Sample provided for review.

I love bath and other pampering kinds of body products; you should see my collection of lotions 😉

Samples provided.

I’ve been a fan of 7 A.M. Enfant’s stylish and durable products for children ever since I had the opportunity to try some of their infant outerwear in 2015.

As we ring in the new year, my husband and I like to discuss a few resolutions we’d like to incorporate, or things to work on, in the coming year. One of mine is to get outside more. Although this isn’t a novel resolution, if you live in the Pacific Northwest like I do, the weather this time of year can sometimes dissuade even the most dedicated of outdoor enthusiasts. Heck, if you’ve been around here the last few weeks, you’d know why the option of staying inside with a good book has been most appealing! Brrrrr, to say the least.

All this to say that sometimes it’s difficult to get out of the house when you have to do some serious bundling. Add to the mix a spirited toddler who likes to say the word, “hat”, but refuses to keep one on her head. “Boots” is also another favorite word, but alas, not an accessory she’s willing to wear for very long. The Blanket 212 Evolution from 7 A.M. Enfant makes bundling my toddler SO easy!

What looks like a sleek, beautifully detailed sleeping bag, the Blanket 212 Evolution is a footmuff or baby bunting that provides a waterproof outer layer, expandable length and width (will fit up to preschool age!) thermal filling and is lined with cozy fleece. This item also has an adjustable hood, which provides extra protection from wind and rain in addition to solving my “hat” problem 😉

On a recent bright and chilly 25-degree day, Juniper and I headed out to one of our local museums, and since we had quite a walk from the parking lot to the entrance, I thought it would be best to get her bundled in the Blanket 212 Evolution. With heavy duty velcro openings at the back, the Blanket 212 Evolution was incredibly easy to attach securely to our stroller. Did I mention it also converts to a large blanket? We will be able to use this for years! We got in line and had several people commenting on how cozy Juniper looked, and asking me where they could find one for their child.

I absolutely love to find items that are designed for style, function, and longevity, and the 7 A.M. Enfant Blanket 212 Evolution definitely fits the bill. This is going to make keeping my resolution to get outside more a lot easier, for me, and cozier for Juniper. I highly recommend!

It hardly seems possible that a year has passed and now I have a toddler…Whaaaa?!

After my awesome experience with Philips Avent bottles and breastfeeding accessories when Juniper was a newborn, I jumped at the chance (again) to try out some of their toddler cups.

We received the following:

Philips Avent Straw Cups

These come in both 12oz and 8oz sizes, and feature a twist and sip design, with flexible straw. I had picked a couple of flexible-straw cups from another brand, and unfortunately they leak, so I can really only use them when we’re at home (I won’t pack them in the diaper bag anymore, after what could only be described as a soggy incident) I’ve tried the Philips Avent ones with Juniper in a few different scenarios, and brought them out and about with us and I am SO happy to report that these are leakproof!

My Penguin Sippy Cup 

First of all, adorable penguin design…but seriously, a bite-resistant spout (can we say teething isn’t for the faint of heart?) and the two handles make this one a great one for little hands.

Sip and Click Cup

Featuring a soft silicone spout, with leakproof technology, and a snap-top lid, these are going to be great as Juniper gets older and has more dexterity. She’ll be able to flip the lid and drink all by herself (without losing the lid!). You know how toddlers love to be independent 😀

My Easy Sippy

You guys! We have success! This is so far, the only cup that has replaced the bottle at nap and bedtime (in case you’re curious, we brush her teeth afterward, because that is another milestone we’re trying to be consistent with…)

The 8oz size holds just the right amount of water or milk for Juniper right now, and features the same soft silicone spout, with leakproof technology and a snap on lid.

Thanks to Philips Avent for designing such amazing products and coming to our rescue with transitioning to Toddler cups!

You know those super-handy squeeze food pouches for kids? Well, Kiinde has developed a great system for creating those pouches yourself! The kit comes with everything you need to prepare healthy and mess-free meals on the go.

Kiinde Foodii Squeeze Snack Filling and Feeding System provides options for feeding directly from the pouch, whether your child prefers the ergonomically-designed snack spout, or the soft silicone squeeze spoon. The pouches can be recycled after use, but the spoon and spouts can be reused – they’re even dishwasher and microwave safe!

Foodii Squeeze Snack Starter Kit comes with:

– 10 Foodii Squeeze Snack Pouches (recyclable)
– 1 Foodii Filler: This is a squeezable filler cup and includes a cap
– 2 Snack Spouts with leak-proof caps
– 1 Squeeze Spoon with leak-proof cap

All components of the Foodii and Twist feeding systems are BPA, PVC, latex, and pthalate-free, and are designed and tested in the United States.

