The Diaper Bag Confessions

School’s out.. but not for much longer..

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date July 16, 2013
No Comments on School’s out.. but not for much longer..

That dreaded point of the summer has arrived. I have to come to terms with the fact that I need to start preparing for back to school. I dislike doing it all in a mad rush, especially when our children’s school has a rather specific list of supplies. I need to make sure I get everything we need and in time so I try to start doing it mid to late July.

Our particular school has a uniform for all kids First Grade and up, so worrying about clothes shopping isn’t as critical for us. Though, I do need to make sure that we have the correct shoes and our preschooler is dressed presentably through the year. While the uniform helps us not stress too much about those aspects of returning to school, there are the many other parts of back to school shopping that must be completed. If you asked my soon-to-be-second-grader, he would tell you that there are two very important things to buy. The backpack and the lunch box. Of course he would think this. There are no rules or restrictions on his backpack or lunch box, and while wearing a uniform.. what better way to express yourself? As his parents, however, we do have rules and restrictions on his backpack and lunch box. Sure, I want him to have a way to express what he likes.. but I have a few criteria, mostly for his backpack:

It needs to be adequate in size. What good is a backpack that can’t hold all of your belongings? However, it also needs to be appropriately sized for the child to carry or wear.
While I don’t mind a fun print.. I don’t want it to be a tacky walking advertisement strapped to my child’s back.
It needs to be high quality. I am willing to buy a new backpack each year, but the idea of needing to buy more than one? Or have my child walking around with holes in his back pack? I am not okay with that.
It needs to maximize the usability within it. A rule I have taken from my diaper bag criteria. It needs pockets and places to put things. Not just a big open bag where things sink to the bottom and get lost in an abyss.
I prefer that the lunch box also be practical in use. If it can fit a bento-style box inside it, that is preferred.

I am sure this looks incredibly specific to some people. It might be easier if I just ran to whatever store and grabbed any backpack and lunch box he wanted and made do.. but that’s just not how I, personally, do things. If you’ve read this blog before, you know I like things of quality. I don’t just buy anything. I look into it. Research it. Do my best to make sure the money I am spending is being spent wisely.

When our oldest son went to Kindergarten, we found the perfect backpack that fit my criteria. The Pottery Barn Kids collection of backpacks and lunch boxes. They come in a variety of sizes, so as he grows and the contents of his backpack grows, there are many options. The quality is outstanding. So far, they have lasted through the school year and beyond.

Yes, I do buy a new bag for each new school year, but the previous year’s bag still gets used for things like travel, sleep overs and trips to grandma’s house. Not only do the bags fit my criteria, but my boys love that they can get them in styles they enjoy. (Our oldest is quite fond of his Star Wars one..) The Batman, Spiderman and Star Wars collections draw my kids in with glee, while I don’t shudder upon seeing them. They aren’t overly tacky. I also love that they sell matching backpacks and lunch boxes. Not only do they sell lunch boxes, but they also sell bento boxes that fit inside many of their lunch boxes. You can even get Planet Lunch Boxes to match some of their backpack collections. What eco-friendly mom doesn’t love that?

Also, our son’s school has a “water only” policy. They are allowed to have a water bottle at their desk throughout the day, but that is the only beverage they are allowed, even during lunch. They can also refill it as needed. For this we love that Pottery Barn Kids also sells the Klean Kanteen kids bottles with spouts. You can get them to match the backpack and lunch box collections.

Knowing that I can go to one place to get all of these items and that they are of amazing quality makes me that much happier.

Are you already preparing for back to school? Are you as particular about the school items you purchase for your kids as I am? How many of you are embarking on the school journey for the first time this year?

** This is not a sponsored post. I was not paid for this post and no products were provided to me. We love these items and wanted to share that love with you**

Giveaway Summer Zipzicles

Beat the heat.. with Zipzicle!

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date July 1, 2013
25 Comments on Beat the heat.. with Zipzicle!

As a mom, when summer approaches, I both welcome and dread the rising temperatures. Unlike many parts of the country, here in Oregon we are just not built for heat. Like the typical mom of today, I took to Pinterest to find creative ways to conquer the heat. In my searches, I came across a product that is simply genius. A DIY Freezer pop, of sorts. I immediately had to go to their website and find out about it.

Zipzicles. A BPA-Free, recyclable zip top ice-pop bag. Like the traditional “Otter Pops” that we all knew as children, only you can make them however you want, with whatever you want. Whenever you want. I love this. I can make them as healthy (or unhealthy?) as I want to. I can make them kid friendly.. or even make a few for a more “adult” crowd. While some of you are assuming I am talking about a Margarita ice-pop.. (which I’m sure would be fantastic.. Though.. make sure you label them and keep away from children!) I’m more the “freeze some coffee and have an ice-pop for breakfast” kind of person.

