mutiemagic

[sellyourbags-blog]

The Ultimate Guide to the Gucci Diaper Bag for Stylish Moms

GucciDiaperBagIn today’s fast-paced world, being a mom doesn’t mean sacrificing style for practicality. Modern motherhood demands versatility, where you can look chic while handling all the responsibilities that come with parenting. Enter the Gucci Diaper Bag—an emblem of luxury that promises to keep you organized without compromising your fashion sense. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore why the Gucci Diaper Bag is the perfect blend of elegance and functionality, offering everything a stylish mom needs.

The Rise of Luxury Diaper Bags Luxury diaper bags are more than just a trend—they’re a necessity for moms who appreciate both fashion and function. As motherhood has evolved, so has the need for products that cater to the dual demands of caring for a child while maintaining a personal sense of style. Brands like Gucci have stepped in to fill this niche, creating diaper bags that are not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing.

Gucci, with its storied history and reputation for quality, has become a go-to brand for moms who want the best of both worlds. The Gucci Diaper Bag is a testament to the brand’s commitment to crafting items that are as stylish as they are functional.

Key Features of the Gucci Diaper Bag

When it comes to diaper bags, functionality is key—but who says you can’t have style, too? The Gucci Diaper Bag excels in both areas, offering a range of features that make it a must-have for any fashion-forward mom.

Design The design of the Gucci Diaper Bag is nothing short of iconic. With its signature GG monogram, elegant leather trims, and thoughtful detailing, this bag is instantly recognizable as a symbol of luxury. The sleek design allows it to transition seamlessly from a day at the park to a night out, proving that practicality doesn’t have to come at the expense of style.

Materials: Crafted from high-quality materials, the Gucci Diaper Bag is designed to withstand the rigors of daily use. The canvas exterior is durable and easy to clean, while the leather accents add a touch of sophistication. Inside, the bag is lined with waterproof fabric, ensuring that any spills or messes are contained.

Practicality: The Gucci Diaper Bag is packed with practical features that make it ideal for moms on the go. It includes multiple compartments for organizing diapers, wipes, bottles, and snacks, as well as a foldable changing mat for convenience. The adjustable shoulder strap provides comfort, while the stroller straps allow for easy attachment when you’re out and about.

Comparing the Gucci Diaper Bag to Other Luxury Brands

While there are several luxury diaper bags on the market, the Gucci Diaper Bag stands out for its unique combination of style and practicality. Let’s take a look at how it compares to offerings from other high-end brands:

Louis Vuitton: Known for its timeless designs, Louis Vuitton offers diaper bags that are as elegant as they are functional. However, they often lack the modern, edgy appeal of Gucci’s offerings. The Gucci Diaper Bag, with its contemporary design, caters to moms who want something a bit more fashion-forward.

Prada: Prada’s diaper bags are known for their minimalist design and high functionality. However, they can sometimes feel a bit too utilitarian. The Gucci Diaper Bag strikes a perfect balance, offering a stylish design with plenty of practical features.

In the end, what sets the Gucci Diaper Bag apart is its ability to merge fashion with function seamlessly. It’s a bag that makes a statement while still being incredibly useful.

Style Inspiration: How to Wear Your Gucci Diaper Bag

One of the best things about the Gucci Diaper Bag is its versatility. Whether you’re dressing up for a special occasion or keeping it casual for a day out with your little one, this bag complements a wide range of outfits.

Casual Day Out: Pair your Gucci Diaper Bag with a simple jeans-and-tee combo for a look that’s effortlessly chic. Add a pair of stylish sneakers, and you’re ready to hit the park or run errands while looking put together.

Formal Event: Yes, you can take your Gucci Diaper Bag to a formal event! Pair it with a sleek dress and heels, and let the bag serve as a stylish yet practical accessory. Its sophisticated design ensures it won’t look out of place at more upscale gatherings.

Celebrity Inspiration: Celebrities like [Insert Celebrity Name] have been spotted carrying the Gucci Diaper Bag, proving that it’s a favorite among stylish moms in the spotlight. Take a cue from them and elevate your everyday look with this luxury accessory.

Caring for Your Gucci Diaper Bag

A luxury item like the Gucci Diaper Bag deserves special care to ensure it lasts for years. Here are some tips to keep your bag in top condition:

Regular Cleaning: Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or stains. For more stubborn marks, use a gentle cleaner specifically designed for luxury fabrics. Be sure to test any cleaning products on a small, inconspicuous area first.

Storage: When not in use, store your Gucci Diaper Bag in its original dust bag. This will protect it from dust and direct sunlight, which can cause the materials to fade over time. Stuff the bag with tissue paper to help it maintain its shape.

Handling Spills: Accidents happen, especially with little ones. If you spill something inside the bag, clean it up immediately to prevent stains. The waterproof lining makes this easier, but prompt action is still key to keeping the bag in good condition.

Is the Gucci Diaper Bag Worth the Investment?

When it comes to luxury items, the question of value often arises. Is the Gucci Diaper Bag worth its price tag? The answer depends on what you’re looking for in a diaper bag.

Cost vs. Value: While the Gucci Diaper Bag is undoubtedly a significant investment, it offers value in terms of quality, design, and longevity. Unlike cheaper alternatives, this bag is built to last, meaning you won’t need to replace it as often. Plus, its timeless design ensures it will remain stylish even as trends change.

User Testimonials: Moms who have invested in the Gucci Diaper Bag often praise its durability and style. [Insert Testimonial] shares, “I’ve had my Gucci Diaper Bag for over a year, and it still looks as good as new. It’s not only stylish but also incredibly practical—I wouldn’t go back to any other brand.”

Where to Buy the Gucci Diaper Bag

Ready to invest in a Gucci Diaper Bag? Here are some trusted places where you can make your purchase:

Official Gucci Stores: The best place to buy is directly from Gucci’s official website or one of their flagship stores. This ensures you’re getting an authentic product with all the brand guarantees.

Authorized Retailers: Luxury department stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue also carry Gucci diaper bags. Be sure to check for any warranty or return policies.

Online Platforms: If you’re purchasing online, stick to reputable platforms like Farfetch or Net-a-Porter. Always verify the seller’s authenticity and read reviews before making a purchase.

Before making your purchase, consider factors like the return policy, warranty, and the availability of after-sales service. These will provide peace of mind and protect your investment.

Conclusion

The Gucci Diaper Bag is more than just a bag—it’s a statement piece that reflects your style and commitment to quality. With its blend of fashion and function, it’s the perfect companion for any mom who wants to stay chic while taking care of her little one. Investing in a Gucci Diaper Bag means choosing a product that will serve you well for years, both in terms of practicality and style.

For more detailed information on this luxury must-have, check out our Gucci-diaper-bag guide. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know about choosing the right diaper bag for your needs.

[toomanyrobins]

a little bird told me pt. 5

Summary: Y/N “Birdie” Parker left New York and her family three years ago in the middle of the night. Now, a call for help to her best friend brings her back into the fold of the Three Families and their “business”

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Parker!Reader

Content warning: physical abuse, miscarriage, allusions to fertility issues, cursing, mentions of forced marriage

Word Count: 2k

Notes: Surprise! It’s a boy!

Series masterlist // next part

The first day Y/N felt like herself and the injuries had mostly healed, Pepper insisted on them going into the city and shopping. With the holidays coming up, they had a lot of events they would be required to attend and Y/n didn’t think that her old style suited her very well. Before going to meet her mom, she stopped by the Ivory to drop off a coffee to Tony and Peter. The former had tried to convince her to bring some guards with her, but she rolled her eyes at his overprotectiveness. She was outside the office texting Pepper, when she heard squeaking. When she looked up there was nothing there. She heard the noises again and followed it into the hallway. Y/N knelt down and stared into the blue eyes of a diapered baby. “Well, hello. Who do you belong to?” she lifted him out and settled him on her hip. As she shook the toy, he babbled at her.

“Jamie? Jamie!” Frantic male voices were heard calling through halls.

“If Jamie is a baby, you’ll find him in here with me!” Steve came flying around the corner, a wild look in his eyes. He lifted Jamie from her arms and hugged him to his chest, kissing his forehead. 

Y/n was surprised to see so much open affection from the blond. She tilted her head and stared, “So… who’s is he?”

“Mine,” his eyes never left the baby.

“You have a kid?” Y/N felt a twinge in her heart. Another thing she had missed because of her selfishness.

“You’d know about all of this if you had stuck around.” she winced at the harsh comment and before Steve could apologize, Bucky and Sam came running around the corner, “JAMIE!” They both ran over and quickly checked on the baby as well. The diapered infant just babbled at the three men and shook his toy, basking in the attention.

“If you don’t mind my asking, how did he end up in the hallway in just a diaper?”

Steve glared at his two friends, “I made the mistake of leaving him in the care of these idiots. I have meetings for George all day.”

“He just got away from us while we were having a discussion about what outfit to put him in,” Bucky at least had the decency to look ashamed about losing his nephew.

Sam turned to him and pointed a finger, “You know the whales are much more stylish, Barnes.”

Y/N looked at the men and shook her head, “I can help watch him. We could call it part of my amends.”

“Birdie, you don’t---” She gave him a don’t mess with me look and Steve sighed, “Would you, really? That would be a huge help. He just started crawling and it’s been an adjustment. Obviously.”

“I was going to go shopping with Pepper. I’ll just bring him along.”

“You’re bringing some men with you, right?”

Y/N rolled her eyes, “No, I hadn’t planned on it. Tony tried the same thing.” A mischievous grin spread across her face, “But, since they already had their day cleared to watch Jamie, I’m sure Bucky and Sam will be up to the task.”

“I thought if you would take the kid, I could get some other stuff done.”

“You thought wrong, Buckaroo. Boys, pack your bags. We leave in an hour.” Steve and Y/N walked away, talking about Jamie’s routine. The other two men were left glaring at each other, still bitter about their argument earlier. The duo walked into Steve’s office and were greeted with a baby explosion. 

The blond cursed under his breath, “I swear this room was organized when I left an hour ago.”

“I believe you, big guy.” She patted his arm, before turning to Jamie and picking him up, “Okay, little man, let’s get you dressed.” Y/N made quick work and blew a raspberry on his stomach when she was done. A huge smile grew across her face when she heard the baby giggles. She looked up and saw a strange look on Steve’s face, “What? Is there something on my face?”

“It’s just so strange to see you again.”

“Stevie…”

“I’m not saying this to make you feel bad. I’m glad you’re back. I’d forgotten what life was like with you around.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean let’s face it, Birdie, you have the nickname for a reason. You never stayed in one place long enough and it was exhausting the amount of energy you had.”

“Am I still that same person in your eyes?”

“Some of it is the same. It was always hard to imagine you settling down. But, the minute you are around kids, it’s an entirely different story. If you ever decide to settle down, you will be an amazing parent.”

Y/N’s heart clenched at the thought of her secret. She felt herself starting to get emotional and busied herself by going through the diaper bag. Once she had herself back under control, she smiled up at him, “Well, you made a damn cute kid, Stevie.”

“Don’t I know it,” he smiled down at his son. Y/N couldn’t help but laugh to herself at the imagery of the large man holding such a small child. “Okay, Jamie, be good for Birdie. I’ll see you later. Oh, and here’s a key to my truck and the apartment in case you’re done before I am.” 

“I’ll text you plenty of photos.”

“Thank you for this,” Steve leaned down to kiss her cheek and whispered in her ear, “I missed you more than you know.” He had left her breathless with that last comment and she moved robotically as she put Jamie into the car and headed to meet Pepper. Her mother had raised her eyebrow at her showing up with the baby, Sam, and Bucky, but laughed when she heard the whole story. 

