, and after, lead me to realize that the average cost of maternity wear is around $35-50 an item. When it came to denim the average grew exponentially...this was not satisfactory! As a consumer and lover of fashion I am willing to pay a higher price for quality and versatile pieces. A a pregnant woman I did not have the opportunity to do this. Yes, I could purchase online however this is always a hesitation especially without being able to try items on. Returning online purchases is allowable, but I always hate having to pay to return the item then possibly pay again to have it shipped back, restocking fees, difference in price for the purchase do another item, etc. I even heard stories from some friends about purchasing 2 sizes of everything in an online order only to return the size that doesn't fit after the order arrived. Not saying that this strategy is bad, but I would find it way too much hassle and money spent!  I need immediate gratification.  I just don't have the time or patience for anything else. 
My goal with my business is to keep a good portion of the clothing inventory priced at $50 and below.  Of course there will be other items available, and there will be a good rotation of pieces as well to keep things fresh.  I just want to be able to appeal to the masses of preggo momma's here on Maui that's all...I just hope that my vision shows through as time goes on. 
In lighter news, I am super excited to say that my first small batch of inventory has arrived!  Here's a sneak peek to get your juices flowin'!  Any guesses to what these things are?

Visit my website to keep updated on new inventory arrivals, additions to the inventory rotation, product updates, and more!  www.mommalovebaby.com

A Few Ideas on how to build a Cloth Diaper Stash Without Spending Too Much

So a lot of people that have asked me or have been surprised that we use cloth diapers (CD's) have wondered about the cost.  I readily admit, that yes, spending a few hundred dollars is a daunting task.  However the commitment and motivation to use CD's really needs to even that out. 
Here are a few suggestions that I have shared with people to help save on costs. 
1) Register for CD's!  When you add CD's to your baby registry, it not only shows people you are serious, but it also sparks a bunch of convos about your choice.  I for one never turn down a convo about CD's! 
2) To go along with adding CD's to your registry, make it a point to tell people that CD's as gifts would be greatly appreciated and help out fnancially. 
3) You can always buy preowned.  There are lots of sites out there that have used diapers for sale.  Also most retail sites sell preowned as well as stock seconds (slight manufacturers defects but still work just as well) and clearance sections. 
4) There are always online giveaways going on for CD's.  It never hurts to try and win.  Here's a link to a current one for cloth wipes, wipes pouch, and wipes drops from my fave retailer Diaper Junction! 
http://www.diaperjunction.com/62912-FYSF-Cloth-Wipes-Pouch-and-Baby-Bum-Drops_b_373.html
5) There are brands out there that are not as expensive.  Some diapers can be as little as $10 a piece.  Just do the research.

Hope this helps, and gets you thinking about CD's.  It not as hard as you think, and even if you're on a budget it is possible!
I know that this list is not exhaustive so I'd love to hear your ideas on the subject! 

(photo courtesy of Emma Werhman via Diaper Junction)

Why Momma Love Baby

Ok.  I have to admit that I have been working on some other posts, but they are stewing at the moment.  Just for posts sake I felt the need to write something.  What about?  Well I've found a path in my life that I want to stick with.  My new business venture is taking shape and I couldn't be more excited. 
The funny thing is that I have never felt this way about actually working before.  Until this point, I have always felt that I went to work, well, to work.  People always ask that question that grates on my nerves (just as much as the questions "when did you grad?" and "where you went school?" both of which answers cause me to groan quietly) "how's work going?"  Well I always answer pretty poorly..."eh?!"  What does that even mean?  Once my inspiration of my daughter found me, I couldn't fight it anymore.  It meant that I had to do someting else, and take charge of my fate. 

So that's what I have to go on...the inspiration of my daughter, the love that she has brought to my life, and how much I love being her momma (which surprised me the most of anyone).  With that said, I feel like having an idea and an inspiration is all I needed to start Momma Love Baby Maternity.  I want to maximize my time as Surinne's mom and have a creative outlet that I can manage and handle.  This combines some of my main loves (maybe little known to some) of fashion, design, shopping, and people. 

The concept of going mobile with my business was not my initial one, however the thought of getting to provide one on one consults for women and helping them feel, look, and be amazing during an incredible journey and part of their lives is definitely a concept I can live with.  I have jokingly offered to provide personal shopping services for friends (but was actually really serious) so I guess this has been a really long time in the making.  I can't imagine that it is going to be easy, but at least it will be fun!  Can't wait to grow, learn, and love what I do.