WizCo, the makers of Zipzicles, were kind enough to send me a set of their product to try out and review for you. I am so happy with this product. Our weather warmed up just in time for us to take advantage of it. Of course, I couldn’t resist spreading the word, so we arranged a summer play-date with our friends that included kiddie pools, sprinklers, lemonade and of course, our freshly made Zipzicles.

I took advantage of the opportunity to make our own ice-pops by letting my children get in on the fun. Together we picked out our flavors. They chose Strawberry-Orange-Vanilla and also just Orange-Vanilla. To execute this, I broke out the BabyBullet, got frozen strawberries, vanilla frozen yogurt and orange juice. So simple, and sure.. the frozen yogurt added a little bit of calories, it was much healthier than handing my kids an ice cream cone and I knew exactly what was in it! Our packet of Zipzicles came with 12 packets, so we made 6 of each flavor. They were easy to open, easy to fill and held a lot! Definitely pay attention to the “fill line” – I had a few “oops” moments with mine and well.. at least clean up tasted good! We froze them, packed them in a bag and headed over to our friend’s house.

Just as easy as they were to fill, they were simple to open. The traditional ice-pops we are all familiar with require the use of scissors – leaving you with a top piece that should be thrown away but somehow always ends up in the yard and a child covered in food-colored dye. This simply pulled open like a zip-top sandwich bag, stayed intact, and sure, while our children were sticky messes as the heat quickly melted the ice-pop, they weren’t stained with fake orange, red or blue dye.

Another benefit of the Zipzicle is an important one for our household. Having the ability to make them myself, means that I don’t have to worry about exposing my son to any of his allergies. I have all the control. I know what goes in. I know what comes in contact with it. I knew the moment that I saw them on Pinterest that I was going to love it. Using them only proved me right. We are already about to order more to have at our toddler’s birthday party at the end of July. He’s going to have a “PhiePhie” party, so I’m thinking I’ll do the Orange-Vanilla flavor and dot it with chocolate chips! A giraffe ice-pop! Fun!!

Did I make you all hungry yet? Have I inspired you with summer frozen treat ideas? Well, here’s where you get lucky! WizCo is giving three (3) of you the chance to win a pack of Zipzicles of your very own!! But first, tell me, what is your favorite way to beat the heat with your kids?? What would you make with your Zipzicles pouches? (You can also find some recipes on Zipzicles site and even on Pinterest!)

Note: This product was provided to me by WizCo. I was not paid for this review and the opinions expressed are my own.

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Disney DisneySMMC DisneySMMoms

The Power of Moms.. On the Road – Part 2

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date June 29, 2013
1 Comment on The Power of Moms.. On the Road – Part 2

Now that I’ve hit you all with the emotionally driven Part 1 of my Disney Social Media Moms: On-the-Road adventure.. I’m going to attempt to fill you up with some useful information. You may be wondering why Disney does these events? Why is the blogging community so important to them? Why moms?

We were warmly welcomed by Maria Bailey taking the stage. If you’ve never heard of Maria, you should look her up. She’s an author, a radio host, an entrepreneur and most of all — a mom. You may even venture to say that she is the expert on marketing to moms. Her credentials are mighty.. but her passion is mightier. She started out the event by giving us a few very interesting statistics about moms. Eye opening statements regarding why moms are such a critical market for companies. Obviously, running a blog about baby and children’s products, this intrigued me. How many of you, my readers, knew that moms — you — contribute 1.7 trillion dollars to the general economy? More than Spain, Portugal and Australia combined! Next time you see an ad targeted at you, I want you to remember that! Those companies know this statistic. They know that you are the market to hit. More than just marketing, though.. Were you aware that there are more than 5.5 million mom owned businesses today? So we aren’t just spending money, we are making money.

You, or should I say we, are having an impact larger than just on the economy, though. “When you follow your passion, your kids pick up on those behaviors..” Maria stated. This led into why Disney invests so much in this conference.. in moms and mom owned business. “They (your children) learn from you. That is the magic.. and Disney is here to support that.” We are setting a precedence for our children. Our passion? They see it. Our determination? They observe it. Our dedication? They learn it. This also means that our doubts? Frustrations? Priorities. They are witnessing.. absorbing.. all of that, too.

While we let all of this information sink in, Michele Himmelberg, Public Relations Director for Disneyland Resorts, took the stage. She wowed us with a fabulous look at all the new happenings at the Disney parks. From the newest expansion at Magic Kingdom, Fantasy Land, (which happens to be the largest expansion in Disney history) and the Art of Animation Resort to Disneyland’s recent Fantasy Faire and the one year anniversary of Car’s Land. Along with the new Fantasy Faire comes the Royal Theater with two new shows, Beauty and the Beast and Tangled. I guarantee, about 10 seconds into this video presentation, that entire room of women.. moms.. were plotting out their next Disney Park vacation. Disney wants to know what we want. They want to empower us. They want to support us. Let us realize our potential. It was made clear in those moments, that while yes, Disney has an amazing marketing department.. they honestly saw us as more than just 1.7 trillion dollars. That is why they put together these invitation-only conferences.