While her mother enjoyed shopping, the activity was the bane of Y/N’s existence. They moved quickly through the stores, grabbing what she needed and trying things on. Jamie was on his best behavior, even clapping a few times when Y/N had come out of the dressing room. Despite the fact that they all knew it didn’t mean anything, anything the baby reacted to was purchased. By the time they had finished, everyone was dead on their feet and the baby was knocked out in his stroller. 

Y/N decided to let Pepper take all of the clothes back to the house and she went back to Steve’s apartment to put Jamie down for a proper nap. Walking through the door was like entering a time capsule. The only difference was the addition of baby things. She walked through the hallway and looked at the pictures and framed sketches on the wall. Y/N stopped in front of a picture of them from Tony’s infamous Christmas party four years ago. Steve had been her guard for over a year at that point and the two of them had spent practically every day together. It was hard to believe how much the two people in that photo had changed. As she moved further down, the sketches she had stolen and framed for him still had pride of place. Her musings were interrupted by her phone chirping:

Steve: I’m sorry, but meetings are running longer than planned. Are you okay with Jamie? You can bring him to Becca if you have plans.

Y/N: No plans. I’m happy to stay. You focus on work. Little man and I got this.

She walked into the kitchen and found a drawer of takeaway menus and the cabinets only filled with food for Jamie. When he woke up from his nap, she pulled her shoes on, “This won’t do, little man. We are going to the grocery store." Y/N strapped Jamie to her chest and walked to the nearest store. They made quick work at the shop, filling the cart with essentials. Once she got back to the apartment, she put the baby in his high chair with a snack. Music filled the kitchen as she danced around. 

Steve came home and followed the delicious smells and music playing. He found Y/N in the kitchen, dancing with Jamie in her arms. He leaned on the door frame, watching her hips sway as she switched her focus between what was on the pan in front of her and his son. Birdie Stark was definitely not a teenager anymore. He walked into the kitchen and put his hand on her waist, making her jump. “Jesus!”

He chuckled and took Jamie from her, “Nope, just me, sweetheart.”

“You scared the crap out of me.”

He apologized, but didn’t sound that sorry. He stared down at her, thinking how the flush on her cheeks from the heat suited her. “Are you making dinner?”

Y/N suddenly looked nervous. “I’m not overstepping, am I? You said you’d be working late and I thought I’d help out,” she looked up at him and smirked, "Plus, I saw the takeaway drawer.”

“It’ll be a cold day in hell when I’m mad at a home cooked meal. But from what I remember, you once set fire to a pot of water.”

She threw her head back and laughed, “That was almost five years ago, I will have you know. My skills have vastly improved. Y/N realized how close she and Steve were standing. She pulled away and felt his hand slip away from where it had been resting comfortably on her waist. He cleared his throat and turned his attention to Jamie who was babbling at him. 

Y/N dished up two plates and got Jamie’s bottle ready. “Birdie, you don’t have to do that. I can feed him and eat after.”

“You’ve been at work all day, Steve, and I know for a fact you forget to eat. I don’t mind, really.” She settled herself on the couch with Jamie in her arms and her plate on the arm. . He held his own bottle and she ate a few bites while staring at the baby in her arms. She was entirely unaware of Steve watching her, 

He rubbed his eyes and took a pull from his beer, “I can’t believe it’s only 7. I feel like today will never end.”

“Did you say 7? Shit!” Y/N looked worried, “I need to go.” She had forgotten that she had made an appointment with a doctor to make sure that she wasn’t pregnant. Her paranoia had taken over and she had to be sure. 

“Why? Where are you going?”

“Birdie, you’ve been going all day. Just reschedule.”

“I can’t, Steve.”

“Why not?”

“I can’t tell you.” They sat in awkward silence, the only noise coming from Jamie and he hungrily sucked at the bottle. She kept her eyes on the baby and whispered, “Are you mad at me?”

Steve sighed and came to kneel down in front of her, “Why would I be mad at you, sweetheart?”

She ran a finger over Jamie’s cheek, biding her time, “Because I’m keeping secrets. That tends to make others angry.”

“God, Birdie, no. I’m not angry. I’m disappointed that you think you aren’t safe to share, but i never want you to be scared of me.” Y/N nodded sadly. Steve wanted herto tell him everything, “Want to help me put Jamie to bed? 

She shook her head and passed the baby to him, “I should go. It’s late.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’ll just call for a driver. You haven’t seen Jamie all day, you should spend some time together.” Y/N grabbed her bag and jacket, and leaned over to kiss the wiggling child.

“I have tomorrow afternoon off, want to go for lunch?” Steve tilted her head up to meet her eyes, “We can go to Galletti’s.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.” Y/N got on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek, “Night, Stevie.”

He grinned, “What have I told you about calling me that?”

“Follow through on your threat and I might actually take you seriously.” 

[retrocelly]

Hey Annie, could ya do an imagine/hc (I honestly don’t care) where Boeser (AKA Prince Charming🤤) and reader are babysitting his nephew, Easton!! Please!! Thanks!! ❤️❤️

as y’all know I am very prone to baby fever so I could not resist

brock is a doting uncle, but that doesn’t mean he brings just anyone around his nephew

so you were pretty honored when he asked you to help babysit easton for the night while his parents took a mini vacay

you’d been around easton before, obviously, but always in group settings when you were around the whole family

the day starts off with brock meticulously organizing all of easton’s stuff so that it was all easy-access if need be

you then spent the next couple of hours playing with him and watching some cartoon that helped easton settle down for his nap

after nap time was over, you and brock were ready for lunch and since it was such a nice day, you decided to go out to a restaurant and then take easton for a walk

brock spent nearly the whole lunch either baby-talking his nephew or grinning a little too widely at you

whenever easton would get fussy, brock would hold him and you couldn’t help your hormones when brock looked that good with a baby

on your walk, easton gets tired of his stroller so you decide to carry him while brock pushes the stroller and diaper bag

at one point, you ask a passing woman to take a picture of the three of you

she does so happily, commenting on “what a cute little family you are!”

and your heart flutters when she notes that easton “looks so much like his dad”

brock blushes but doesn’t correct her

by the time you get back home, you’re all a bit tired from the walk and the full meal, so you tuck easton into the portable crib that brock set up by the couch

you and brock then settle into the couch and when you wake up an hour later, tucked into brock’s side, you take careful note of the way his hand hangs over the rim of easton’s crib, a protective act similar to how he always had an arm around you when you were sleeping

easton wakes and starts crying but before it can wake brock up, you cradle him carefully and rock him gently, humming along to an old lullaby your mom used to sing to you

unbeknownst to you, brock was wide awake and taking a secret little video of you, which you would only find out hours later when you were clicking through instagram stories

a few more hours of playing later and it’s time to put easton down for bed

after nearly an hour of fighting to try and get the baby to settle, brock calls his mom who suggests taking him for a long drive

so you all clamber into the car and brock heads off, driving slowly along every back road he could think of until easton was asleep in the backseat

the drive gave brock time to tentatively mention a family with you and, though you both knew neither of you were quite ready yet, it was comforting to know he thought about that future with you

[the-hilda-librarians-wife]

The Mistakes We Made - Chapter Four

Summary:  When her high school girlfriend comes back to town after two years with a baby and a terrible story she won’t tell, the Librarian has to deal with the feelings she had worked so hard to keep at bay.

Notes:  I have no idea of how libraries work, just roll with it *finger guns*

Read it on ao3: (chpt1) (chpt2) (chpt3) (chpt4)

Maven cracked her eyes open and squinted immediately. Her face was bathing in the early sunlight, and groaning she realized that she had left the curtains open the night before.

She turned her back to the window, knowing she still had time to rest until her alarm rang. Clutching her blanket tighter around herself, she tried to hang on to the last vestiges of the dream she’d been having. And it had been such a strange dream, so impossible and bittersweet.

Her sleep muddled mind failed to remember much more of it, so she simply accepted to let that be. That is, until she heard sounds of clatter in the kitchen, which made her sit up on her bed immediately. It couldn’t be an animal; she always let her house locked up at night. It wouldn’t be a visitor either: only Maven’s uncle had another key, and he was currently out of town. Her only other option would be faeries, but she had quite a few amulets to keep those away from the house. Besides, the scent coming from the kitchens smelled like coffee, not like flowers or milk like one would expect from the wee folk. So there was only one possibility.

It hadn’t been a dream.

Maven bolted out of her bed, heading straight to the bathroom and throwing water on her face. As her mind began to cooperate, the details of the day before came back to her. Johanna walking into the Poet’s Retreat, asking for help by the lamplight, feeding her child in the living room and putting her to sleep in her stroller: suddenly it all got as clear a the day outside in her head.

But her thoughts clouded over again as her heart took control. The shock of seeing her former best friend back, with a baby and without her husband, had stopped her from thinking about other things the day before. She had acted mostly on impulse. But now that she had rested and spent some time away from Johanna, she began remembering exactly why her impulse had been running away and lashing out.

Her mood didn’t improve as she got dressed, figuring she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep and deciding to get ready for work instead; after all, an early morning wouldn’t hurt. Not to mention it would give her somewhere to hide from her feeling and a certain someone who had awakened them.

She got out of the bedroom wearing her typical clothes: a white button up shirt with a sleeveless grey cardigan on top, a pleated black skirt with leggings underneath and dark flats that were comfortable enough to not make her feet ache when she needed to stand up for hours organizing books.

The usual routine was comforting, in a way. Dressing up, brushing her short hair, putting the things she’d need in her dark blue messenger bag. It made her forget that something out of the ordinary was happening.

Of course, that sense of normality disappeared when she walked down the narrow wood stairs to the kitchen and found herself looking at the unusual picture that her former girlfriend and her baby made in Maven’s house.

“Good morning” Maven said when she was a few steps behind Johanna, who was in front of the oven scrambling eggs. She startled and turned back, facing her host with the fridge and spatula still in hand.

“Oh, good morning!” She chirped, making her tone politely happy and putting a smile on her face, but it wilted when she noticed how gloomy Maven looked. Her shoulders were tense, her eyes hooded with irritation and with dark circles under them, though she could barely see them as Maven’s hair was getting in the way. Surliness seemed to roll off of her in waves, and Johanna knew her way to well to think everything was okay.

But Johanna didn’t have the patience for this, and she surely didn’t have the strength for this any longer. She knew Maven wasn’t Torrin- there wouldn’t be much of a negative consequence if they had a row- but that didn’t mean she had the psychological and emotional strength to deal with a fight. So she just lowered her head and waited for her friend to speak.

Seeing this, Maven lifted her eyebrows in both surprise and mockery. Really? No “stop sulking! What real problems do you even have?”? No “quit being a happiness sucking spirit!”?. Even before everything went to hell, Maven would get an “well, someone woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning.” if her friend noticed she was in a bad mood. Staying quiet wasn’t typical Johanna behavior and it wouldn’t be in a thousand years. But the woman had no marks on her body, and that made a lot of Maven’s preoccupation with her succumb to the nagging voice in her mind telling her that she had warned Johanna, and she had been ignored.. Seemed fair she’d have to face the consequences now.

“I’m going to work.” She said shortly. “I’ll be back by lunchtime to get my stuff. I take it you’re still not back at college?”

“I’m not.”

Maven nodded and looked at the cabinets above Johanna’s head. She should probably get something to eat, but she really didn’t want to be in the same room as her at the moment. “Excuse me” she said as she reached out for the cabinet’s wooden handle, making Johanna take a step to the right. She quickly found a package of biscuits and took it out, giving Johanna space to return to her cooking once more.

