Last Minute Mommy Gifts

No one better understands what it means to do everything at the "last minute" quite like a mom! If you are in need of a gift for a new or expecting Mommy this holiday season check out these QUICK gifts!

The Honest Company Diapers and Products

The Honest Company

Why I dig it: All natural products that happen to also be absolutely adorable. We were not 100% sold on cloth diapers but still wanted something that was more eco-friendly. With any diaper you'll have blow outs and leaks but the Honest has played way better than the Huggies we've also used. You can gift monthly subscription bundles or check out their diaper cakes! Bonus: The customer service is AMAZING. I felt like I was talking with one of my girlfriends when I called to set up my bundle subscription. Check it out here and sign up to send a gift bundle of diapers & wipes. Gift cards are also available. 

lululemon athletica
The Practice Patience Mala
Why I dig it: Not becuase I worked there for five years but because this company ROCKS. Shipping is fast and free so you still have time to get this gift under the tree! Not sure what mala beads are for? Check out this video on their site. I don't really think I need to explain why the "Practice Patience" beads are the perfect set for a mom...

aden + anais Burpy Bibs and Swaddle Blankets

Burpy Bib & Swaddle Blankets

Why I dig it: The bibs are super soft and absorbent and can be used as a burp cloth OR bib. The size and shape is perfect for slinging over your shoulder. The blankets get softer every time you wash them I swear! They are great for swaddling and are just darling. I've also found myself using them as a nursing cover! I had a friend tell me if you are ever unsure of what to get someone who is expecting that you can never have enough blankets and I completely agree! Order from Amazon and get it FAST! Nordstrom, Target, & Babies 'R' Us also carry several versions of these blankets if you want to fight that dreaded mall traffic.

Amazon Local
A Day of House Cleaning
Why I dig it: WHY WOULDN'T I DIG IT? As a new mom I have sometimes fell like all I do is clean. How wonderful it would be to have a little bit of help with this! Check out Amazon Local and search for home cleaning deals in your area. You can have the deal delivered straight to mommy's inbox. I promise this is a warm welcomed gift! 

Books
amazon
Why I dig it: Even though I feel like I rarely have time to read, being gifted a book makes me feel good. When someone has given me a book as a gift it makes me stop and remember that I need time to myself (that isn't the 20mins in front of the TV during nap time when I shovel chocolate in my face.) Here are a few book ideas that can take her mind off of her mom duties and maybe provide a laugh or two as well: Tina Fey's Bossy Pants, Lena Dunham's Not that Kind of Girl , or John Green's The Fault in Our Stars (<-- Tear Jerker!) If you have a mommy to be to shop for check out my post on great reads for pregnancy and birth!

Hope you find these last minute gift ideas helpful! Amazon Prime is clutch this time of year and gift cards can easily be printed or e-mailed. Remember to slow down and appreactiae the joys of this holiday season AND send lots of love to your mother!

xoxo
Marley's Mom

One Love Birthday Party

Oh, the first birthday party. How bittersweet! It feels like only yesterday we we're holding her for the very first time. We had an incredible time celebrating with our friends and family. Marley may not remember her 1st birthday but it was a very special day for us and we took plenty of photos that we can share with her later on in her life.

I wanted to have a party but I didn't want it to be over the top or break the bank. Here is a super simple breakdown of the planning and execution of our One Love themed birthday party for Marley.

Theme | The "One Love" Jamacian theme is great for a boy or girl. In our case, with our little girl being named Marley, it was the perfect fit. Our parents got really into the spirit too! We used our dads to greet our guests at the door. We had Bob Marley music playing in all of the rooms and a video montage of photos from Marley's first year playing on the AppleTV. The mood was set!

You can rock my Dad's dreads here.

 

Invitations | To save money on invitations (and go a little easier on the Earth) I sent a simple evite to friends and family. I spent quite a bit of time searching for the right tempalte and landed on this one. I used the Bob Marley song "One Love" as the inspiration for the header of the invite- obviously tweaked it at the end there.

*****If I could give any advice on the planning of the date and time of the party I would make sure it works around your little one's nap schedule and leave youself some wiggle room just incase that pattern changes suddenly the week before the party. You'll also want to keep it short (say 1.5-2hrs) so that baby isn't overwhelmed.