Michele was followed up by Mindee’s presentation that I spoke about in Part 1.. and then Maria took the stage again. She said one thing that really jumped out at me (and no, it wasn’t just that my contact info should be easier to find..) Remember, I told you that our role as moms and business women.. it’s about more than our success, but the behaviors that we are instilling in our children. Right? Maria said “The next time your child is talking to you and they ask you a question.. see if you are looking at the whites of their eyes. If you do that, it will start to bring you around to being really present.” I always try to look at my children when they speak to me.. but the whites of their eyes.. that’s hard. Try it.. you’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes. You connect differently. Being present for your children – that is ultimately the most important part of being a mom.

After we were all blown away by Maria, Michele and Mindee (I just realized they all have M names.. Just like Mickey Mouse! Haha!) and desperate for a Disney Parks vacation, they introduced a panel of inspiring ladies. I told you, Disney wants to empower us as more than just a consumer market.. this panel was 3 lovely moms. More so than that, they were three recipients of the Huggies Mom Inspired Grant. The Huggies Mom Inspired Grant is a $15,000 grant awarded to mom inventors. (They happen to be taking applications now!!) Our panel consisted of Erin Kelly – Owner and creator of Hulabye Happy Changer, Alma Moussa – Owner and creator of Babee Covee 6-in-one blanket, and Romy Taormina- Owner and Creator of Psi Bands.

Maria asked them a series of very helpful questions.. it was quite inspiring to hear their stories. Moms who saw a need for something, took a leap and made something of it. They, like Mindee, spoke of both the highs and the lows and kept the journey of a mompreneur honest. The infamous work/life “balance”? Some are still working on it. While we learned a lot and had several “oh!” moments.. there was a quote from Romy that jumped out at me. I think it hit me because it applies to more than just business. As a blogger, as a mom, as a person.. We all experience rejection. Maria asked “How do you deal with rejection?” and Romy replied “Unyielding passion. It may be a no today, it may be a no today and tomorrow, but it may not be.”

At this point, we were all inspired. All of these amazing moms, just like us, who followed their passion and made an impact. Then Maria introduced the final presenter. Another “M” name.. (I’m beginning to think they planned this! Haha!) Michelle Stepney – The Public Relations Director for Global Content Development at Disney. She spoke to us about the media and how to conduct yourself around them. While you may think “Why do bloggers need to know how to deal with the media?” – it was extremely helpful. Several bloggers do media consultations, and honestly.. even those who don’t, you are still portraying yourself in the public eye. You don’t want to do or say something that will always be there to haunt you. Michelle showed us some hilarious “what not to do..” video clips that had the room laughing hysterically. My goal is to ultimately never be that person. Haha. She gave us a little glimpse into the media training they give the Disney cast members and provided such fabulous advice. She was such a pleasure to listen to!

I learned so much in this short 1/2 day event. It made me yearn for more. Most of us left going “Just one more day! Pleeease!” The knowledge and advice from those women was unbelievable. I walked away knowing that I may just be one mom, you may just be one mom, but like the wave at a sporting event.. it just takes ONE person to start something big.

Thank you, Disney. You have proven that you care. That you notice. Your drive for empowerment. Support. We appreciate you and look forward to many family vacations full of your magic. Thank you Maria Bailey and the M-Squad (That’s what I’m going to call you all.. yep!) Mindee, Michele and Michelle. You’ve inspired us all and we will never forget this gathering. Last, but not least, thank you to the Huggies Mom Inspired panelists. As a baby gear guru, I am extremely excited to have had the chance to experience your products. (Especially those Psi Bands.. can you say Tea Cup Ride??)

For my readers.. Thank you. It’s because of your support that I was given the opportunity to experience this event. I am now armed with an artillery of knowledge on how to be the best I can be in all my fields. Mom, Blogger, Consumer.

“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.” – Walt Disney

Disney DisneySMMC DisneySMMoms

Magic.. On the Road – Part 1

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date June 27, 2013
12 Comments on Magic.. On the Road – Part 1

If you read my previous post, you saw that I was stressing out over leaving my children and going to Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. You’ll be happy to know, I did it! I survived leaving my kids for the first time. Sure, the night before I left I cried a river full of ugly tears.. but we’ll keep that between us. What matters is that I came away from this not regretting a single thing. My children got to have two amazing days of fun with their daddy and I got to experience the most amazing opportunity with a room full of women I will never forget. The Disney Social Media Moms Celebration On-The-Road was more than I could have imagined.