She had already turned to leave. Her hand was in the bag where she’d placed her keys. But a bit of her conscience made itself known in her mind through the haze of pain. Monster, it seemed to tell her. You’re just going to leave? Are you really this cold? This is why you’re meant to be alone.

With her heart clenching, just like her fingers around her keys, she said:

“Do you need anything?”

Johanna turned her head from the oven to look at her, a confused frown on her face. Though Maven had to be talking to her, she was staring at the door. “For the baby.” She completed. “Do you have enough diapers and that sort of thing?”

“I do. Thank you.”

“If- if you have any problems” she reluctantly said as she unlocked the door. “You can call me.”

And after she had stepped outside into the chilly morning, she called. “You know, I haven’t changed my number. I was wondering if maybe that was why I never heard from you again, but it seems it remains the same.” Just before she shut the door again, leaving each of them alone with their own pain.

_#_#_#_

Yawning, Maven raised her arms above her head and stretched. After spending a good part of her morning and most of her afternoon sitting at one of the tables in Trollberg’s library, she’d finally finished studying and was ready to head home. For the day, at least.

Picking up her backpack from the chair by her side, she closed each of her notebooks and stored them away, doing the same with her pens. Most students from her class used laptops to do their essays and researches, but Maven’s mother didn’t have enough money to get her one, having to work alone to make ends meet, so she learned to deal with all the paper that she needed to get through college. She found she preferred that, too. Paper was comforting and it didn’t stop working suddenly and made you pay even more to repair it. Paper was reliable, even if it was a bit messy.

When all her things had been put away, Maven got up and lifted a stack with the four books she had used, and set about looking for Mr. Kavindi, to ask if he would put them away or if she could reshelve them herself. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know where pretty much everything went at this point.

She found him eyeing the library’s computer at his desk, frowning at the screen. His worried expression reminded her of the troubles he’d told her about days ago, and suddenly she was afraid that something bad had happened. For whatever reason, Aven had showed up at the library, an action so atypical of him that could probably justify sending him to an asylum, and declared that Mr. Kavindi’s work was insufficient , and that his father would know about how slowly work got done around there.

If it was anyone else, they wouldn’t have cared for the threat. Problem was, the bastard was the son of the mayor. And that complicated things a bit.

Maven didn’t really think that the good hearted librarian would be sent away. She couldn’t think of many people in this town who had the basic knowledge to get the job, and those who did were quite close to Mr. Kavindi and would surely refuse to do such a thing to him, not to mention that they all had their own stable jobs. But that didn’t stop her from being worried for a man who had helped her so much.

“Sir?” She began tentatively and he looked up at her, a smile slowly spreading over his face when he realized it was her.

“I just wanted to know if I should leave this with you or put them away.” She lifted her books in askance.

“Ah, Maven! Leave them at the desk, please.” She did as he said, putting them near a few other ones that also needed to be reshelved. “I wanted to talk to you, but you looked so focused in your studies I didn’t want to bother before.”

“It wouldn’t be a bother, sir. But is everything alright? You know, with the mayor?”

He nodded happily. “More than okay, my girl. You see, Mr. Torrin’s insatisfaction worked on my favour. It would seem the town hall finally allowed me something I’ve been asking for for years. They’re giving the library extra money so that I can have an assistant!”

Maven breathed out in relief and smiled, something she didn’t do quite often but seemed easier when she was with the kind man in front of her. “That’s lovely, sir. Maybe with a little help you could try to do more of those projects you told me you had planned when you first got the job. I bet Aven won’t have anything else to complain about, then.”

The librarian was looking at her with a little smile she couldn’t quite decipher. “Yes, maybe I could. Unfortunately, though, I seem to have a small problem. There seems to be a limited number of people interested in literature in this town, and all of those I’ve consulted weren’t interested in taking this part time job.”

Maven frowned. “Well, I’m sure you’ll find someone, eventually…” she remembered a girl in her high school class that had liked reading too, but she had moved to another city to go to college. There was also a boy who had been known to love Tolkien, but as far as Maven was concerned, he was studying something related to maths, so he was probably not an option.

“How’s your schedule, Maven?”

The girl looked up from the floor and at him at the unexpected question. “I’ve been handling it well enough. Mostly I have classes in the evening, so I have the mornings and sometimes the nights to myself. I use the half an hour of train ride to study or do homeworks… why?”

“Well, you’re smart, you’re young enough to go around stacking books with little effort, and you’re studying for this.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Would you consider working here?”

Maven could only gape at him. It was too easy, to have her dream job handed to her on a silver platter. It was never this easy. It shouldn’t be this easy. “Are you serious?”

“I wouldn’t ask you if I wasn’t.”

“Yes!” She said without thinking twice. Time would get a lot shorter; she’d probably have to stay up many nights. Money wouldn’t be abundant, either; librarians were already underpaid, and a part time, unqualified assistant wouldn’t have it easy either. But it was a beginning. If she did well on that job, maybe once she had majored in Library Science (which she really hoped she would) the town hall would consider her when the time came to choose another librarian. Not to mention she’d get a lot of experience with that.

“I’ll warn you already, it doesn’t pay well.” He joked, but when Maven didn’t waver in her resolution, he asked her to give him her CV as soon as she could. She was a little nervous about that, since she’d barely gotten started on college, but he’d assured her the city hall would trust his decisions. Time tables would be better discussed later, but initially they agreed on having her help him out in the mornings.

She left the library doing her best to look like her usual serene and composed self when inside she felt happier then she’d felt in months. Finally, it seemed things were going her way.

That feeling changed when she began to head home and found there was an unusual flow of people walking towards Main Street. Not quite liking the situation, Maven began turning into Trollberg’s smaller streets, looking for the least used way home.

When she was nearly there, she saw a man, tall with dark skin and eyes, smoking and looking at the sun that was slowly moving down the horizon. Dimitri, her cousin, and the owner of the town’s Hoodoo shop.

She stepped closer. Dimitri knew about things, maybe he’d know what was happening.

“Hello, cousin.” He said before she had a chance to wish him a good evening, without even turning his gaze from the sky to her. “Something on your mind?”

“Yes, actually. Do you know why everyone seems to be going to Main Street?”

He rolled his eyes. “Unfortunately, I do. It’s the Aven boy and your friend. Surely you heard that they got married today?”

The girl felt bile rise up in her throat. She knew, of course she knew. But she had tried so hard to forget that she actually missed the date.

Not that she’d been invited, anyway.

“Yes.” She answered simply.

“Yeah, the most dim witted parcel of the city’s population in going to watch them leave town, as if they were celebrities or something. Ridiculous, isn’t it?”

Maven fought against the stinging in her eyes. She’d tried to stay away from anything related to Johanna, but still she hadn’t been able to block out the whispering voices in the streets that told her she was moving away to the Aven family’s cabin in the woods. “N- now?” She asked tremulously.

“Yes, now. Why?”

She didn’t answer why. She barely uttered a “thank you, good evening” before sprinting out of the alley in the direction of Main Street as fast as she could.

“Oh, Maven.” Dimitri whispered and shook his head, taking his cigarette to his mouth once again. “Why must you make yourself suffer this way?

_#_#_#_

“Are you going to tell me about it?” Mr. Kavindi asked from under the ladder which she had climbed to stack some books that had been left in one of the library’s desks the night before.

“About what, sir?” Maven replied as she sang the ABCs in her head to find out between which books the one she was holding should go.

He lifted an eyebrow. Maven couldn’t see it, but she was sure she could feel it. “You know what I’m talking about. I know you enough to be able to tell when you’re not okay.”

She groaned internally, putting the book in its correct spot, and taking a moment to caress its red leather spine before she took a deep breath and answered.

“Sir, I would rather not talk about that. I’m sorry.”

Mr. Kavindi sighed. His assistant was such a good girl. He’d always tried to befriend her, but she had always been a closed off one. No matter, he thought. He knew exactly what the issue was about even if she wouldn’t tell him. Ever since she’d began attending the library with a frequency, when she was but a wee child, there had only been one person who had been able to make that sort of anxious energy roll off of her in waves.

He wasn’t going to press any further, but he would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious as to where his assistant could have possibly seen Johanna these days.

“How’s college?” He opted for a change of subject, and she was glad. She could even hear the concern on his voice; he knew that she wasn’t happy with her performance. Whereas before she had had time to study properly, after accepting the job at the library she’d been much more busy, and it only got worse when her mother passed away and she had to do some odd cleaning jobs here and there to make ends meet. Her family tried to help her, but she usually didn’t accept their money unless she had no other choice.

She paid attention to classes and made as good use of her time as she could, so her grades were not going to be bad enough for her to fail, but he knew it disturbed her to not be able to reach her full potential. And if he were honest, it disturbed him too. Maven was made for more than mediocre grades.

“Going as usual.” She answered simply. At the best of days she was somewhat reclused, but today he felt she just didn’t want to talk at all. So he politely excused himself and went to finish the preparations to open the library for the day, leaving the woman alone with her thoughts.

_#_#_#_

It had taken nearly an hour, but Johanna was finally ready to leave. Of all the people she’d hugged and said her goodbyes to, the last one was still in front of her, crying as if she’d gotten married herself.

“Don’t worry, Lucy.” She said to the woman who had been her best friend for the last couple of months. “It’s not like I’m going away forever. You can visit us whenever you like, and we will be back from time to time too!”

“I know, it’s just-“ she made a show of drying her tears. “It was all so very beautiful. The wedding, the lunch… everything! And it all happened so fast! I’ve never seen two people get engaged so quickly; the two of you just have such a deep connection.”

Johanna chuckled at her friend’s sentimentalism, but inwardly agreed with her. She understood Torrin better than anyone. And after she realized that, it didn’t take long for it to become easy to imagine a happily ever after with him. She was living the dream of half of the girls in the town, she knew.

“No time for this.” Johanna’s mother, Kate, said as she walked by the pair with her husband, who was carrying some of Johanna’s luggage. Most of her stuff had already been moved to the house she’d share with her new husband, but there were a few things she’d chosen to take with her. “There are many people waiting to see the two of you. Better not to keep them waiting.”

Johanna frowned. “What?”

“Oh, you know how people are in this town.” A voice came from behind her. She turned and saw him standing at the door of her kitchen, his blue hair falling on his eyes and his shoulder leaning against the wooden frame. There he was. Her Prince Charming.

“They love gossip, babe. And we’re a big thing, you know?” He smirked, stepping closer. “A great part of the town is on Main Street, just waiting to get one last look at us before we begin our life together. Isn’t that amazing?”

No, it really wasn’t. She wasn’t marrying for other people. She was doing it for herself; she’d always been a sociable person, but she wasn’t comfortable with the whole town wanting such involvement in her life. But clearly it made Torrin happy, and if it was good for him…

She forced herself to smile. “Yes! That’s… incredible.”

“Nothing less than what my princess deserves” he smirked, taking her hand. “Now let’s go. Your mother is right, and I can’t wait to begin our life together.”

He took her to the car his father had given him, powerful and imposing in the narrow street of her house. He opened the door for her, and after giving one last goodbye kiss to her mother, father and best friend, she got into the car in the backseat, and Torrin slipped at her side while she straightened the skirts of the dress she had chosen for the trip to their new house in the woods, one that was much more comfortable than the bridal one she had worn in the morning or the other that she had worn in the afternoon for the party.