Decorations | I kept it real simple. We're talking red, yellow, and green streamers, ballons, and paper products. The streamers were $0.99 each on amazon. I also found a grass table skirt that I fastened to my kitchen island for a nice touch. To save money on balloons we actually bought a small helium tank and filled them ourselves. We spent $30 for almost 3 dozen balloons and it was one last errand to run on the day of the party. The tank came with white ribbon to tie to the ballons, which my mom brain had forgotten about, so that's good! I picked up simple flowers from the grocery store (red carnations, yellow daisys, and green hydrangeas)

Baby's Outfit | I hit up Etsy for a reggae inspired tutu and headband. Marley needed to play the part! I also discovered H&M sells really affordable baby clothes! Her black top was $5. I got the red legginings from Old Navy.

Food & Drink | This was another area we wanted to play up the rasta theme with. I ordered boneless buffalo wings (Buffalo Soilder Wings) from The Winking Lizard and had a friend pick them up on her way to the party. My husband whipped up a delicious batch of Jamaican Jerk Chicken (he marinated the night before and grilled about 1 hr before the party.) I wanted simple food that kids like because we were expecting several 4-10 year olds at the party so I cooked up Rasta Pasta, which very simply was tri-colored pasta with marinara on the side. My Mother-in-law had offered to help with food and she makes a killer stromboli so I had her make a Hawaiian style (ham, pineapple, provolone) and a basic italian stromboli that would appeal to everyone. I also skewered some Rasta Froots and used pineapple, strawberries, and green grapes to represent Jamaican colors.

For drinks I purchased coconut waters, La Croix, and Honest juice pouches. I sliced lemons and limes for water and for adults we served Red Stripe (Jamaican beer)

*****I used Amazon's Prime Pantry for the first time and I have to say it was quite convient to order some of the staples and resulted in fewer trips to the store.

 

The Cake | The entire party was inspired by this blog but I absolutely HAD to have this cake for the party. At the time, I thought there was no way I could bake a cake like that... I don't bake. But, when I got the quote back from the cake shop and they wanted $138 for a 10in round cake I about died! My sister is pretty great at baking so I had her over a few weeks before the party and for $30 we made three cakes! I especially liked the tiny smash cake (and so did Marley!) Our guests LOVED it.

Whether you chose to have a big party or play it low key, your child's 1st birthday is something spectacular to celebrate. It's hard to believe that in such a short amount of time they can grow so much. Enjoy each and every moment with them!

-xoxo-

Marley's Mom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This little girl gets it!

Must watch. I feel ya, child. I feel ya!

http://youtu.be/84DLT4yRcy4

Things that are easier than changing my baby's diaper

This photo is NOT of my baby. My baby won't sit that still...

Here are a few things that would be easier for me to accomplish than changing the diaper of my almost 9 month old:

1. Becomming an astronaut

2. Flying an airplane

3. Performing brain surgery

4. Diapering a monkey

5. Learning Chinese

Anyone else feeling my pain?

-xoxo-

Marley's Mom

 

 

 

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"Our house is going to blow up!"

I'm kind of impressed that it took 8 months for us to have our first official freak out.

I was cooking dinner on our gas stove and I thought it smelled funny. I mentioned something to my husband but we brushed it off. Later that night, as I was boiling water for tea, I noticed the strange smell again. It smelled like kerosene. I am not an expert in natural gas but I knew something wasn't right. I yelled for my husband and sure enough he noticed the smell. Before we knew it the whole house wreaked of kerosene.

Do we have a gas leak?! The carbon monoxide thing isn't going off.

(Registry must if you don't already have one: click here)

Normally, we reach out to Google to answer questions like this but with a new baby in the house we immedately called the gas company to inquire about what could be causing the odor. The woman didn't listen to anything we had to say or answer any of out questions. She instead insisted we had a gas leak. We needed to get the baby and get out of the house, stop using our cell phones, and wait for a technician to arrive... STAT.

Is this for real?!

I had just put Marley to bed. Dang it. Better safe than sorry. We all headed down stairs to wait. Then we got the brilliant idea to Google "why does my stove smell like kerosene?" Lo and behold, I read several cases of folks having just had their wood floors cleaned or sealed and for whatever reason the gas combined with the sealant created the smell.

Well, sh*t!

We had the marble and tile in our master bath cleaned and resealed that morning. Why didn't we Google this first!? Now we are standing outside for no good reason.

