Ain't No Mom Jeans

Goodbye Summer

Oh, Mamas. Summer's lease hath all too short a date.  R is in pre-school, mornings have a chill in the air, and time marches on.  This was likely my very last summer with a baby.  Good things are ahead, certainly, but I can't help feeling a little lost. I'd like one more beer at the end of the dock, please.

If the back-to-school routine snuck up on you...here are a few good things I found:

An awesome list of back-to-school books.  The title "Hooway For Wodney Wat" cracked me up.

Raines' new backpack.  The half-pack size is perfect for pre-school, the nibbler size for younger.  If you are local to Philly, Nest has them in stock.

We've been using Skip Hop's Bento lunchbox and it's awesome.  It's technically a bento, but simpler and less intimidating.  I can still throw a sandwich in there (cut up into fourths) on busy mornings.  I actually bought this set a while ago, but somehow* lost all of the lids.  When I called Skip Hop for replacements, they sent me out a new set - gratis!  

Also, this thermos keeps soup warm for five hours.  Perfect for grabbing something out of the crock pot in the morning.

I'm so happy with the pre-school we found for R.  They go outside everyday, regardless of weather (except for insanely cold temps).  We have to keep a pair of rainboots at the school, so I wanted to find something cheap-ish, yet durable and cool (no crazy animals or cartoon characters, please).  These plain black Tingley Stormtrack rainboots were only $14, and are awesome.

 

What are you up to this weekend?  I think we're going to try and catch Philly's Open Air exhibit, which lets you record a voice message, and then uses robotic lights in the night sky that will react to your voice's frequency and volume.  No joke.  They even have an iPhone app.  R will be totally geeked out (and so will we).

Happy Fall!

xo,

S

*Pax went through a "throw things in the trash" phase.

 

 

Found! Racerback/Convertible Nursing Bra

I have a serious problem with most nursing lingerie.  Particularly since I've been wearing it for about 4-1/2 years.  And, aside from the beautiful options S. has made it her quest to find, this stuff is ugly, and not all that functional in a non-puritan's wardrobe of drapey, bosom-baring and otherwise skimpy in some way, tops. 

I mean, why do most nursing bras cover you to your collar bones?  Is a little jiggle not okay once you're a mama?  Is showing cleavage, even if it is lactation-induced, a no-no?  (BOOOO! from the Hub's peanut gallery.)  And why is it so difficult to find a nursing bra that can be worn with (gasp!) tanks and racerbacks?  I mean, these are--ahem--assets, purchased not with cash, but (literally) with blood, sweat and tears, so I think we mamas have earned a right to work it for all it's worth while we've got it, which is why I was THRILLED when I gift card power-shopped the Motherhood Maternity section of a Babies-R-Us a few weeks ago and found this cheapy little gem, which, for some crazy reason, is not even advertised as a convertible nursing bra. 

Giveaway & Review | $100 of Seraphine Nursing and Maternity Wear

UPDATE 4/17/12: The $100 Seraphine Giveaway winner is Lori Farley.  Please end us an email with your contact info so we can get the code for you, Lori!

I think we can all agree that public nursing is a bit tricky at times.  For me, anyway, it usually involves some grappling and coaxing, and quite a bit of midriff baring.  Or worse.  Ugh.  Needless to say, I’m all for anything, absolutely anything, that makes the process of getting my three-month-old to latch on (while using my free hand to bribe my 2-year-old with snacks and stomping my foot to let my 4-year-old know I saw him swipe my iPhone to play Angry Birds—again).  I repeat: Anything.  And, I don’t even need it to look good.  I just need it to work. 

But that’s where Seraphine, a UK-based maternity and nursing wear company, far exceeded my expectations.  Their nursing-friendly designs are not only highly functional, they are beautifully constructed out of fabulous fabrics that have amazing drape.  And, they go from maternity to post-baby and nursing with ease, so we’re really excited to be able to offer ANMJ readers this giveaway!

Mom Street Style - Vera's Fav Nursing Cover

When I finally worked up the nerve to nurse my first babe in public (instead of running to the car or planning every outing around feedings), I was daunted to say the least.  And when I faced breastfeeding my second with an on-the-go 19-month-old, the prospect of boob exposure during the regular course of lunging after my toddler terrified me, as does trying to run after a two- and four-year-old going in opposite directions whilst nursing my third bub, so I can absolutely relate to Vera, this week’s fab street style mama.  Vera just had her fourth and was thrilled with the range of motion, not to mention the style, of the DRIA nursing cover S. reviewed last year.

Vera writes:

I just want to say thank you!! I bought the Dria cover after reading your review of it and I LOVE it.  Actually, I am trying really hard not to wear it every single day.  I just had my fourth baby, and despite nursing all my kids until about 18 months, I never used nursing covers - I just thought they were awkward and actually drew MORE attention to the fact that you were breastfeeding.  I had good luck just wearing a cami and a shirt and pulling my shirt up and was pretty discrete about it.  BUT, the Dria is soooo soft and comfy and hides my huge post-c-section pooch, and actually I'm finding that I like being able to nurse in public with it.  Having a very active 21 month old boy, there have been a couple of times that I've been at Starbucks or some place nursing the baby and he decides to do something crazy and I need to react quickly - not something I can do while having my boob hanging out!

Thanks! I'm attaching a pic of the one I got - I love it, even though my hubby is giving me weird looks every morning when I pull it out after trying on fifty other things first LOL!

- Vera C.