Torrin took her hand as the driver that his father had hired started the car and headed for Main Street. He hadn’t even finished the turn when Johanna saw the ocean of people that had gathered to see them. The driver drove slowly, and Torrin lowered his window to wave goodbye at the people. Following his lead, Johanna lowered hers too and put her best smile on her face, waving at friends, family, former classmates and even complete strangers.

They yelled and cheered in happiness, but all noise seemed to disappear and time seemed to slow down as Johanna caught a pair of grey eyes in the crowd. It was so fast. Not after five seconds, the car had already moved enough that she couldn’t see her anymore, so she shouldn’t have noticed that she had been clutching her faded purple cardigan tighter around herself, apparently trying to look smaller. She shouldn’t have noticed that her mouth was closed into a tight line, a clear effort to hold back emotion. And she most certainly shouldn’t have noticed that the woman’s cold, grey eyes were filled with unshed tears.

Johanna had been paralyzed after that. Her hand stilled in the air and her gaze was redeemed unable to focus on any other person in the street; she only came back to herself once the car had crossed the town’s gates. Closing her window and her eyes, she took a deep, fortifying breath. Past. Maven was in the past. She was a mistake that Johanna wouldn’t commit again. Their friendship had been relatively harmless, but she’d stepped over a line when she took advantage of their closeness and Johanna’s confusion to turn their relationship into something more. Yes, she told herself. That’s what had happened.

But then why did she have to be at the Main Street to see her one last time, and why did she have to look so forlorn?

“Hey, Earth to Johanna.” Her husband’s voice took her out of her reverie, and she looked away from her hands in her lap and at his smiling face beside her. “Are you alright?”

She made herself smile. “Of course, why wouldn’t I be?”

At her affirmation, he leaned towards her, and she closed the distance between them, making their lips touch. Johanna shut her eyes and forced herself to focus solely on him. This was her fairy tale, her happy ending, and there was no place for Maven in it.

But even though she kept telling this to herself, over and over, she never quite believed it.

_#_#_#_

Maven was feeling slightly better when she went back home in the beginning of the afternoon. Not that her heart had stopped aching - it hadn’t since years ago, and that wasn’t going to change in just a few hours - but her job had actually taken the edge off of her pain.

Her mother used to say that, if being amongst books, trees, or family didn’t help, then it was a very serious problem. At least the book part seemed to have worked, but now she was coming back home, and would have to once again face the source of her pain.

Except she didn’t have to, in the end.

When she arrived home that day, Johanna was absent, her purse gone along with Hilda’s stroller, but the rest of her things were left untouched. On the kitchen counter, there was a small piece of paper with Johanna’s clear, D’Nealian handwriting that said “I went to my parents’. Don’t know when I’ll be back.”

Well, Maven thought, I should expect her return to be town gossip by the time I come back. She hoped Johanna knew what she was doing. Her parents loved her, Maven was sure of it (or at least she liked to believe they did), but they weren’t the most sensible people in town. Johanna truly needed their support, and Maven was not sure that this is what she’d receive.

You tried to support her, remember? That same, terrible voice from earlier spoke in the back of her mind. And she turned her back to you. It would serve her well…

The librarian groaned. It would do no good to begrudge someone she was currently trying to help, but apparently she couldn’t help it. There had always been a darker part of her that told her that Johanna’s friendship, and then her love, was too good to be true. That it would crumble down, leave her broken, leave her hollow.

And now that it was proven right, it just wouldn’t leave her alone.

But she was a college student, she didn’t have time to spare with emotional crap. So she sent those thoughts to the back of her mind, where she could as easily take them from when she had the time to actually reflect upon them, and grabbed a few ingredients from the refrigerator. Spreading them over the counter, she hastily put up a ham and cheese sandwich, and began eating as she climbed up the stairs with her bag on her shoulders.

Once in her room, she found the material she’d need for the rest of her day and put it in the bag, closing the buckle on the leather strap. She had barely finished eating when she ran to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, used the toilet, and grabbed a comb that she could use while she ran to the train station.

When she arrived, her train was already waiting for her, so she got in and waited for the doors to close. The train was blessedly empty, as it usually was, and she was able to pick a booth with a table between the two sets of chairs. If an actual group of four arrived, there were other empty booths, so she felt no restrictions when she opened her bag and took out one of her textbooks and a pencil. Her next lecture would begin in 45 minutes, and she would like to make good use of the time it would take to get there.

Soon enough, the doors closed, the train started moving, and the raven haired girl tried to allow her mind to be taken over by the safe normality of her routine, though some of her ghosts just wouldn’t leave her alone.

_#_#_#_

She had run to Main Street in a haze, and now that she was there, her mind was still clouded over. She couldn’t recognize anyone in the small crowd that had gathered, though logically she knew that she had probably seen everyone there at least once. The noises and colours around her were all just a blur of activity, and she couldn’t tell if that was psychological or if she was running out of oxygen from the running.

As minutes passed and she was still waiting there, doing her best to ignore the judgemental whispers and looks the people around her were giving her, she realized that yes, it was psychological. She drew her cardigan tighter around herself, a futile effort to close herself off from the world around her. Her eyes began stinging and she closed them so as not to allow any tear to break free. A Sunday evening and here she was, pining for one last glimpse of her ex. She was truly pathetic, she thought. She should be stronger than this.

But she really, truly wasn’t stronger then this, and the proof of this is that she readily opened her eyes when the people around her began cheering and the sound of a car engine could also be heard. Though her surroundings remained a blur, Maven could see her clearly. She focused on the way her brown eyes skimmed the crowd for acquaintances, shining like melting honey when they caught a beam of light, her short curly hair flowing with the wind. She hungrily drank down her image, committing it to memory, because she was certain she wouldn’t see more of that woman for a long time.

And then their eyes met. For the most terrifying, wonderful second, their eyes met. The happiness that ought to have been in her eyes before wasn’t there anymore, and Maven was certain it was her fault. Of course it was. Who would like to see their ex after their marriage? Her lips stopped smiling, turning into a shocked expression instead. Her hand stilled in the air, too surprised to wave at those people any longer. Maven repeatedly slapped herself mentally. Her simple presence there had ruined their parting celebration.

This is why you’re meant to be alone, a voice inside her mind told her. And it was right. Johanna was a princess, good and strong and loved by all. She deserved her ending with her brave knight, even if Maven wasn’t at all sure about said knight’s morals.

But Johanna was a good character judge, so if she trusted him, shouldn’t Maven too? And now, she had disturbed this gift from the town to them. She had intruded on their happy ending; made the princess feel on edge, she had seen it in her eyes.

Maven sighed and began walking away as the rest of the crowd dispersed. If she had understood this since the beginning, she would have spared herself so much pain.

She was the witch. And there was no room for the witch in the princess’s happy ending.

_#_#_#_

Each night the sight of her front door got more and more alluring. But that was probably because each night Maven got more and more tired, and honestly all she wanted was to do the assignments she absolutely had to, have a bath and go to sleep.

But as fate would have it, she couldn’t do that! After all, Johanna was staying with her and she’d probably have to, once again, face the feelings she’d tried for years to quench down to no avail.

The first thing she did upon entering the house was head to the cupboard and take a package of biscuits out of it. She was starving, but she had no energy to prepare anything to eat. The second was wonder where could Johanna be. She didn’t know if she wanted the woman to be back or not. If she was, that meant more emotional labor for her. But if she wasn’t, Maven would probably be too worried about her to sleep that night.

Dropping her bag on the sofa, she headed to the most obvious room in which to look at first: the room she had allowed Johanna to stay at. As she walked down the corridor, the sound of her crunching the biscuit drowned down the other noise that was reverberating through the corridor, but as she got closer, it got too strong not to hear.

Johanna’s sniffles startled Maven, making her reactionless for a moment before she bolted forward, easily opening the unlocked door and worryingly looking around the room. She found her friend on top of the bed, curled into a ball with her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook with every deep breath she took, and only after a moment did she raise her head to look at the intruder.

Looking at Johanna’s red skin and miserable hair, she thought that her parents would need a damn good excuse if they didn’t want Maven to curse them.

[chasingsuperheroes]

Organized Chaos (T.H.) Part 1

A/N: So i’m starting a series. This is something i’ve had in the works for a while and i’m ready to get it out there. I hope you all like it.  also! shout out to @southwest-london-darling for being amazing and helping me work up the courage to post this lol

Pairing: singledad!tom x eventual nanny!reader

Warnings: angst? mention of death

Word Count: 1123

Pulling the cereal down from the top shelf, Tom let a sigh pass his lips. He knelt down and grabbed a small pink bowl out of the drawer and a little spoon decorated with Disney Princesses. He set the small bowl on the top of the island, placing the cereal next to it before going to the cabinet and pulling out the formula and the baby bottle. He poured 7 ounces of water into the bottle and scooped formula out in to the bottled before shaking it up and brining it with him down the hall of his flat. Passing by the office with the futon where he had slept the last year and a half, the smaller room had become a sanctuary. The one place where she had almost never stepped foot. There was nothing in there to remind him of what he had lost. Tom proceeded down the hall, he pushed the door open and saw the Charlotte sitting up in her bed, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand and smiling when she saw Tom walk through the door.

“Daddy!” She rasped, her matted curls sticking in all direction. She shot out of her small bed and ran to his leg. Tom couldn’t help but smile as he bent down to give Charlotte a kiss on the head.

“Love, I need to get Oliver up.” Tom walked over to the crib to see the giggling baby boy in the crib. He walked out of the room, Charlotte in tow, making his way back to the kitchen.

“Hello!” a voice sounded through the penthouse apartment, sending Charlotte into a fit of giggles.

“Y/N!” Charlotte perched on the bar top, turned on her knees to see her walk through the door. Y/N smiled as she set her stuff down on the dinning table adjacent to the kitchen.

“Hi, Y/N.” Tom sent her a smile and continued feeding Oliver his bottle.

“Hi, everybody! How’s my favorite girl?” Y/N smiled at the little girl beaming at her.

“Could you pour her the cereal and fill the bowl with milk?” Tom gestured to the fridge.

“Yea, no problem.” Y/N absently poured the cereal and tried as hard as she could not to look at Tom. There are two things that drive Y/N crazy: attractive men and babies. So when it was a daily occurrence that her boss was shirtless and holding a baby, to say she was distracted was an understatement. It was completely wrong for her to look at him like that. After everything he had been through in the last year and a half, she felt guilty for even thinking anything along that line. “Do you want me to finish with Olly?” Y/N put the milk on the counter after filling Charlotte’s bowl up. She extended her arms out to take Olly from Tom.

“Yea, actually that’d be great. I have to go get showered and dressed.” Tom set Oliver in Y/N’s arms before placing a kiss on the little boys head and tickling Charlotte as he made his way to the office. Y/N watched him disappear into the door, she let her eyes drift to the door at the very end of the hall, where Tom and she used to disappear to in the mornings to prepare for work. The door had been left un-touched since that night.

“Y/N, can we go to the park today?” Charlotte tore her from her trance on the door and she smiled gingerly at the small girl. “Of course, Love. I don’t see why not.” She bounced Oliver on her hip and told Charlotte to finish eating.

Two hours and a diaper change later, Charlotte was dressed in a pair of pink jeans, a blue t-shirt and he favorite coat, along with her favorite pair of vans slip-on, pink and white checkered of course. Oliver was bundled up with a beanie on top of his little head, blonde locks spilling out the sides, for a year and a half year old, he had a lot of hair. Y/N set Oliver in his stroller before finishing packing a bag for their trip to the park.

“Okay, is everybody ready?” She smiled at the two little ones in front of her as they smiled and giggled at each other.