The technician arrived and confirmed that our house wasn't going to explode. He let us know that this wasn't the first time he had seen this. That made us feel slightly better but silly nonetheless.

Two take-a-ways from this little freakout:

1. Natural gas + sealants = bad smell

2. We should have Googled it first

That being said, gas leaks are not something to mess with! If you suspect a gas leak, CALL! But now you know if you have work done in your house it could also be that :)

xoxo

Marley's Mom

 

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Two Years Ago

I have a journal that you write one line a day in for five years. I went to write in it today and found this... It is amazing how time flies.

Happy Father's Day

 

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful men out there!

xoxo

Marley's Mom

 

 

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Beach Bums

Marley has officially tasted summer (and sand!) I knew a few basics that I would need when preparing for our first trip to the beach like sunscreen, a good hat, and a bathing suit with UPF, but there were a few extra items we hadn't thought of that we won't be forgetting next time. Do you absolutely need all of these things to have a little fun in the sun? No, but if it gives you peace of mind to feel extra prepared just incase, I say go for it!

Coleman Road Trip Beach Shade
This is fantastic for several reasons! Keeps baby out of the sun and sand. Easy to set up, light weight, UV protecting. Umbrellas are great too but if it is a real windy day can be more difficult to keep up. This model comes with sandbags instead of stakes. If you do use an umbrella this product is a MUST. You won't regret spending a few bucks on this.

The Honest Company Swim Diapers
Reusable, chlorine resistant, less bulky than most swim diapers and of course, super adorable. Added bonus these would be great for potty training too.

Babiators
The company makes it a no brainer to purchase these. If they are lost or stolen they will replace them. This makes them an excellent choice to take to the beach for your little babe. They also have shatter-resistant lenses and are made from 100% rubber.

Flap Happy Sun Hat
UPF50+, large brim to shade their cute button noses, and chin straps to tie under their neck or in Marley's case for chewing on.

Skip Hop Central Park Blanket
Folds up small with an easy to carry shoulder strap. This blanket also has an insulated cooler bag built in for bottles and drinks! Machine washable (a must for us) and the canvas backing is water resistant.

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5 Bad Assumptions New Moms Make About Dads

Babies will undoubtly change the dynamic of a relationship in plently of unexpected ways. Its good to be aware of your feelings and avoid these common pitfalls to avoid misplacing blame and frustration. Here are five bad assumptions I have personally made, and heard from other new moms, about our baby daddies.

#1: Work is a "break" for them
Why it's not true: It's called WORK. They are not sitting around picking their noses all day. When they clock out from work they come home and clock in for Dad duty. Often times snagging up baby for a few hours while Mom makes dinner, gets bottles and pump parts together, folds laundry, or if she is lucky gets our for some exercise.

#2: They pretend they can't hear when the baby wakes at night. This one makes me contemplate murdering the man. Why can't he hear the baby crying, or can he? Does he just think this is my job?!
Why you shouldn't murder your husband: They are the father of your child and you'll miss them. Ok, I really don't understand why they cant hear baby at night but they don't do it intentionally.

#3: Men have it SO easy! They get more sleep, their boobs don't hurt, they are not carring a donut around their waist, and they certainly are no slave to a feeding schedule.
Why it's not entirely true: They would do more if they could. I know my husband felt entirely useless in the hopsital and the first few weeks at home when Marley wanted to nurse around the clock. Dads can feel a bit jealous that we can bond with baby in a way they can't. They typically don't get much time off and have to return to work a couple weeks after their babies arrive and that's really hard on them when all they want is to spend more time with their new little family.

#4: They play dumb
Why it's not intentional: When the baby won't stop crying, or spits up all over and they look at you with fear in their eyes and say, "take her! You're better at it." Well, duh, we are better at this, but really, they are not with baby as much so we ought to cut them some slack. When Dad hits a roadblock, use it as an opportunity to share your knowledge rather than jumping to the conclusion he is trying to get out of something.

#5: If Mom stays home she is now responsible for EVERYTHING
Why it's not true: How am I supposed to take care of the baby AND keep the house clean, wash dishes, lose the baby weight, take a shower, do all the food shopping, and remember to send out Christmas cards? I don't want to imply that every new mother feels this way but I know I'm not alone. It's me who continually sets the bar too high when it comes to making sure everything is done perfectly, not my husband. Ask your man for support, he will more than likely be happy to help. You do not have to do everything yourself. I repeat, you do not have to do everything yourself.