For those of you mamas not familiar with the DRIA nursing cover, check it out.  It is the most versatile and fashion-forward piece of nursing gear I have ever encountered, and I don’t think I’ll be shelving it even after I’m done nursing bub #3.  In any of the patterns, it’s a gorgeous, lightweight poncho that’ll kick up the volume on even the most boring outfit.  It covers everything, including you, your babe, the car seat or your stroller, it wads up into a tiny ball, washes well and dries fast and without wrinkles.

Vera, you look amazing in your slouchy boots and nursing poncho! Thanks for sending in your Street Style submission—keep ‘em comin’, Mamas!

- M.

Favorite New Nursing Cover: The Dria

As I rule, I refuse to enter any restaurant that serves Italian, Asian, American and Mexican fare.  It just never works out.  So when the gals at Rookie Moms asked me if I wanted to review the Dria Nursing Cover, a cover that could be used as a pregnancy poncho, nursing cover, car seat cover AND stroller sun-blocker...I was skeptical at best.  A bit snarky, even.  I think my initial response was a, "will it feed and burp the baby too?"

Snort.

So imagine my shock when the nice folks at Dria sent me this little number:

Whoa.  This thing was cute.  Like really, really cute.

(And I love how Raines is also posing.  Good grief - what am I teaching him?)

Anyway, the Dria cover also looks really cool belted...voila:

Handmade Alternatives: Teethers and Pacifier Clips

The following is part of a series of posts by contributing author Lane about a few fabulous handmade alternatives to the usual mass-produced baby items.  Also see her articles on handmade alternatives for baby slings and carriers, shopping cart covers, and nursing covers.  

Teethers

I don't even have my baby in hand yet, but from what I'm told by expert moms everywhere, when it comes to teethers Sophie the Giraffe is the queen of the world. You can find her at Toys'R'Us for $19.99.

 
But while Sophie may reign supreme when it comes to relieving little achey mouths, you may want a back-up or companion, so why not shop handmade?

Handmade Alternatives: Nursing Covers

For any mother-to-be who plans on nursing, or moms who breastfeed currently, modesty while breastfeeding in public can be an issue. While some women feel comfortable whipping it all out in any setting, and I do truly say more power to them seeing as it is pretty much the most natural act imaginable, others are a little more booby shy. And that's where a nursing cover comes in. After receiving a handmade nursing cover as a gift from a friend, I realized that while there are commercial versions like the Bebe au Lait Hooters Hider $35, from diapers.com (is it me, or is that name kind of...lacking in taste?)...I personally think you'll find a broader selection of gorgeous covers on Etsy with the bonus of being handmade or even customized (!!) to your specifications.

Behold just a few of my favorites.....

Wooden High Chair Review: Comparison of the Svan, Stokke Tripp Trapp and the Keekaroo Height Right High Chairs

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that I was not satisfied with my initial high chair purchase for my eldest son.  Despite my best efforts, I, like many parents-to-be, did not make the best baby gear choices with Boy Wonder No. 1.  And I mean really, how can one be expected to select all the right accoutrement, having never had a babe before?  Particularly given that most shortcomings aren’t apparent until the gear has been used, rendering it un-returnable?  While many people feel compelled to rationalize and justify their purchases, regardless of their dissatisfaction, I feel the need to rectify these situations.  And with a blog like this, why not?  Thank you, CraigsList, for making this possible.  Here I compare three modern-style wooden high chairs, including the Svan, the Stokke Tripp Trapp and the Keekaroo Height Right High Chair.

Baby Gifts: Nambe Baby Rattle/Teether

For some kids, teething is no biggie.  “I never noticed my babies getting teeth,” many a mama has told me, as I melted her with my laser-like glare.  For others, teething is a personality-altering event of head-spinning, Exorcist-esque proportions.  That would be my children.

That’s when you need to call in the big guns.  Tylenol.  Ibuprophin.  Hyland’s Teething tablets--if you do that kind of thing, that is--and you’d better believe I do. . .  But when you’re in between alternating doses and the apple of your eye still resembles The Scream,  you need a serious teether and I do declare I’ve discovered the holy grail.

  

LunchSkins - Eco Friendly Snack Bags

I'm slowly transitioning away from plastic.  Our plastic bags have been replaced by Envirosax Bags (to read all about my love for them, click here), plastic sippy cups never stood a chance against my Sigg bottles (despite the recall, I'm still a fan) and at long last, I've found a solution that makes those annoying little plastic baggies obsolete:  Lunch Skins.

Lunch Skins are the creation of Three Green Moms, who wanted to come up with an answer to your "plastic baggie blues".  Three Green Moms were concerned with amount of landfill waste the modern family was contributing, and knew they could come up with a product that was safe, affordable and cute.  Working with patisseries and bakeries in Europe, they created Lunch Skins out of a thick cotton fabric coated with a food-safe polyurethane lining (read: no plastic-leaching worries) that could also withstand high heat: Voila!  An environmentally friendly, dish-washer safe, and very cool alternative to the plastic baggie. 

NOTE: They have been certified as lead, Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalate-free. The very thin layer of polyurethane has also been tested and found not to migrate into food or leave a “plastic” odor behind, and meets EU requirements for food contact (typically stricter than US laws).

I've filled these baggies with popcorn, chips, pretzels, cut fruit, cheese, sandwiches, peanut butter crackers, and, in a pinch, a rolled-up clean diaper and wipes when I needed to downsize my diaper bag to better match an outfit.  My husband regularly steals them for his own lunch, and I've been known to swipe some for toiletries while traveling.  

Lunch Skins now come in three sizes - a smaller size, shown in the pic of Raines happily snacking, a larger sandwich size bag, and a "sub bag".  Best of all, they come in some pretty cool fabric choices (see below for pics).

Local gals can find Lunch Skins at Real Baby in Denver or Boulder, or you can always order them online from Three Green Moms.

xo,

S