“Y/N!” She shot around to see Tom emerge in a pair of jeans and a fitted black thermal, accompanied by a fleece lined flannel. “Do you mind if I tag along? I don’t really want to be here alone.” Tom took a moment to reach her eyes but when he did, she knew what he really meant. He didn’t want to be alone in a house that reminded him so much of her.

“Oh, of course I’m sure Lottie would love that.” Y/N smiled at him before buttoning up her jacket and pushing the stroller out the front door.

“Daddy’s coming?” Charlotte beamed at her dad and he picked her up and carried her to the park, walking next to Y/N who was still pushing the stroller.

They walked for 20 minutes, listening to Charlotte tell a story about a boy in her class who always knocked over everyone else’s sand castle. Tom set her down once they reached the grass close to the park let her run ahead.

“She always asks for you.” He said simply, not tearing his eyes away from her. “At night, when she wakes up from a bad dream. She used to ask for her mother. But, now it’s you.” He watched Charlotte chase a bird. Y/N’s eyes shot over to him, watching Tom’s face. She couldn’t figure out if he was upset about it or just telling her, like it was no big deal.

“Really?” She looked down in the stroller at Oliver. “I didn’t know she did that.” Y/N swallowed hard, feeling tears start to prick in her eyes. A little girl didn’t have her mother to console her, and Y/N had just realized she was the closest thing Charlotte had to it.

“Yea. It’s kind of- I don’t know- weird? I keep on expecting her to ask for Anna, but it’s always your name. So I have to tell her that you won’t be here until the morning, she mopes and cries. She doesn’t understand that you aren’t always at her beck and call. She’s become attached to you. Lord knows Oliver will be too.” Tom smiled weakly. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad that considering the situation they have someone maternal, but I just wish it was Anna. Oliver’s not even going to know her.” Tom felt a tear fall from his eye.

“Well I’m glad I can be of some comfort to them.” Y/N continued down the walkway pushing the stroller along.

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

[littleunicornblog]

Spring Break Travel Essentials for Baby and Parents

While you can’t predict everything that can happen on a trip with a baby, it’s a good move to be prepared for any mishaps or events that will inevitably come up along the way. If you’re traveling with a baby (or toddler) this spring, you’ll have to plan out all the essential items, so you don’t forget anything. From at least one muslin blanket to a reliable diaper bag, go into your journey with peace of mind. Here are a few items that can make traveling a little easier.

Comforting Muslin Blanket You’ll love having a muslin blanket or two on hand during your travels. A super-soft cotton muslin swaddle blanket is perfect for cuddling, nursing, and comforting your baby. A versatile swaddling blanket is great for stroller rides to shield the eyes, soothing babies when they’re overwhelmed, keeping them company on long car rides, cozying up to mom or dad’s shoulder, and for use as an impromptu cover for a changing table. You’ll probably find plenty of other benefits as well. Cotton muslin swaddle blankets are excellent for newborns to toddlers. Plenty of Burp Cloths Baby spit-up can happen at any time, but you’ll find it’s best to be prepared by bringing a few burp cloths. If one gets too dirty on your trip, you’ll have a back-up burp cloth while the other one is in the wash. You’ll find them to be a real life-saver for keeping everyone clean and happier on the road, in a plane, and in restaurants. The best burp cloths are made of several absorbent layers of cotton muslin to keep you clean and dry. Choose a beautiful, spring-inspired pattern that’s sure to get you compliments from the moms. Versatile Diaper Bag There are plenty of high-quality diaper bag styles to choose from, including tote and backpack options. Maybe mom and dad both need one. Whichever bag style you choose, make sure it comes with a wipeable, easy-to-clean changing pad. Vegan leather diaper bags look stylish and are completely practical for traveling. Other features may include interior storage pockets for everything from your keys to diapers to a tablet to a change of clothes. Some diaper bags even come with a separate adult compartment to keep personal items organized. You want to be able to navigate your day seamlessly and having the right diaper bag can help you do it. Water-Resistant Outdoor Blanket Whether your adventures take you to the beach or a park for a picnic, an easy-to-clean mid-size blanket is super handy. Some of the best outdoor blankets are made of water-resistant fabric that makes for easy clean-ups. The travel blanket should also be lightly padded and easy to transport with a shoulder carrying strap. You won’t be disappointed if you bring along your outdoor blanket. It’s great for being outside in nature and can also double as an indoor play mat if you’re spending down time in a hotel or a rental. If you know of someone who could really use this blanket, it makes for a great gift, too. About Little Unicorn As parents, you want the best for your children. With Little Unicorn, you can get the best baby supplies and products you need for every milestone in your family’s story. Little Unicorn products are tested and retested to ensure that global safety standards are being met and your baby has the highest quality supplies to grow up with. Little Unicorn products are the ideal gift for expecting parents and feature beautiful, hand-drawn designs. Choose from a wide variety of parenthood essentials, from swaddling muslins, burp cloths, towels for bath time, customizable diaper bags, outdoor-ready blankets, and more. Little Unicorn is here to support your family throughout all the messy, beautiful, and unforgettable moments of parenthood. Whether you’re playing and learning inside or celebrating your baby’s milestones, Little Unicorn is here for it all and proud to be part of your family’s story. Make traveling smoother with baby products from Little Unicorn at https://littleunicorn.com/ Original Source: https://bit.ly/3vE2ri3

[babythings]

Baby & Mother Accessories

Find all you need for maternity and baby care products in one place! From prenatal to pregnancy to postpartum to parenthood, from prenatal to pregnancy to postpartum to parenthood, we’re here for you every step of the way. Because we’re a leading provider to OB/GYNs and hospital maternity wards, we have a unique understanding of what products Baby & Mother Accessories need. We’ve used that knowledge and created a carefully curated selection of mom and baby care essentials, baby diapers and wipes and baby feeding products

Mother's Day is just a few weeks away. Are you ready? How can we choose a gift that’s good enough for these special people who have helped shape who we are? Moms are always on-the-go and typically carry enough with them to keep a small army fed and entertained for a few days. When you go out shopping for Mother's Day gifts, remember that finding the perfect accessories and wallet for mom helps you to work on your day with confidence.

We have best Baby & Mother Accessories

Mother accessories:

ROUGH & TUMBLE

Blow your mom this Mother's Day with the fabulous, new and flying off the Self-Bag of Roof & Tumble. Rough and tumble specializes in a variety of leather accessories such as totes, wallets and shoes. Their leather pieces are timeless and they will never go out of style, which makes them a good value.

The EDC Wallet comes in many different colors, allowing you to match your style. You can choose more than one option. Keep the EDC wallet in your 1904 pack or wear it around your wrist. This wallet fits your cell, cash, and cards for easy organization just for essential needs!

If Mom is wanting something a bit larger, the 1904 Pack is also a great option for a Mother’s Day gift. This bag is versatile and perfect as a diaper bag, backpack or weekend tote. It has four spacious pockets on the inside to help moms stay organized. It also comes in five different waxed canvas colors that are sure to please any mom this Mother’s Day.

ALOHA COLLECTION

Mom needs some Aloha in her life right now, so give her the gift of Aloha Collection travel and beach bags this Mother’s Day. At some point, we’ll all travel or visit the beach again, so give mom something that reminds her of the brighter days ahead once we have flattened the curve.

DUNE JEWELRY

Even before the corona virus crisis began, there was a lot of anger at the experimental gifts. Now most of our day experiences are at home, and there aren't many experiences that can be given this Mother's Day. Although a gift certificate is good for future experience, there is still a way to give an experimental gift on this Mother's Day. Think back to one of your mother's favorite family vacations and capture the memories of this experience with unique designs handcrafted using natural elements from thousands of monumental and spectacular locations around the world with sand and dunes ornaments.

MOBILE EDGE

As a working mom, having a stylish and functional bag is a must. Mobile Edge is a unique and stylish way to get all your gear to and from work. Whether your mom is looking for a new laptop bag to work with or a durable and stylish pony to ride on an airplane, the Mobile Edge Urban Laptop Break is a great gift down the line! Not only does it have enough padding to protect your laptop, but it also has a variety of poly-fur-lined compartments within for storage of your phone, mouse, notebooks, pens, and for some working moms, diapers! This lightweight and stylish laptop bag also gives you the ability to remove the computer padding and carry it as a regular tote, allowing you to truly show off the Tartan cotton-twill lining. With a lifetime warranty, your mom will absolutely love this gift!

JOSEPHINE ALEXANDER COLLECTIVE

If you want to feel good about your purchase this Mother’s Day, look no further than Josephine Alexander. It is a small, women-owned business that provides unique pieces of fashion from artisans all over the world. When you buy from this company, you are helping provide a secure and stable form of income for these artisans, as well as looking into a treasure-trove of purses for moms of all fashion tastes!

We love these Juicy Lime Beaded Earrings for the fun-loving mom. These fruity earrings pair perfectly with margaritas, guacamole & the beach.  What makes them even better is that they are fade-resistant and waterproof. See, we told you they were perfect for the beach!

LAT AND LO

Our lives tell a beautiful story of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Our accessories should represent those special moments and places that shaped us into the person we are, and the person we are going to become. This Mother’s Day, help the special Mother in your life tell her story with Lat And Lo.

 Baby & Mother Accessories

Baby accessories:

FridaBaby Nosefrida

Is sucking snot from your baby’s nose gross? Yup. But is the relief you’ll get when your fussy little one can finally breathe again worth it? You bet. The NoseFrida is the ultimate snotsucker and a much more effective alternative to the traditional nasal bulb. And don’t worry—there’s an air-tight filter to ensure that you won’t get any baby boogies in your mouth.

  UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stroller with Bassinet

There’s so much to love about the Vista, a parent (and baby) favorite that continues to only get better with each new edition. This beautiful, durable stroller features a full-size reversible seat with a full recline, a huge storage basket, a cushy suspension system, outstanding maneuverability, and so many more thoughtful details. (Hello there, gorgeous leather handlebar accents.) The Vista comes with a bassinet for the newborn days and can accommodate up to three children with the addition of a rumble seat and a ride-along board as your family grows.

Solly Baby Babylist + Solly Baby Collaboration Wrap

Soft carriers are a great option for calming a fussy baby and keeping them close, especially during the fourth trimester, but they can be confusing to use. Not the case with the Solly Baby Wrap. This buttery-soft, lightweight wrap carrier is easy to get the hang of (we promise!) and supports baby while also being comfortable for you. It comes in a universal fit for every wearer, and this classic, black-and-natural stripe print available exclusively at Babylist.

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Original Newborn Bottle Gift Set

The unique venting system on Dr. Brown’s sets these bottles apart from others on the market. The vents eliminate air bubbles during feeding, reducing the amount of air your baby takes in while eating and potentially helping to prevent colic, spit-up and general fussiness. The bottles do take a bit of effort to clean (there are a lot of small parts, and there’s a special brush that’s included in the set), but many parents don’t seem to mind trading a bit more elbow grease for a more content baby.

Haakaa Breast Pump

A manual breast pump is a convenient solution for breastfeeding or pumping parents that’s easy to keep stashed away in a purse or diaper bag. The Haaka takes this ease to a new level—simple squeeze the silicone pump, attach it to your breast and let the suction work its magic. This ingenious pump is compact, travel-friendly and easy to clean and works well for milk expression and for catching milk from your let down on one side while your little one is feeding from the other.

Babybjörn Bouncer Balance Soft

A bouncer is a fun, safe spot for baby to relax and play while you’re busy doing other things, and this minimalist one from BabyBjorn is one of the best. The brilliantly simple design creates an ergonomic seat that moves in response to your baby’s movements. The fabric slips off for easy cleaning in the washing machine, and the bouncer folds flat for compact storage. When your little one gets older, the bouncer can be reversed and used as a chair.

Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat & Base

There’s a lot to love about this parent favorite car seat from Nuna. For starters, the Pipa weighs only 8 pounds, making it one of the lightest infant car seats around. (Your biceps will thank you!) It’s extra easy to install thanks to a special True Lock safety system and is packed with extra safety features. And don’t forget the high-end fabrics, all flame resistant but without any added fire retardant chemicals. If you’re looking for an even lighter seat, check out Nuna’s Pipa Lite, another parent favorite. It weighs only 5.3 pounds, but just keep in mind that you’ll always need to use it with the base, not with a seat belt.

https://babythingsonline.com.au/

[dear-zinnia]

Waiting

Dear Zinnia,

Your clothes are washed, folded, and sorted. A bassinet, sheepskin-lined Moses basket, and Snuggle Me Organic co-sleeper are set up and ready for you to decide which one you like best for sleep (and I fully expect the answer to be none, that you’ll prefer to sleep while being held). Your natural rubber pacifiers have been sterilized, your Nuna Tavo - “champagne on a beer budget stroller” as the Nordstrom’s salesman dismissively described it - baby chariot stands folded and leaned up against valuable wall space, and you have a changing station full of pre-folds and diaper covers. (And a bunch of Enfamil formula samples we were mysteriously, cynically mailed. I didn’t want to jinx our breastfeeding plans by throwing them away, but my sincerest intention is to forget I stashed them there and rediscover them only by accident looking for something else long after they’ve expired.)

We have a freezer full of various carbs-and-cheese postpartum meals … and a gallon-sized Ziploc full of menstrual “padsicles” soaked with aloe vera, witch hazel, and a bag of unlabeled sitz bath herbs I was gifted. There’s a post-it note on the fridge of people to call and services to activate as soon as you make your debut: diaper service, pediatrician, dog walker, health insurance provider.

True to my anxiety-is-preparation form, I’ve been doing what I can to make things a little easier for us during your voyage Earthside: weekly acupuncture and chiropractic care, daily walks and Spinning Babies stretching, eating dates (too many dates!) and mixing Gentle Birth tincture into magnesium drink. Sporadic perineal “massage” and cervical application of borage oil, too. I try not to worry too much when I suspect you’re on the right side and trust that your fundal/posterior placenta and own baby intuition will keep you where you need to be.

Today is June 26, and we’re 38 weeks and 5 days along. July 12 popped into my head today as exactly a week from our due date, and I realized, not without some despair, that it was actually quite reasonable that you wouldn’t be born before then … and yet it feels like a cruelly long time from now! I’ve really been hoping for – perhaps unfairly counting on – this weekend, just past 39 weeks, as the time you’d make your debut. It’s a span of a couple days based on a handful of factors – your great (ex) auntie Tara wants to share a birthday of June 29 with you. Our birth photographer Emily offered up 39 weeks, unsolicited, as when she predicted you’d come. It’s the weekend before our primary midwife Kate will be out of town. Anecdotally, mamas on thyroid medication tend to go into labor a little early. Our family history is a little inconsistently narrated, but grandmas and great grandmas mostly report early or on-time babies. And from the very start of your existence, you’ve been a little ahead of the game and keen to make your presence known … I had pregnancy symptoms and a positive test barely two weeks from my ovulation, and we ended up moving your due date four days ahead based on a six week ultrasound.

What I want to be able to tell you honestly, little baby, is that you should take your time and we trust you to pick a good birthday and come when you’d like. But what I’m feeling more honestly these days is please come ASAP!!!! Your mama could use a break from this unrelenting pubic symphysis pain (the April blizzard’s fault, not yours) … and an excuse to cancel all my plans and obligations on the calendar. We’d always tell our clients in clinic to plan to stay as busy as possible while waiting for baby to come, and I’m trying to heed my own advice, but damn it’s hard! Increasingly all I want these days is to lay around the apartment, indulging my grumpiness and eating cookie dough. With my mother’s birth stories in my head, I’ve started getting up from furniture half expecting SROM. That probably doesn’t help things either. We’re just so excited to meet you, sweet girl! So much has been changed and enacted and purchased and rearranged in preparation for your arrival. I’m a little incredulous thinking you’ll be here sometime within the next three weeks - that I’m this pregnant -  yet it can’t come fast enough.

We’re ready whenever you are. I can say that honestly, even if it’s also a bit of an understatement.

Love,

Your mama

[spermdonorgrace]

Sperm Donor Dace

Grace Holden, twenty three and already voted New York Lifestyle Magazine’s Small Business Success of the Year, is opening her third location in Soho this August. Her brand ‘Little Apple’ has become it’s own chain store in a matter of months since the twenty something entrepreneur opened a store front to sell her products. You can still find all the brand’s products online on their website, including an original line of clothing, cribs, personalized baby blankets and organic baby food.

Grace was happy, she was; she was successful and had an apartment with working air conditioning for the first time in her life, she owned her own business like she’d always wanted to, she had friends in the city and she was settled. She was happy. The only thing missing was what her life practically revolved around: a baby. Grace was surrounded by babies all day long, she saw them in strollers down the street and in her apartment building and on every commercial as soon as she turned on the television. It was baby overload and Grace knew exactly why: she wanted to be a mom. Ever since she was a kid Grace had carted around baby dolls, pushed mini strollers through the park and played mom to all her friends, it was her dream long before she dreamed of moving to the city, and long before she dreamed of starting her own company. Being a mother, that was what Grace had wanted from the very beginning. The only thing standing in her way was finding a father. She had this problem that her friends like to explain simply, like it was obvious. Everywhere you go you find the worst man possible and attract him like a magnet. It was sort of true, so Grace never argued. She had the worst luck, never once coming close to settling down, and by the time Grace was twenty three, everything else in her life falling into place, she decided she’d had enough. She wanted a family, to be a mother. She was going to have a baby. So Grace did it herself. She moved into a new apartment with two bedrooms, found a fertility clinic and bought her own sample, donor number 3728. He was her age, no family history of heart disease, and he did something with art. Talented, Grace decided, and she picked him based on a feeling in her gut. Four months later she found out she was pregnant with a baby boy. Liam James was seven pounds when he was born, healthy and beautiful and hers, and the name just sort of fit. She couldn’t even quite explain why she picked James for his middle name. It was her grandfathers middle name, sure, but they weren’t that close and she never brought that up when people asked. Mostly, Grace just liked the way it sounded. As soon as she’d thought of the names together they just fit. Liam James. He was beautiful, with dark hair straight away and big, hazel eyes that Grace couldn’t stop staring into, even when she was rocking him in the middle of a conference call about a mew product line. It was hard, harder even than anyone said it would be, and Grace had always just assumed they were exaggerating. But her parents lived just outside the city and she had a best friend she could call any time of night and she would come over, just like that, and Grace was okay. She did it, all on her own when everyone said she couldn’t, and even after all the sleepless nights and dirty diapers and showing up to meetings with spit up on her jacket, Grace was the happiest she’d ever been. Liam was her family, and she didn’t regret not waiting around to be happy. The only downfall was dating. It took about a year for her friends to start badgering her, to claim that she looked better than ever and it was time to get back out there, but Grace refused. It was after Liam turned three that she finally gave in, agreeing to go on a few dates now and then if they set them up but never promising more than that. Because sure, the idea was nice, and she might have missed the connection, but she had all she needed already, just her and Liam. Until Liam’s daycare was out for a week and Grace had to stay home with him and she realized that without another adult around to talk to she was slowly losing her mind. It was perfectly fine again when she went back to work but it was still in the back of her mind. So she was trying, and mostly failing, to date.

“Why can’t I come?” By three, almost four, a fact he made sure to remind everyone of every time he had the chance, Liam never whined questions or demands like the other kids in preschool. He just asked questions, point blank like his thoughts were completely rational. It was hilarious, he was like a thirty year old caught in a toddler’s body. “'Cause a date is for grown ups.” Lacey answered easily. Lacey had been Grace’s friend since college, wild and a little loud and the only fun thing about three hour lecture halls. She moved around after school but always gravitated back to New York, claiming it was the only logical answer to give her career in fashion a chance. So Lacey stayed put and never once bothered Grace when she decided to get pregnant. She was the only one to never poke her with preachy speeches or questions like do you really think this is a good idea? She was supportive, always, and Grace’s best friend because of it. So, naturally, once Liam was born Aunt Lacey became one of his favorite faces, and that night, his favorite babysitter. “Why?” He was still planted firmly in the why phase, and it usually got to Grace after ten minutes if nonstop asking but Lacey never showed the same weakness. She was really good with Liam, but she’d only laugh if Grace ever told her so. “Because they’re boring. Wouldn’t you rather stay here with me? We can watch cartoons and eat ice cream for dinner.” Grace shot her a look then and sighed when Lacey winked in response. “Batman!” Liam was up and scrambling, headed straight for the television after that. “Hey, wait a minute, don’t I get a goodbye? A 'love you mom,’ anything?” Liam was giggling when he took off back across the room to her, Grace getting down to balance on one knee. It was hard to do in tight jeans but she managed. “It’s real funny to break your mom’s heart, huh? Did batman ever change your stinky diapers?” Liam was a fit of giggles when she pulled him closer to hug him, tickling him until he was screeching. “Give mom a kiss, Li, she’s gonna be late.” Grace tapped her cheek after that and smiled when he smacked his lips there, laughing when she did the same, a loud raspberry on his skin. “Alright, have fun.” She tossed when she got up, grabbing her bag and fishing through it. “Call me if-” But Lacey was already cutting her off, waving her towards the door. “Yeah, go, go have a life, we’ve got it covered.” So Grace left, and it only took her two tries to stop hovering at the top of the stairs and actually go down them, running out of her building to find a cab. She was meeting the guy there, something she decided would be a rule when she started dating again. That way she could keep strangers far away from her actual world and find out all about them first, figure out if they were even worth actually dating before she mentioned Liam. So far, none of them had been even remotely close. But for some reason Grace had still agreed to go out with Matt, a guy Lacey knew from work and insisted she at least go out with once. Apparently, he was nice. When she met him, she realized just how nice nice was. Too nice. He was polite and boring and even the input se managed to get from him over dinner was about as interesting as her tax forms. And he was an accountant. By the time they got to the basketball game they had tickets to Grace was wondering if he even liked the Knicks at all or if he was just trying to impress her. Lacey must have mentioned she liked basketball, because he looked as out of place there as she expected him to. He probably preferred the opera or something equally as dull and beyond her depth. Either way, Grace was settled in her seat and ready to watch the game even if he didn’t say a thing. She probably said enough for the both of them anyway, shouting and groaning when she couldn’t help herself. She only noticed the guy sitting next to her when she bumped his leg with her shoe when she shifted and glanced over to apologize, smiling briefly until she looked back at the court. It wasn’t until halftime that the date boiled to a head. The kiss cam was always the beginning or the end of a relationship, no matter how short, so Grace shouldn’t have been surprised when it landed on them, her cheeks going red with the heat of every eye on her. She wasn’t really embarrassed though, if anything it could have been a good story later, a first kiss caught by thousands, but Matt wasn’t having it. He outright refused right in front of everyone, shook his head and looked at Grace like she was crazy, and she knew right away he was the exact opposite of the kind of guy she was looking for. So before Grace could let herself feel the full force of humiliation, the sound of people groaning at Matt’s reaction all around her, she turned to the stranger on her left and raised her eyebrows in a silent question, hearing Matt make an indignant noise behind her. “Okay.” she drew the word out. “What about you?” When he didn’t disagree Grace leaned forward and pecked him on the lips, laughing as soon as the crowd cheered them on. When she looked back to Matt he was red faced and angry, getting up in a huff, but Grace just laughed harder, waving goodbye to him before looking back at the stranger she’d kissed in spite. She could have done a lot worse. “I hope your girlfriend isn’t jealous.” she told him over the sound of the crowd, glancing past his shoulder and tacking on, “Or your boyfriend.” Grace was still giggling, nodding in the direction of the guy sitting next to the stranger with her eyes bright and amused.