If you’ve ever been to a Disney park, you know that Disney doesn’t fail at delivering magic. This event stayed true to that, not necessarily in a “Disney Magic” sort of way.. (though, they did provide that too!!) this magic was different. The energy alone resonated throughout the hotel lobby before the conference had even started. Picture the smile on your child’s face when you first spot the gates at Disneyland. That look was plastered on the faces of each and every woman waiting for those doors to open. Okay.. maybe it was more that look, accompanied by a little sleep deprivation and a deep need of coffee.

Registration opened. We each obtained our lanyard with name tag and our gift bag.. and immediately went to socializing. This is a social media event, after all. Even the shy and reserved moms were chatting up a storm with the women around them. Several of us had been communicating on a Facebook group for a few weeks prior to the event, so we set out to find one another. I already feel a connection to so many of these women. We entered the room, interacted more.. then we took our seats to experience the most amazing ride. It is Disney, after all.

The 6-ish hours I experienced at this event are going to take more than one post to share with you. Even then, I likely won’t even get to touch on everything. However, in this post I am going to focus on the keynote speaker, Mindee Doney. (You all may know her as “The genius creator of Boogie Wipes!”) While the entire event had a profound impact on me.. the time she was standing on that stage resonated with me the most.. and if you look at twitter (#DisneySMMoms) you will see I am not alone.

I struggle to put into words the impact she had on that room and I’m a blogger.. words should not be hard to come by! From the moment she was introduced, she had engaged the room. Her energy, her emotion. All of it came through so clearly. She began by talking to us about what most of us knew of her.. Boogie Wipes. What mom hasn’t heard of Boogie Wipes? My household even has several of those little “Boogs” stuffed booger creatures floating around. She explained how she came about creating the amazing product and led us on her journey. She took us through the highs.. and ultimately the low. More than the journey of business.. she spoke to us about motherhood. How the two areas of life played with one another. Or, perhaps how they battled one another? To say she was honest doesn’t even explain it. She didn’t sugar coat anything. She didn’t hide anything, either. I’m almost certain that the honesty and transparency is what hooked us all. Her message was loud and it was clear. Embrace, Empower and Accept. I can say those words over and over in my head and hear her declare them so passionately.

To embrace you and what you do
Accept your responsibilities
Rock your talents
Believe in the big picture

Empower yourself and empower others. HELP is not a 4-letter-word
Know when to say no
Nurture what resets you
Ask for help.. specifically and honestly
Believe in your village.. their way works too

To expect life will go on
Cherish the highs, be in the lows
Set regular goals according to your chapter
Choose a pace that balances needs versus wants

She ended her presentation with as much energy as she started with. Her message will continue to inspire us all. In fact, this post has taken me days to write because she showed me that I can walk away from work. Work can wait. “Know when you can walk away from it. Don’t go back to it. It will be okay.” The schedule I put in place today sets the expectations for the schedule I live tomorrow.. a year from now.. five years from now. “Start as you mean to go. If you don’t want to be working the way you’re working in 5 years.. you don’t need to be working that way right now. The way that you work. The attitude that you work with, should be the same.”

“There is no pause button, rewind or fast forward when it comes to the journey. Peace hangs out in our scrapbooks, itineraries and gratitude. When we choose daily to embrace life and empower potential, we can easily expect our journey to be happily ever after.”

At the end of her presentation, that room full of social media moms (all of which were glued to some sort of electronic device.. typing, tweeting, posting, facebooking, instagraming..) dropped the device in their hand and stood up with applause. Have you ever seen a room full of bloggers not have a device in their hands?? It was surreal. And deserved. I wish I could have recorded every moment of her presentation to relive it over again.

Please do me a favor. Go to Mindee’s blog “Get your OWN Juice Box“, “Like” her on Facebook and follow her on twitter to experience a little bit of what I had the opportunity to experience. I feel fortunate to have been included in this event and to have the ability to share so much of it with you. I can’t wait to share more!

Disney FaVe Parenting

Uncharted Territory..

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date June 14, 2013
1 Comment on Uncharted Territory..

When I first started this blog, I never actually thought it would catch anyone’s attention. I figured that my readers would likely be limited to the few friends asking me for advice to begin with. It is clear to me now, that is not the case. People are actually reading.. and noticing.. and enjoying… and that makes me extremely happy. My blog is still technically a baby. It’s roughly only 9 months old. If it really were a baby, it would be trotting around the floor on all fours.. perhaps even still doing the notorious army crawl. However, it is not a real baby.. it’s a blog.. and it has decided to fly by the seat of its pants and earn itself an invitation to the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration “On-the-Road” – Quite possibly my first real “squeeeee” moment as a blogger. I was so thrilled.. excited.. honored.. to be invited to this event. I decided to use the chance to meet up with some fabulous other mama’s that I’ve come to know via the internet and have some fun. (Like FaVe Mom) It is going to be so exciting!! We plotted which hotel to stay at. More excitement. I got my confirmation email. Still excited. Booked my flight. Wait.. this is real. Insert panic.