Moms, next time you find yourself wanting to ring your man's neck, take a pause and make sure you're not assuming something about him. Dads, please keep in mind we just went through a pretty crazy life change too and sometimes we find ourselves all over the place and saying things we don't always mean.

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Waiting (im)patiently.

I have several friends who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their sweet little babies right now. It reminds me of those last few weeks of pregnancy and how special they were. Once you reach full term you start thinking labor could kick in any day (and it could!) and you cannot imagine getting any bigger! 

Well, friends, keep cooking those little tater tots! Once they come out all they keep doing is getting bigger and bigger. While that is the goal, think of these last few days and weeks as buying more time for them to be little. 

You'll meet your littles soon enough and it will be the most beautiful blessing that has ever happened to you. Now, go take a bubble bath, or take a nap!

Sending good labor vibes your way!

xoxo

Marley's Mom

                Marley's first day :)

Happy Mother's Day

To all the beautiful mommies out there-

Happy Mother's Day!

xoxo

Marley's Mom

             My first day as a mother

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's Day. My first! Last year was special, as I was pregnant and emotional and my husband treated me to a day of ANYTHING I wanted! Flowers, sweets, and binging on television. Wait, that sounds like my entire pregnancy! But now that she's here I can't wait to spend the day with Marley, enjoying her little giggles and playing peak-a-boo. 

We don't need physical gifts for Mother's Day but it can be a sweet gesture and serve as a reminder that we are appreciated for the around the clock work that comes with the job. It's not often we ask for support or even time for ourselves. Let this Mother's Day be the perfect excuse to spoil her!

Whether you're shopping for your mom, aunt, sister, or you just wish to nonchalantly nudge your baby daddy, here are a few ideas for this year...

Kris Nations

I recently fell in love with jewelry designer, Kris Nations, when I purchased  one of her state necklaces. She also makes dainty, stackable rings, perfect for the woman in your life! She's running a 25% off special until April 30th for Mother's Day. (Use code MOM2014)

Moms One Line a Day Journal

I've posted this one before and stand by it, yet again. A simple, one sentence journal to record five wonderful years of baby's life. Will surely make mom smile :)

Framed photos

A traditional gift! Try a gorgeous pregnancy shot, a pic from the first few days of baby's life, or a creative collage. All we want to do is keep them little and a framed photo can serve as a reminder of how darn fast they grow! Scour Pinterest for inspiration.

Breakfast in bed

Like...a legit breakfast in bed. Moms rarely have time to sit and enjoy themselves so this Mother's Day give them something they normally can't enjoy! Mimosa, anyone?!

Flower Power

Not just the typical bunch. Ask the florist for something special. Try peonies, or hydrangeas (two of my faves!) Think whimsical! Plan to spend a little more than you would on a normal spring bouquet. Mom will really appreciate the extra effort, I promise!

Yoga

Buy her a class package to a local studio and included a hand written note saying you'll watch the kids while she gets her OM on. Mommies need time for themselves and I can't think of a better way to unwind. 

Happy Mother's Day to all of the beautiful women out there!

xoxoxo

Marley's Mom

Oh, the baby books!

I adore Knocked Up and my husband and I would reference it every time we mentioned any of the "baby books" while I was pregnant. There are a TON of books out there. I went to Barnes and Noble a few times and starred blankly just wishing I had another mom next to me to suggest a title. So, I asked a few of my favorite Moms about their favorites and created a short and sweet list of go-to selections just for you. 

Click on the link to read the book's description and I've noted my favorites by enlarging the titles for you. 

What to expect during pregnancy
What to Expect When Your Expecting by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel
From the Hips by Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris
The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy by Vivki Iovine

For Dads
Dad's Pregnant Too by Harlan Cohen
The Dad's Playbook by Theresa and Brad Halvorsen
Dude, You're Going to be a Dad by John Pfeiffer

Planning a natural childbirth
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel
HypnoBirthing by Marie F. Mongan
Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally by Janet Balaskas
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Rhonda Wheeler
Childbirth Without Fear by Dr. Grantly Dick Read
Pushed: The Painful Truth about Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block

You had the baby, now what?
Happiest Baby on The Block by Harvey Karp (DVD version here)
Baby 411 by Dr. Ari Brown
The Baby Owner's Manual by Louis Borgenicht and Joe Borgenicht
On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth

On Breastfeeding
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
The Complete Book of Breastfeeding by Sally Wendkos Olds and Laura Marks

Read on, little mamas!