[lotsofdogs]

Newborn Baby Must Haves: Favorite Baby Items for Baby #2

It’s finally here! My gigantic list of Newborn Baby Must Haves!

This blog post was, by far, the most requested one from you guys when I asked if you guys had any questions you wanted me to address on the blog via Instagram Stories a few weeks ago. I made a mental note to keep track of all of the baby-related things we found ourselves using on a daily or almost-daily basis and today I’m writing more words about baby products than I ever imagined.

I wanted to be sure to not only give a list of my favorite items but also provide a little more detail as to why certain items made our list. My goal for this post was to make it helpful for those of you who might be creating baby registries or those who might be looking for insight on certain items. I’m also happy to answer any questions about anything I’ve detailed below, so definitely let me know if you’d like me to expand a bit and give you more information about anything included on this list of our newborn baby must haves!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and no company paid to have a product included in this post, however, please note that my friends at Chicco sent me the two Chicco products mentioned below as part of an ongoing relationship. I truly love both products mentioned and was not required to write about them. 

Newborn Baby Favorites

Sleep

The Owlet Smart Sock

The Owlet is, without a doubt, my favorite new baby item purchase for baby number two. I cannot tell you how much we LOVE The Owlet Smart Sock in our house and the peace of mind this thing gives me on a nightly basis makes it worth every cent. So what does it do? The Owlet tracks heart rate and oxygen levels using clinically-proven technology. We actually ordered our smart sock when we were in the NICU with Ryder because I knew I was going to be a mess and very stressed out about his breathing once we learned he would be released.

The Owlet Smart Sock connects to a base station that glows green to let you know everything is okay with your baby and uses lights, sounds and app notifications if heart rate or oxygen levels are too high or too low. We haven’t had any issues with false alarms other than one time when I forgot to charge the sock. The Owlet is not cheap so definitely do your research before purchasing this one or adding it to your registry (the reviews are very helpful and also very positive!) but if it’s on your radar at all, I cannot recommend it enough. It truly helps me sleep more peacefully at night since I can roll over at any moment and look at the soft green light glowing next to my bed and feel instantly reassured.

Chicco Lullago Portable Bassinet

The bassinet Chase slept in was a cheap co-sleeper we found at Marshalls that we rigged up on top of a wide ottoman. It worked well enough but now that we have a legit bassinet I am kicking myself for not getting a bassinet with our first baby. I LOVE our Chicco Lullago Portable Bassinet for a myriad of reasons. The height is great and sits level with our bed and I never feel like I’m bending too far over to scoop Ryder up for feedings.

The bassinet is incredibly simple to clean (you can simply toss the sleeper pad cover in the washing machine) and it easily collapses should you need to travel with the bassinet. We brought it to Atlanta and will be packing it for our trip to the mountains at the end of October, too.

Ollie Swaddle

We first discovered the Ollie Swaddle when our newborn photographer recommended it to us after Chase was born. It is, hands down, the best swaddle going and worth every penny! They’ve somehow improved the swaddle from when Chase was a baby so it’s even better than before and makes creating a snug swaddle a breeze thanks to durable velcro.

It’s the only swaddle we’re using for nighttime sleep these days because it keeps Ryder securely swaddled through the night. (It’s also the only swaddle Ryan will use because the other ones frustrate him too much and allow Ryder to break out too easily.) I also love that with the Ollie Swaddle we can swaddle only Ryder’s chest and let his arms free because sometimes he wants an arm or two out and this works well for some swaddle flexibility. Oh and you can also change a diaper with your baby’s arm’s STILL swaddled. GAME CHANGER. This is also a go-to baby shower gift from me these days as well!

Munchkin Light-My-Way Nursery Nightlight

This was a random discovery that ended up becoming a big-time favorite! We initially bought the Munchkin Nursery Nightlight for Chase to use in his room but I ended up snagging it for myself when I saw someone on Instagram rave about the exact same light as a great nursing light to use in the hospital after she gave birth to her son. Genius! I remembered the hospital lights being SO bright after I had Chase and hated such intense light during middle-of-the-night feeds, so I knew I’d love having this soft nightlight as an alternative source of light during our time in the hospital.

Well, fast forward three months and I’m STILL using this light at home for our nighttime feeds. I swore by my salt lamp for nighttime nursing light after I had Chase and we bought one for Ryder’s nursery as well. My intention was to move the salt lamp from Ryder’s room into our room while he’s temporarily with us but that never happened thanks to this handy little nightlight! (I do plan to go back to using the salt lamp once we transition Ryder into his nursery but for now this nightlight is working great.) One important note: The nightlight turns off automatically after 20 minutes but since my nursing sessions are relatively short, this doesn’t bother me at all.

On The Go

Chicco Bravo for 2 Stroller

If there is one product I could recommend to a family with an energetic toddler and a newborn, it would be this stroller. Right around the time I found out I was expecting again, Chase went on a bit of a stroller strike for any walks over a mile. He wanted to be out of the stroller and have the ability to run around. The brains behind this stroller clearly understood children when they set out to create it, because the way the stroller is made makes it easy for the “big kid” to stand on a platform and hop on and off the stroller but it also has a pop-down seat so they can rest and ride along when they’re ready to relax.

We had the Bravo stroller for Chase (and I still use it all the time with Ryder) and the Bravo for 2 does a great job of taking some of the best features of the original Bravo stroller — it’s easy portability, durability and compatibility with our Chicco car seat — and expands on them for two kids. Ryder’s Fit2 car seat easily clicks into the Bravo for 2 stroller and it collapses with the press of one button. The stroller was also simple to put together and Chase thinks the standing platform is the coolest! It’s great for travel, walks to the part or just running around town.

JuJuBe Legacy Be Quick Wristlet Pouch

This item was a baby sprinkle gift that ended up being one of those unexpected treasures! I use this wristlet constantly because it makes transferring diapering essentials from one bag to the next a breeze. The JuJuBe Legacy Be Quick Wristlet Pouch is big enough to hold a few diapers, a pack of wipes, hand sanitizer and a small diaper rash cream. I also love the Skip Hop Portable Changing Station (this was my go-to portable diapering find after I had Chase) but I find that I’ve recently been opting for the wristlet pouch simply because it’s smaller and less cumbersome. It fits into my mini backpack with ease and keeps diapering essentials all in one organized place.

Aden and Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets 

The Aden and Anais muslin swaddle blankets are another favorite carryover from baby number one! These muslin swaddle blankets are something I have with me at all times. They’re great to use as a nursing cover when we’re on the go and they’re the lightweight blankets I bring with me whenever we’re out and about and I might need/want to swaddle Ryder up. (They also work well as a make-shift burp cloth in a pinch!) I also use them to swaddle Ryder for his daytime naps (I try to reserve the Ollie Swaddle mostly for night time until we establish a real schedule) and love the way they seem to get softer and cozier every time I wash them. We probably have at least eight of these blankets and I still feel like I could use more!

Around the House

Fisher Price Rock ‘n’ Play

Bless this handy little invention! We loved our Rock ‘n’ Play with Chase and it still is a “must have” for us with Ryder. We keep our Rock ‘n’ Play in our family room and right now it’s where Ryder takes all of his daytime naps. It seems to almost hug Ryder when I place him in it and the rocking motion does a great job of lulling him to sleep in the bright daylight hours.

My one complaint is that the music/white noise button you can press to play when the Rock ‘n’ Play is on turns off automatically. I wish it would play continually since continuous white noise is GOLD for baby sleep over here.

DockATot

I’m fairly certain the DockATot wasn’t around when I was pregnant with Chase but it clearly made its debut on the newborn baby product market with a BANG because all of the sudden this thing was everywhere! And everyone was raving about it! I initially balked at the price tag — almost $200! — but I can now say it’s one of those items that does seem to live up to the hype.

I lucked into borrowing one from a friend who had a baby last year but it’s something I’d absolutely buy now that I know just how useful it is on a daily basis. Ryder chills in the DockATot all over our house all day long. It’s perfectly portable and the perfect little thing to bring into the bathroom with me if I need a shower or lay down in the kitchen while I make dinner.

Fisher Price Bouncer Seat

I remember people encouraging me to register for a bouncer seat when I was pregnant with Chase but I decided against it because I figured the Rock ‘n’ Play would serve that purpose. Well, fast forward to giving birth to Ryder and both the Burn Boot Camp and YMCA child care rooms have bouncer seats and 90 percent of the time I walk into the child care rooms to pick Ryder up after a workout, he’s happy as a clam in a bouncer seat.

My friend Lauren just passed her bouncer seat along to us and it’s such a useful little thing, especially now that Ryder is more alert and wants to be able to look around and see everything that’s going on around him. Now that he’s less content to want to lie on his back all the time, it’s great to have to prop him up in and makes it feel like Ryder’s more of a part of the action. Plus, Chase loves “reading” to his brother when he’s in his bouncy seat.

Diapering

OXO PerfectPull Wipe Dispenser

I discovered this wipe dispenser thanks to my sister’s baby registry! When I was perusing her registry, I noticed the OXO PerfectPull Wipe Dispenser had a ton of great reviews and since I had recently broken the top off our old dispenser and was in the market for a new one, it caught my eye! You guys, this wipe dispenser puts all other wipe dispensers to shame! You can completely unpack your baby’s wipes and put them in the dispenser underneath a weighted plate that allows you to access one wipe at a time. The top pops open with the press of a finger, you can grab a wipe with one hand (a crucial new mom skill!) and this dispenser keeps the wipes moist and like-new. I love this thing!

Snuggle Nest

This is another one of those products we bought when Chase was a baby that we used for a completely different purpose than the one intended. Initially intended to be a co-sleeper, we ended up using the Snuggle Nest as our downstairs diaper changing station and it was perfect! We’re using it for the same purpose with Ryder and love the way it gives us a soft and semi-secure place to tackle diaper changes when we’re away from the changing table in his nursery. An added bonus: It folds up and travels easily!

Munchkin Waterproof Changing Pad Liners

A blog reader recommended these to me and all I have to say about these reusable waterproof changing pad liners is that they are genius! We almost always have one positioned on top of the Snuggle Nest or changing pad cover to help with any surprise poops or pees that might happen during a diaper change. They’re especially handy during the first two months with a newborn when you’re changing a bazillion diapers a day and something about a baby’s private part hitting the air seems to inspire them to instantly begin peeing or pooping.

Triple Paste

When I put out a call for terrible diaper rash cure recommendations on Instagram Stories, by FAR the most recommended product was Triple Paste. I went through a ton of other suggestions — many all-natural and even prescription recommendations — and Triple Paste worked the best on Ryder’s sore booty. It’s thicker than most diaper rash creams and seems to be more powerful, too. We’ve loved Buttpaste in the past and still use it all the time on red booties but when a severe diaper rash surfaces, Triple Paste is worth having on hand when you want to bring out the big guns!