Why panic, you ask? You see.. in my almost 8 years of motherhood, I can count the number of times I have been without my children for any reason, on one hand. My youngest? Well, the longest I’ve ever left him (and only with his dad!) was 3 hours. He’s a bit of a mama’s boy. (Okay, I’m lying.. he’s extremely a mama’s boy!) I am about to board a plane.. fly a state away.. and be gone for a good 38 hours. I know, I know. It doesn’t seem like much.. but in my mind it’s an eternity.
I keep going over all these dramatic scenarios in my head. Will my husband really be able to handle our THREE children, by himself, for TWO DAYS? Will he manage to balance bed time for all three boys without sending someone into a crying fit that lasts until I come home the following night? What if he decides to venture out? I know this is all ridiculous. My husband is a fabulous father and my children will be in very capable hands. Will I be okay, though?

I think I rely on my daily moments with my kids more than they rely on them. Watching my toddler drift off to sleep. Listening to my oldest do his daily reading.. listening to the giggling coming from our play room. Can I really go two whole days without those little moments? What if I miss something? What if they need me? What if something happens and I’m not there?

Deep down, I know that this will all be fine. Deep down I know that the opportunity that has been placed before me is so fabulous and I get a chance to go somewhere I have never been before (San Francisco!) but the mama in me can’t help but be sad. Nervous. A little scared, even. And when I come home, I will look back on this post and laugh while eating my Ghiradelli chocolate.

How old were your kids when you left them overnight for the first time? Were you scared? Nervous? Ecstatic?

Babies Baby Gear Boba Carriers Giveaway Review

Carry On..

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date June 8, 2013
8 Comments on Carry On..

We have always been baby wearers. While I love strollers and definitely believe there is quite a useful purpose for strollers, there is always a time when my children want nothing more than to be held or carried. Usually when I’m trying to get something done or need both of my hands. Finding the right carrier has been a nightmare. Just when you think you find the perfect carrier, that moment comes when you are required to wear it for more than 30 minutes and instantly realize how terrible it is. With our youngest son, we realized quickly how important a good carrier was going to be.

Our youngest son has some gross motor delays. He has laxity of the ligaments in his hips and ankles as well as hypotonia. He’s 22.5 months old now and his little legs give out after 30 minutes of being on them. He still can’t run and he prefers not to wear shoes as it seems difficult to lift the weight of the shoe. Combine all of this and together you get a toddler who requires being carried or in a stroller a lot.

This is where a good carrier is so critical. If he is tired or doesn’t feel well, his legs just refuse to work. Then he gets clingy. I often need to wear him around the house just to manage to get anything done or spend time with my older kids. He also has to go to physical therapy weekly and afterwards is worn out. The carrier allows us to still accomplish things even after a long physical therapy appointment. As you can imagine.. with all of this carrying going on, it takes a lot of effort to find one that can comfortably work. I was given the opportunity recently to use the Boba Carrier 3G. I was very excited to try it out! The first day I used it I was a little nervous. It definitely had more adjustable clips than my other carrier. I put it on, adjusted it to fit me just right and then grabbed our son. He wasn’t feeling well and his legs were particular bothersome, so I strapped him in onto my back. I was instantly impressed by how easily I could get him onto my back and adjusted by myself. I have some practice with this from other carriers, but I usually find myself having to wiggle and jiggle him into it properly. However, with this carrier it seemed quite natural. The height of the carrier also supported his back nicely and the width of the seat made sure that his legs were in the appropriate position. I also immediately noticed how easily the chest clip was height adjustable. It slides up and down on the piping of the carrier. Very easy to adjust. Within 10 minutes of being in the carrier, he was sound asleep and not flopping around at all. I carried him around in it for about two hours and didn’t have any shoulder discomfort or back pain.

We have used the carrier a lot since receiving it. Around the house. To the park. A two mile family walk. We even used it to get him to and from his recent MRI’s. Because of his age, his MRI’s had to be done under general anesthesia, so once he awoke, he was very clingy, tired and weak. I put the Boba Carrier on, snuggled him into it on the front position and he calmed down quickly. It managed to get a lot of compliments from the nursing staff, too. Our Boba Carrier is the “Tweet” print and it was definitely popular. There are a lot of features about this carrier that I think are extremely useful! For instance, it comes with these optional foot stirrups that hold your child’s foot. This helps them not feel like they are “dangling” and gives them a place to put their feet other than on your hips. I also love that it can be an infant carrier without the use of an insert! While I don’t have a small infant right now, that would definitely be useful. Add to that all the fun prints, (I really want to get my husband the Diaper Dude Special Edition Pinstripe!) it’s quite an amazing carrier.