Unpredictably Incredible

I feel lucky to have known exactly when you were conceived. Before you were confirmed as a true living being, I knew. Those first couple of weeks I tried to keep myself from getting overly excited because what if something went wrong? It didn't. It was your time.

I felt connected to you from the get-go. I felt you growing, kicking, hiccuping. I understood who you were. Your personality was charming and fun. You were a happy baby then just as you are today.

We guessed at your hair and eye color. What shape will your face take? WIll you have you daddy's smarts or mommy's quirks? We were pretty spot on with those things. We thought we had you figured out.

What we couldn't predict was how you would change our lives. Change isn't the right word. You didn't change our lives you made them sweeter, more loving, more fullfilling. We watch you grow during the day and night we stand over you as you sleep completely in awe of the magical hold you have on us.

We could not have imagined this new life. We could not have imagined the amount of joy you would bring us. I could not have imagined how hard it would be to find proper words to describe what you have done to me. My brain stops working when I think of you. I just become overwhelmed by feeling.

::sigh::

Maybe someday I'll be able to capture my feelings in writing but for now all I can do is hold you, stare into your eyes, and revel in your smile. Having you has been unpredictably incredible and I absolutely love it.

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Scrub a dub dub, what's in Marley's tub?

Marley LOVES bath time! We were so excited when her cord finally feel off a little over 4 weeks (yes, it can take that long) so we could use all of her fun, bath time products!

As pictured, you can see she is splish-splasin' in a Fisher Price Whale of a Tub. It's cute and fits nicely in our tub. When baby gets bigger you can take out the seat to create more space. I think my favorite part about it is just how cute it is (sometimes it's OK to buy things because they are cute and this is one of them.)

Another tub I found, (that I wish we would have found while registering) is the Brica ComforTemp Infant Bather. You can put it on the counter and it catches all the water and spits it out into the sink. We also received the Angelcare bath support and we love it but it doesn't have the water catcher under it. The Brica seems like a WIN. The surface of the Brica and the Angelcare make bath time easier because baby doesn't slip AT ALL. Marley has figured out that in her whale tub she can arch her back and slide down a little. Fun fact: we used the Angelcare bather as a little seat for Marley when we were on vacation and it worked perfectly.

Save your knees and make sure you have something to kneel on! Going along with the whale theme we have the Skip Hop kneeling pad. (Note: we also have the spout cover that helps prevent injury and is mold & mildew resistant and bath toy organizer for easy storage. Both are great!)

For shampoo and body wash I love Burt's Bees shampoo & Shea Moisture's baby wash. Shea's is made with raw shea chamomile and argan oil and completely free of parabens, synthetic fragrances, and sulfates. Burt's Bee's is made from natural ingredients and is tear free. Smells nice too. Both are dual purpose shampoo and body wash. Registry tip: I was worried I wouldn't have enough of this type of stuff and registered for multiple bottles but you really only need 1 bottle. You won't bathe them everyday and when you do you won't use a ton.

Baby Aspen's shark towel. I've gotten this as a gift for a couple of friends. It's really just too cute. Pottery Barn also makes a pretty cute one that Marley received as a gift. How adorable?!

Baby Lotions! I don't always put lotion on Marley but when I do I reach for Shea Moisture's baby healing lotion. It gives me peace of mind that its made from organic ingredients and I love the smell of frankincense and myrth. For a less expensive option, Aveeno makes a great baby lotion. I have also used Burt's Bees but honestly didn't care for the scent at all.

Enjoy bath time with your littles!
xoxo
Marley's Mom

On the Clock

I've heard and read a lot about the difference between stay at home moms and working moms and I've come to the conclusion that we, as mothers, are all "working moms." Some mothers have "second jobs" but our children come first no matter what, and that is certainly no nine-to-five. We are on the clock every minute of every day until our dying breath... and then some.

I didn't know what a full time job was until I had a baby. I've worked, and I've worked HARD. Ask anyone I've worked with over the past five years. I have happy, successful staff and sales numbers to prove it. I have a house, a happy savings account, and a new car, and more techie devices than anyone needs. None of what I've earned from working a full time job even remotely compares to the earth shattering joy of parenthood. And I suppose that is a good thing because this job doesn't pay sh*t. But it doesn't matter. Mothers work for free and we're more than cool with that because when our babies smile at us we feel like a million bucks.