Breastfeeding

My Brest Friend

This is the best nursing pillow for breastfeeding a newborn and I am so glad I discovered it during my first meeting with a lactation consultant after I gave birth to Chase. My Brest Friend is easily the most supportive nursing pillow I’ve tried and wraps all the way around you for a snug fit that keeps your little one in the perfect nursing position. It closes up the space between you and your baby (this is key when they’re so teeny!) and almost acts as a soft platform for them to lounge on as they nurse. I cannot recommend this pillow enough, especially in the early newborn nursing days!

Boppy

The Boppy is a staple for me for nursing, especially as Ryder gets bigger and continues to grow. I keep one in my car for on-the-go nursing and also always have one chilling on our couch to grab when I need to nurse Ryder throughout the day. (I keep My Brest Friend in our bedroom and mostly use it for nighttime nursing now that Ryder is a bit older and bigger.) While the Boppy does a great job of helping to get Ryder into the optimal nursing position with relative ease, it’s also wonderful for travel. I brought it on the plane with me when Ryder and I flew to Florida when he was six weeks old and thought it was great both for nursing and for the way it offered support for my arms as I held Ryder when he snoozed away on the plane.

Lactation Cookies

Ask pretty much any new mom who is just beginning to navigate nursing and I’m pretty sure she’ll tell you she’s always hungry and always thirsty. That’s where these lactation cookies come in handy! Jessica’s recipe for lactation cookies is the best I’ve found and I make them for all of my new mama friends… and myself! They always get rave reviews! They’re freezer friendly which I love since the recipe makes a ton. If you’re in the nesting mode before baby, whip up a batch of these cookies to throw in your freezer before your little one arrives. I promise you’ll be grateful you did when you’re feeling particularly ravenous!

Nursing Pajamas

I feel like I’m beating a dead horse by now when I talk about these pajamas on the blog so I’ll keep it quick. These pajamas are the best thing going for the postpartum period (and beyond)! They’re nursing-friendly and incredibly soft and the perfect pajamas to pack with you for your hospital stay. I practically lived in mine for the first few weeks after Ryder was born and love that there is both a shorts and long pants version. (Yes, I have both. I told you, I LOVE these pjs!)

Nursing Tank Tops + Bras

After Chase was born, I realized I didn’t buy much in the way of nursing-friendly bras or tops, so I went on a mad dash to stock up on some nursing essentials. My favorite tanks are the Gilligan & O’Malley camis so many of you highly recommended to me. I’m wearing the same tanks I bought after Chase was born and they’ve held up well.

As far as nursing bras are concerned, without a doubt my favorite nursing bra is the Bravado! seamless nursing bra. It’s incredibly soft and comfortable and doesn’t make your boobs look weird through clothing. All the important stuff! For sleep or just to wear under casual clothing, I also really love the Bravado! ballet sleep bra. It’s a pull-on style bra that doesn’t dig into my sides at all. It’s a great go-to nursing bra to have in a few colors.

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Review: Thule Accent Daypack 28L

I have a strong, and perhaps unfair, aversion to backpacks that unzip completely down the side. They open fully, like clamshells, which is a great feature if you’re a neatnik who likes to eyeball all the contents of your bag at a glance. But that’s not how I pack and use my everyday backpack. I don’t have the time and space to unzip my backpack completely, unless I crouch over it under my desk. And if the zippers aren’t positioned at the right spots, opening a full unzip can make all the clothes you’ve stuffed at the bottom spill out everywhere.

No, give me a good, old-fashioned half-zip that can sit upright. Better yet, give me a U-shaped opening, like on the Thule Accent daypack. I’ve been using the 28-liter size of this pack as my everyday backpack for weeks, carrying it while commuting, making grocery store runs, and going to the park with my family. You can undo the U-opening entirely to check out all of the bag’s contents, or you can unzip it partway to just shove things in the top, like a tote bag.

It’s durable, versatile, and minimalist. It’s also reasonably affordable, priced at $130 for the 28-liter size and under $100 for the 20-liter. Of all the bags I’ve tested, this is the first one that I might consider buying for myself.

On the Go

Thule

Founded in Sweden in 1942, Thule makes transportation gear. The company is best known for its roof racks, which carry cargo boxes, surfboards, and other sports equipment. They also make a line of bags, strollers, bike trailers, and even a hybrid stroller-trailer.

The Accent backpack is made from black, slightly glossy 1680-dernier polyester. The interior is a bright blue, the better for seeing all your little doodads tucked into various pockets. It measures 20.1 inches tall, which is just a little too tall for my 5'2" frame. A smaller size would fit better on someone who is as short as I am.

The laptop pocket can safely carry a typical 15.6-inch notebook computer. The bottom of the laptop pocket is padded and suspended over the bottom of the backpack, so that you can set it down abruptly on the floor without dinging up your MacBook. The main compartment also has a dedicated 10-inch tablet pocket which fit both my iPad mini and Kindle Paperwhite, and it has a side handle and side zip for grabbing your laptop quickly.

Mesh pockets in the main compartment fit my headphones and chargers, and a dedicated mesh pocket on the top of the main compartment was perfect for pens, hand sanitizer, and lip balms. If I were traveling, I would switch the contents of that compartment with my wallet and phone, which I kept in the easy-access top zip pocket.

The bag also has a hardshell SafeZone pocket for quickly stowing sunglasses or other fragile items, a mesh water bottle side pocket, and another side pocket for accessories. It zips shut, so you can stick in a battery pack or charger, but I found it worked equally well for an extra water bottle or coffee thermos.

The shoulder straps include a sternum strap set on adjustable sliding rails. The shoulder straps, back panel, and grab handle are padded with EVA and wrapped in mesh. The Accent also has webbing with buckles on the bottom for rolling up and carrying jackets or blankets, and a stretchy panel on the back so that you can slide it onto the handle of your rolling suitcase.

Can’t Stand the Rain

I used the backpack to tote my work stuff around town, including my laptop, chargers, planners, and jacket. I filled it up with groceries—loaves of bread, six-packs of beer, heads of broccoli—and shoved water bottles and diaper changing stations in it to take my kids to the park. I wore it walking with my dogs and kids, driving in the car, and skateboarding and biking around my neighborhood to my local cafe.

But it’s not a hiking daypack. It weighs 2.5 pounds empty, which means it’s not particularly light; my Topo Designs daypack weighs less by more than a pound. But the added weight makes sense, given the enormous amount of padding on the bag.

I also find Thule’s use of mesh on straps and back panels to be overly optimistic, if not outright misleading. Putting a colander on your head doesn’t make your scalp see-through, and putting mesh on the outside of foam doesn’t make it cooler, or more breathable. You might just have to deal with the fact that you’re going to get sweaty.

And finally, the bag isn’t waterproof. The top zips for the easy access compartment and the main compartment are both exposed to rain on the top of the bag, without zipper guards or garages to prevent water from entering the pack. I stuffed towels in the easy access zip compartment and main compartment and ran the shower on it for three minutes. Water beaded up on the front panel, but the bag’s interior got pretty soaked.

Even if it’s not waterproof, it has other basic features that more expensive bags lack, like a suspended laptop compartment, and the organization is great. For commuting and running errands, the easy-access pocket was a fine place to put my wallet and phone. I especially liked the SafeZone pocket, since I have both sunglasses and eyeglasses that I’m always on the verge of crushing. I also liked being able to store running shoes and clothes in the front pocket, although someone with bigger shoes might have more of a problem.

It’s durable, too. For weeks, I kicked it around on the floors of cars, and its black polyester exterior brushed clean quickly and easily.

The straps also curved to fit my narrow shoulders. With many unisex bags, I have to clip the sternum strap in order to keep the straps from sliding off. I didn’t have a reason to attach it to a roller suitcase, but the stretchy back panel fit neatly over the handle of my indomitable stroller/wagon for outings. Despite its height, it also fits well within the allowable dimensions for personal items on planes, so I wouldn’t worry about it drawing flight attendant ire.

For a capacity of 28 liters, the Accent daypack offers terrific bang for your buck. That value goes up even more if you, like me, would downsize from the 28-liter size to a 23- or even 20-liter size. Imagine that: a good-looking, durable work and travel backpack for $90!

Correction appended: 4/25/2017, 9:30 am PDT: A previous version of this story misidentified the country of Thule’s founding. It is Sweden, not Switzerland.

from All Of Beer http://allofbeer.com/review-thule-accent-daypack-28l/ from All of Beer https://allofbeercom.tumblr.com/post/173974289017

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The Best Baby Shower Gift Ideas for First-Time Parents

If it’s your turn to celebrate a friend or relative’s baby on the way, you may know that new parents need a lot of essentials for their incoming little one. The best gifts are practical, caring, and cute. Are you stuck on what to get the first-time parents? From soft muslin blankets for babies to absorbent bibs, you want to show up to the baby shower scoring some points. The following gift ideas will set you up for success.

Beautiful Baby Blankets A high-quality baby blanket is the perfect versatile gift for first-time (or seasoned) parents. A snuggly, soft muslin blanket feels especially nice on a baby’s delicate skin and is ideal for swaddling, cuddling, and nursing. Lightweight, breathable cotton muslin is a top choice and ready to go for stroller adventures, long car rides, playtime, naptime, and every precious moment in between. Gifting a set of swaddling blankets may be helpful because when one is in the wash, they can pull out a clean one. You never know how handy baby blankets are until you find yourself using them for many different activities. You can choose from a variety of hand-drawn designs for a beautiful addition to any diaper bag or nursery. Dependable Diaper Bags A durable vegan leather tote or backpack for practical and stylish parents is a great gift. This go-to bag helps busy moms and dads stay organized and look good doing it. From diaper changes to errands, a high-quality tote or backpack will get them through whatever the day has in store. A cross-body bag or backpack style is smart for a hands-free experience. Modern diaper bags can also double as work or travel bags and are easy to wipe down inside and out. Seek out a diaper bag that includes multiple interior pockets for stashing a change of clothes, a water bottle, snacks, and, of course, diapers. The best may even feature a separate pocket for adults and be able to hold devices like a tablet. Bonus points if you can find a bag with an easy-to-clean changing pad. Absorbent Burp Cloths and Bibs Cotton muslin burp cloths and bibs are handy for feeding and burping time. From comfortable bandana bibs to classic snap bibs, a great feature to look for is multiple layers of absorbent cotton muslin, made to handle spills and messes with ease. Reversible styles are excellent, so you can simply flip the bib over to reveal a fresh side. A new parent probably can’t have enough burp cloths either. They can simply drape one over their shoulder to stay clean and dry while keeping their new baby comfortable on the soft cotton muslin. Look for stunning artisan designs to fit their unique style. If you’ve been down the parenting road yourself, you know what first-time parents need, so go with what you know works while keeping their interests in mind. Choosing a thoughtful gift could include anything from a muslin swaddle to crib sheets to a premium diaper tote or backpack. About Little Unicorn As parents, you want the best for your children. With Little Unicorn, you can get the best baby supplies and products you need for every milestone in your family’s story. Little Unicorn products are tested and retested to ensure that global safety standards are being met and your baby has the highest quality supplies to grow up with. Little Unicorn products are the ideal gift for expecting parents and feature beautiful, hand-drawn designs. Choose from a wide variety of parenthood essentials from muslin blankets, burp cloths, and towels for bath time to customizable diaper bags, outdoor-ready blankets, and more. Little Unicorn is here to support your family throughout all the messy, beautiful, and unforgettable moments of parenthood. Whether you’re playing and learning inside or celebrating your baby’s milestones, Little Unicorn is here for it all and proud to be part of your family’s story. Find the perfect baby gifts from Little Unicorn at https://littleunicorn.com/ Original Source: https://bit.ly/3puyhKm