Another thing that makes this carrier fabulous is all the zipped storage. There is a zipper pocket that holds the hood, and when the hood is out it makes a fabulous place to store things in. At the bottom of the carrier, on the lumbar support there is another zipper pocket. This made the best place to put my drivers license and debit cards. Nothing bulky, for sure, but it allows me to not bring our whole diaper bag when I take him to physical therapy.

After about a month of using this carrier, I can’t find anything really bad about it. It is comfortable to wear for long lengths of time. It adjusts easily and gets a near perfect fit because of all of it’s individual adjustable straps. The excess straps roll up neatly and are well secured by a fold over elastic cover. My only downside is this: It is not recommended to be machine washed. Spot cleaning is preferred. Normally this isn’t a huge issue for a carrier, but there are times when you really just need to deep clean them. Either it’s covered in dirt or it falls on a bathroom floor. (Not that I did that last one or anything.. Nope.) That said, for reasons I will not admit to actually doing.. (read: bathroom floor.. shhh!!) I did throw it into the wash on a hand wash cycle and air dried it. It washed well. The straps actually managed to stay in the positions I had adjusted them to and the fabric washed really well! It even dried quickly! So, while not recommended.. it is possible to wash if you must.

The Boba 3G accommodates a wide range of people. It fits heights from 5’0-6’3 and has a waist band range from 25″-58″. As I stated before, there are so many adjustable areas to achieve the perfect fit for you. The body of the carrier also rises 2-3″ higher than most other brands, as well. This means it supports babies better and for longer. It also has high grade military buckles, so you can rest assure that even if you are carrying the maximum 45 pound weight, your child will be safe. (The carrier also starts at 7 pounds! That is small enough for most newborns!)

All in all, I really love this carrier. I love the height of it. I love the quality of it. I love the comfort of it. It was equally comfortable in both front and back carrying positions and for long term wearing. I highly recommend this carrier.

How many of you use carrier’s on a regular basis for your babies? What made you decide to purchase the carrier that you use? How many of you own Boba carriers? What is your favorite feature of the carrier?

Enter for your chance to win a Boba Baby Carrier, a Boba Wrap or a Boba Air! All products can be seen at www.bobafamily.com. With Boba products it is easier than ever to enjoy Freedom Together as a family and Boba wants YOU to get a chance to use their products. To enter to win, “Like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

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Note: Boba Carriers provided the Boba 3G in “Tweet” print for me to review. This is not a paid review and the opinions expressed are my own. The giveaway is provided to you by Boba Carriers, NOT by The Diaper Bag Confessions.

Babies Baby Gear

Out with the old.. in with the old?

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date May 27, 2013
2 Comments on Out with the old.. in with the old?

As usual, my house is full of clutter. More and more things come in.. less and less things go out. This is a vicious cycle, but with 3 growing boys, a husband and a shopping addiction, that’s just how it is. (Did I just admit to having a shopping addiction? No. I admit nothing!) So, while in my closet folding clothes I started thinking about our changing table. We haven’t used it in some time and right now it is just the place that I dump the clean clothes waiting to be sorted and then the folded clothes waiting to be returned to their proper location. I’m sure there are ways I could re-purpose the changing table. Perhaps in a more useful way than a clean laundry station. (Or, perhaps not.. perhaps just a more official clean laundry station?)

So, I took to Pinterest. The logical place to turn for those DIY project ideas that you may or may not ever actually create.. but like to think you could possibly manage to do one day. There are so many ideas for re-purposing a changing table. Someone turned it into an outdoor gardening station, another person turned it into a drink cart. (While alcohol isn’t the first thing I think of when it comes to re-purposing my baby gear.. to each their own? Haha.) I am actually quite inspired. Sure, this may end up being one of those typical Pinterest projects that I never actually get around to doing.. but anything is better than huge pieces of baby furniture with no home, taking up priceless space in my closet. (I could put a sewing table in that corner of the closet.. now that would be a much better use of space!)

How many of you re-purpose things in your home? Have any of you re-purposed your old baby gear or baby furniture?? Tell me what projects you have done. You may inspire me to take on more projects this summer. (Read: Inspire me to give my husband instructions on projects he will be doing this summer..) Also, if you use Pinterest, what are some of your favorite finds?

Aden + Anais Baby Blankets Gifts Review

Wrapped up in a Dream.. blanket.

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date May 13, 2013
2 Comments on Wrapped up in a Dream.. blanket.