"On the clock until our dying breath... and then some..."

That's heavy. I didn't feel the weight of that idea until our daughter was here and in my arms. I'll be honest, I've had mixed emotions about it. I've had tiny panic attacks thinking I'll never be able to rest again, or have my own life. I'll never be able to go to bed at night without thinking of my child and her well-being. I'll wake in the middle of the night to check to make sure she's still breathing until the day she moves out of our house, and then after that I'll probably set up spy cams at her place or call and wake her up just to be 100% sure. When I die, my stubborn self will figure out a way to check in on her. I'll never rest comfortably again.

While the reality is heavy it's also an incredible honor. How lucky am I to be able to experience the love and responsibility that comes with having a child? It's hard work and often no one sees the blood, sweat, and buckets of tears we shed while on the job. Whether we are categorized as "working moms" or "stay at home moms," we are all on the clock, all of the time, and now that they exist in the world we wound't have it any other way.

Milk Machines

I had to post this image from Meet the Fockers... If only men could breastfeed!

Okay, sugar mamas! This post is all about BOOBS!

I love my boobs. They have treated me well over the years and now they have a whole new purpose. Since giving birth I've had mastitis twice and my left breast's milk supply took a big hit that never fully recovered. Lucky for me my right lady lump is an over achiever. Phew! Below are products I've used for my BOOBS.

Thyme Maternity nursing bras
You can find these at Babies"R"Us and usually on sale! It's not recommended that you wear a wire bra while breastfeeding so stick with the wire free styles.

Medela Lanolin
Lanolin is pretty much just lanolin but I like the shape of the Medela bottle. It slides into the pockets of my diaper bag a lot easier. Registry tip: you won't need more than 1 bottle. I've barely put a dent in the one I have. A friend of mine told me that she now uses it for her kids thumb (she's been sucking on it so much it's cracked!) Here is a blog that list 10 other ways to use lanolin.

Traditional Medicinals Mother's Milk Tea
I incorporate tea time into everyday! After I put Marley down to bed at night I make a cup of this tea to unwind with. I wasn't a huge fan of the licorice taste at first but I've gotten really accustomed to it and find it really nice after a long day with the baby. I think it supports my milk production but really who knows if tea can help for sure. I think it gives me peace of mind more than anything. I'll drink to that! Note: I've linked to the bulk buy because its cheaper! But they do sell single packs (16 bags) as well.

Go-Lacta
I am so glad my lactation consultant recommend these malunggay supplements for me when I was struggling with breastfeeding and milk production. I saw an increase in my supply within 3 weeks. They are 100% vegan and safe for breastfeeding mothers. Some women even continue to take it after they stop because of the benefits of malunggay leaves (immune defense, helps controls blood pressure, phytochemicals that help prevent cancer cell growth, sleep support, headache relief, and so much more!) See FAQs on their website for more information

Lansinoh Nursing Pads 
I've used Lansinoh from the get-go but have also tried Phillps Avent day and night pads. Phillips were stiffer and only have one sticky on the back. Lansinoh has 2 stickies and do a good job holding up for me overnight. You'll need a million of these. Change them often to avoid an infection of any kind. I bulk buy on Amazon at about $0.10/each. The packaging is all recyclable so do your part!

If you prefer washable nursing pads I have used Phillips and I like them for daytime use (maybe 1-2 hrs wear.) I don't recommend wearing these overnight. You'll wake up soaked. Any crunchy mamas out there find another brand they love?

Breast Shells & Shields
I only used these the first few weeks after giving birth because that is when my milk let down was the craziest! When I was in the hospital Marley had latching issues so I was (and continue) using shields and they also gave me a Medela shell to use to try and heal my injured nipple. This one worked fine. I like that there was a little sponge in them. I also used Phillips Avent Shells (cheaper) and those worked pretty great too. Again, I only used these for about the first 3 weeks but I'm really glad I had a set handy. Medela makes the best nipple shields if you need those for latching (I hope you don't because they are kind of a pain.)

As always, I want to hear what you love. Comment below, or shoot me an e-mail with your favorites!
-xoxo-
Marley's Mom