We usually make batches of food over the weekend, so this system has been very convenient, as we can fill a few pouches and have them ready to go during the very busy weeks!

Learn more and get your own Kiinde Foodii Feeding System at Kiinde.com.

I’ve always had pretty sensitive skin, so Weleda products have been on my radar ever since I tried their Arnica Muscle Soak several years ago (which feels awesome, and smells amazing too, seriously). Since then, I have enjoyed their body washes and lotions, so jumped at the chance to try out their skincare for babies.

I received the Diaper Rash Cream, Body Lotion, and Face Cream, all from the new Weleda Baby Derma White Mallow collection. These products are dermatologically-proven and have even been awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association. All of the products are 100% fragrance free. This is very important, as we know that fragrances in skincare products are a leading cause of skin allergies. In addition to being fragrance free, the formulas are mostly organic (the diaper rash cream has the lowest percentage at 86%, while the body lotion and face cream boast 95% and 97% respectively) and include proven skin-soothing ingredients such as White Mallow, Pansy, Sesame seed and Coconut oil; the latter two of which provide essential fatty acids to the skin and help protect the delicate moisture barrier.

Using these on my daughter, Juniper, has been great. Over the winter, she had some dry, red, patches of skin on her cheeks, as well as her calves and upper arms, and I could tell that the body lotion and face cream were welcome and soothing to her skin. We got into a routine of applying these as part of a relaxing massage, right after her bath, before bed. Within a couple of weeks, the dry patches were significantly reduced and no longer red. I even used the face cream a few times when we were traveling, when I’d forgotten my usual moisturizer. Let me just say that I loved how luxuriously rich and soothing it was, yet it never felt greasy on my skin, like a few “protective / healing” creams for sensitive skin I’ve used in the past.

The diaper rash cream has also been wonderful; the formula is creamy and spreads easily, unlike some of the really thick, difficult to spread pastes out there, while still creating the necessary layer of protection to promote healing delicate and sensitive skin.

I would definitely recommend the Weleda Baby Derma White Mallow collection to anyone, especially to those with reactive or sensitive skin. Good stuff!

Sample provided. This post contains Amazon Associates links.

At our house, we have two different styles of popular baby carrier that we received as baby gifts. I like each of them, however they feel a bit too utilitarian and structured for baby-wearing around the house. Kinda like wearing a backpack around, with lots of straps and clips; fine for hiking about outdoors, but not super comfortable when Little J and I, or she and her Dad are trying to cook dinner or do other household tasks.

For this reason, I was excited to try out a new baby wrap called Wrapy. Wrapy is one long, continuous piece of fabric (95% Cotton, 5% Spandex) that according to my husband, you “origami” around yourself and then tuck baby inside.

While it’s not exactly Origami, it does take a little bit of practice getting Wrapy
on, in particular knowing how tight to wrap the fabric so that baby will fit, but still be fully supported. As a nanny years ago, I had actually used something very similar, so I already understood how these types of carriers work. As you can see, Dad took a couple tries, but then got the hang of it too!

The material is soft, with just the right amount of stretch; it’s very comfortable to wear indoors, and actually outdoors too!

I’m a big fan of the Skip Hop brand, as you can see here and here.

When they recently unveiled their 2016 Hot List, I knew I had to check it out.

With my maternity leave rapidly coming to an end (I start back to work next week!), I’ve been busy sorting through my clothes and accessories, pulling my professional clothes back out (no yoga pants to the office? Dang.) and ditching items that no longer fit or are just no longer practical now that I have Little J (I’m looking at you, Clutch Purse that only holds one tube of lipgloss!).

In any case, all this sorting of clothes and accessories left me wanting for a stylish bag that I could proudly carry around with me during my work day, if needed, but would also be practical for carrying baby’s necessities when we are out and about together!

Enter in the Skip Hop Studio Select Day-to-Night Diaper Satchel. You guys, unless you look inside, or know the Skip Hop brand (as many parents indeed do), you’d never know that this was a diaper bag. I mean that as an absolute compliment to Skip Hop’s designers.
No doubt Skip Hop makes many adorable and “recognizable” diaper bags, however for my dual-purpose, diaper bag-in-disguise scheme, this totally fits the bill.

First and foremost, the bag is beautiful- the exterior is high quality nylon with supple, perforated faux leather accents, and the inside is a rich plum. The nylon makes this bag very easy to clean, and the multiple pockets (including 2 insulated side pockets, which are great for bottles) make it very easy to see where things are and stay organized. As with many of their bags, this one also includes stroller straps and a portable changing mat that tuck neatly inside when not in use.

I’ll be returning to work in style thanks to this chic bag. A “Must-Have Made Better”- You’ve done it again, Skip Hop!