It all started with an addiction to giraffes and a desire to get my toddler weaned. You see, we were bed-sharers. Our toddler slept soundly snuggled right between us.. so long as his “breast friends” weren’t far away. When I decided to wean, I knew our only solution was to move him into his own bed. I had to make this bed as welcoming and desirable to him as possible. So, I went on a hunt. He loves “PhiePhie’s” as many of you have seen. So, I knew that having giraffes integrated into his new bed would be critical. I found the perfect thing. A simple white sheet with adorable giraffes all over it. We ran to our local boutique and bought it. Upon simply opening it, I knew it was amazing. Made from muslin, it was quite possibly the softest sheet I have ever held. After washing it? Even more soft. The brand? Aden + Anais. I was hooked instantly, in fact, my toddler refuses to sleep on any other sheet – so when I was given the opportunity to review a few of their products, I jumped at it.

Aden + Anais is everywhere right now. Rightfully so! What mom doesn’t want her baby wrapped in the softest, lightest, breathable blanket? Especially one that also comes in sweet prints. I asked some of my readers if they had used A+A blankets for their babies. The response was amazing. Several of them even sent me pictures. Sweet babies snuggled in adorable blankets.

(They also were kind enough to give me permission to share these sweet babies with you all! Enjoy! Baby E, Baby M and Baby G.)

When the box arrived, I was thrilled. My children are almost as addicted to blankets as I am to baby gear, so they were just as excited as I was. We washed the blankets and quickly got them into use. A Dream Blanket that my 4-year-old immediately claimed and a Sleeping Bag perfectly sized for my 22-month-old. I am completely in love with the Dream Blanket. In fact, I instantly threw a glance towards my husband and said “We need this!! A big one!” (They have big ones, by the way! The Daydream Blanket!) Four layers of ridiculously soft muslin. I could melt into that blanket. Clearly, so could my son.. because he did. Blissfully to sleep, snuggled up with it. When he awoke the next morning, still wrapped in his blanket, I asked him if he liked it. His reply was simple and quite matter of fact.. “Yes! Can I get more? Do they have one with fire trucks?” Two weeks later and I have to fight him to let me wash it. He makes me promise to give it back once it’s done. And, while they don’t have fire trucks.. they do have monsters. He might be just as happy about that.

The Sleeping Bag had me worried. Our toddler is almost 2 and while he is less mobile than most kids his age, he is still mobile. How would he react to having his legs confined within a blanket all night long? However, after I had washed it, he grabbed it from me and kept attempting to put his arms in the holes.. so I became hopeful. His typical sleep routine goes something like this — Sleep.. toss and turn in order to kick feet out from under blanket.. roll over and go back to sleep — His first night in the Sleeping Bag was no different, however when he attempted to kick his feet out from under the blanket, he couldn’t. I panicked for a moment and then I remember something amazing about this Sleeping Bag. It zips from the top down. I quickly went to him, raised the zipper enough for his feet to peek out and he drifted blissfully back to sleep. This actually made me love the blanket more, as typically I would have to go cover his feet back up before I went to bed to assure he stayed warm enough at night. Instead, just letting them peek out of the Sleeping Bag meant that as he rolled over and adjusted himself in his sleep, his feet migrated themselves back into the Sleeping Bag and thus, remained warm at night. I also love that it’s light weight and airy.. but managed to keep him cozy and warm! It also, surprisingly, didn’t limit his mobility as much as I thought it would. While a little more difficult, he was still able to move around the crib.

Along with the blankets came two bottles. You see, Aden + Anais doesn’t just make blankets. They have a fabulous line of baby skin care products. Wait, I take that back. Family skin care products. The A+A “mum+bub” collection. While formulated to be gentle enough for baby’s fragile skin.. they are just as fabulous for everyone else in the house. It is exactly as the bottle says “Made for baby. Designed for you.”

We are a family of eczema sufferers and have always been loyal to one brand of skin care products. It was the only brand that has thus far kept my children’s skin soft and free of rashes. This would test my loyalty to that other brand. They sent both the ultra gentle lotion and the hair+body wash. I was nervous, but seeing how natural it was I decided to give it a go. I tried the lotion on myself first. Let me just say that I have never smelled anything so good. I don’t like heavily perfumed things but I do enjoy smelling nicely. This had just enough scent to it that it was noticeable, but not so much that you turn heads. The only thing better than the smell was how soft it made my skin. My hands went from feeling like cardboard to feeling like satin.. and without any sort of residue being left behind on them. I loved it. After a few days of using the lotion on myself, I decided it would be worth trying out on my toddler. His skin is sensitive, but not as much as his brothers’ so he was the best person to try it on. I opened up the hair+body wash and got excited to try it on him. Following his bath, his skin was so smooth. Again, it was like the lotion.. his skin felt like satin. Also like the lotion, he smelled so good. I am sure that the smell is attributed to an ingredient like “fresh, fermented pawpaw fruit” but I choose to believe that the smell comes from my favorite ingredient on the list: LOVE. (No joke. It’s on the ingredient list. More products should contain LOVE, just saying..)

Aden + Anais is a household name for so many moms. So many products to help make life with a new baby a little more natural. A little softer. A little cozier. Now I can enjoy them for more than just blankets. I look forward to filling our home with more Aden+Anais, especially more of their mum+bub products! (.. and perhaps a Daydream blanket.. preferably in “branch out“..)

How many of you have used A+A products? If you have, which product is your favorite? If you haven’t yet had the chance to use A+A products, which products on their site would you be most interested in trying out?

Note: This post is my honest opinion of Aden+Anais products. I was not paid to write this blog post, nor was my opinion swayed in any way. The products reviewed were provided to me by Aden+Anais.

Babies Moses Basket

Some things you just can’t let go..

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date May 6, 2013
8 Comments on Some things you just can’t let go..

So, my youngest is almost two. I look around my house and realize that we have a lot of things that he no longer needs. My task is now deciding what, if anything, is worth keeping. You see, I am what I like to call “reproductively challenged.” It’s a game that my body seems to think is entertaining. We were blessed with two “Surprise! You hit the jackpot!” babies and one very expensive “Congratulations! Your investment paid off!” baby. So to say that we don’t know if our family will be expanding is really an honest answer. This does not make going through baby things very easy for me.

As I glance around, there are many things that I think would better serve someone else rather than collect dust in storage. Things that I wouldn’t mind simply replacing should we hit that jackpot once again. And then there is that one thing. Every time I glance at it, tucked away in our closet, I am brought back to that time of having a tiny little baby and my heart wants to burst out of my chest. The thought of ever getting rid of it? I just can’t even imagine it.

What is that thing, you ask? My Moses Basket. Yes, I bought a Moses Basket. People thought I was crazy. “What are you going to use that for?? Why not just buy a bassinet?” Honestly.. we’ve done the bassinet thing before. It was alright. We also did the bassinet attachment to a play yard. It worked. But this tiny little basket.. it snuggled my baby so perfectly. It was light weight and portable. I could bring it downstairs for his nap, bring it upstairs for bed, throw it in the car and bring it wherever we were headed. It was the perfect first bed for my tiny little baby, and I just cannot bring myself to let it go.

This is not really a waste, though. Should our family not expand any further, there are many ways to re-purpose that little basket. I could fill it with all of my son’s stuffed animals. Use it as a toy bin. Save it for him to use one day for his own child. (Come on.. Moses Baskets are timeless!) For now that Moses Basket has a cozy place in our closet.. and it’s not going anywhere!

What things do you have for your baby that you can’t imagine ever getting rid of? Do you invest in things that you know you’ll want to hang on to forever, or things that you are just fine getting out of your house once your baby doesn’t need them anymore?

Gifts Giveaway Origami Owl Shopping

It’s quite charming, actually..

Post author By The Diaper Bag Confessions
Post date April 19, 2013
19 Comments on It’s quite charming, actually..

I love personalized items. The sentimental value that something has far outweighs any sort of monetary value. When I gave birth, 7 years ago, my husband bought me an iPod. It was a first generation iPod Nano. I will never get rid of it. Why? Because he engraved the back.. “Just breathe” and then programmed into it my hospital birthing play list. (Yeah, I know.. I’ve got a good husband!)

When it comes to my children, personalized things mean that much more. I’ve always wanted a way to proudly “display” myself as a mom, even when I’m out and about without my children. Those birth stone rings are cute.. but I never really understood what one would do if they ever had any more kids? Buy a new ring? Silly. Pandora Bracelets (and any of the identical looking bracelets..) are just not my style. Big baubles on my wrist. Add to that the fact that I’m a germaphobe and change diapers all day long means I wash my hands more than most.. a bracelet is really not practical for me.

Recently, I heard a lot of people talking about this company.. Origami Owl. Sounded like a paper company to me, so I didn’t really look too much into it until my friend became a “designer” for the company. “Designers” are what they call their sales people. They help you craft your “story” into a locket. A locket that you can change, easily. You can add things, subtract things.. make it yours. Tell your story, even if it changes from day to day.

With Origami Owl, you choose a chain from a variety of different colored metals, lengths, thicknesses. You also choose the locket. You can choose a medium locket or a large locket in different colored metals, some adorned with crystals. After you’ve selected those two things.. you piece together your own story from a wide selection of stamped metal plates, charms, birth stones, and even dangles to hang on the outside of your locket. It’s all quite genius. It’s also the perfect gift to get for a mom, a sister, a grandmother.. yourself. A story about the person who wears it.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I am going to give one of you the privilege of winning the start of your Origami Owl story. We have put together a nice starting point for anyone. (Well, anyone who loves their family?? Haha) We are giving away an 18″ silver chain, a medium silver locket with crystals and a medium hand stamped rose gold plate that says “Family” on it. From there, it’s up to you to create your story.

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