Baby Talk Tuesday: My Carry-All

I'm starting a new segment called Baby Talk Tuesday here on TAA! As a new mom, I have lots to say about baby stuff and things that I've learned. When I was pregnant and now navigating my way as a mother of a smiley almost-three month old, I found (and still find) reading blogs with baby information to be so helpful; especially when it feels as though this info is coming from a friend who's going through the same things! And if you aren't into baby stuff, well...I hope you'll come back tomorrow for something not baby related ;)

Today I want to talk about a very important piece of equipment - the diaper bag. Though I'd like to try and change this name to a carry-all bag. After all, it's carrying allllll of our baby stuff as well as Mama's things too...so isn't 'diaper bag' kind of a misnomer? And doesn't 'Mom's carry-all bag' just sound a little nicer than 'diaper bag'?

Anyway.

I had tried my hardest to not go crazy with toting around baby things. I had a big leather handbag that I'd throw in a few diapers, wipes and an extra outfit and call it a day. But as time went on, I realized that those items simply weren't enough. Not only did I need other items, but having just 'a few diapers' on hand started to really give me anxiety. Penelope could easily go through 2-3 dipes in one change after all (she is infamous for peeing as she is being changed. Her 16-year-old self is going to hate me for that bit of oversharing.). 

When I realized that I had to finally give in a get a large carry-all for all of her stuff and mine, I wanted something that I would feel happy carrying around. Something for Mom as much as for Baby. And since I know they are super durable and comfortable on the shoulder, I went straight to Vera Bradley.

I ended up with the Vera Bradley Weekender in Ribbons. It is the perfect size for corraling all of Penelope's things, my things and more. Admittedly, it is a BIG bag. But I love it so much. It holds everything, is lightweight and it is absolutely adorable.

Not to mention that I got a free gift with purchase. The lovely saleswoman talked me into getting the ditty bag (the little knapsack), which is vinyl-lined and one of the most perfect items ever. I simply throw Penelope's soiled (read: heavily pooped in) clothes in there when we are out and about and the whole thing can get washed when we get home.

Genius, no? I don't have to worry about carrying around giant Ziploc bags or dirty clothes touching clean ones. Unfortunately they didn't have the matching pattern, but I like this one too and it's easy to spot all rolled up in the carry-all bag.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's take a peak inside, shall we?

I love that I can look inside and see everything right away. I also never feel like I'm sacrificing anything that we might need. I take 2 blankets with me always - one receiving blanket (pictured) for putting down on her plastic changing mat and one aden & anais swaddle blanket (not pictured) for when she naps. I adore my Skip Hop changing mat and will write more about that in another post. I have at least 3 outfits, 2 bibs and 2 burp cloths for her at all times. In the side pockets, I store all of the little things, like hand sanitizer, stain remover spray and baby lotion. On the other side, I can fit my things, like my wallet and lip balms.

Oh and the last thing I want to mention is the Babee Covee. My mom got this for me and I love it. It serves as a car seat cover (to block out light), a nursing cover, a stroller blanket and more. I fold it up nice and tight and secure with one of her larger hair bows.

And as for the diapers?

I like to keep them in the outside pocket. I also keep a stash of 5 in a compartment of the changing mat, along with wipes and Desitin. The outside pocket of the carry-all is just for extras. 12 diapers is my comfortable number for going out.

And other items not pictured that this wonderful bag fits include the full ditty bag, her bottles, video monitor if needed, my manual pump and more.

So there you have it. Probably much, much more than you wanted to know about my baby carry-all, but it's really a life-changing item and I get an inordinate amount of joy in being so organized!

So what do you think? Do you carry a diaper bag? Or do you go the purse route? What are your must-have items for toting around with baby?

Baked Bananas + Chocolate

 

I have got a serious treat for you on this bright and sunny Monday.

For this month's Secret Recipe Club, I received We Heart Vegan - an all-vegan blog, as you may have guessed :) Though I do not usually use 'vegan' ingredients such as Earth Balance, I love any chance to make a naturally vegan recipe and thus when I stumbled across Brittany & Julie's recipe for baked bananas with chocolate I simultaneously swooned and got hungry. I loved reading Brittany's journey to veganism and her honest approach to making this life change. 

Meanwhile...I made these bananas and they were oh.so.good. I mean, what's not to like? Bananas, chocolate, nuts...yum. I made a few slight changes based on what I had on hand and the result was a decadent yet not unhealthy delicious dessert. I think this will be my new go-to dessert!

Baked Bananas + Chocolate

*Adapted from We Heart Vegan

3 ripe bananas

1-2 Tbsp flour*

3 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips

3 Tbsp peanut butter chips

2 Tbsp chopped walnuts, or nuts of your choice

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Peel the bananas. Cut them in half and then slice each piece length-wise. Dredge the bananas in flour and lay on the baking sheet. Bake for 8 minutes, flip, and bake for 8 minutes more.

In two separate bowls, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. I just did this in the microwave in 30 second increments. Drizzle the melted chips over a stack of bananas. Top with chopped nuts. Devour immediately.

*Note about flour: The original recipe called for coconut flour, but I used all-purpose since that's what I had. The flour did not all melt away, though I shook it off. I would recommend going with the coconut flour, or just omitting altogether. End note. ;)

Have a great Monday everyone!

What's your favorite {semi} healthy dessert?

Do you make vegan dishes?

What's Your Skin Care Routine?

Since having Little Miss Penelope (and even when I was pregnant), my skin has definitely gone through some changes. Luckily I was blessed with great skin (thanks Mom!) and so I've never really had to do much in the way of caring for it. I have typically used a make-up remover towelette in the evenings, followed by a little Aveeno moisturizer (I don't even know which kind because I never even paid attention to it!).

Lately I've noticed that my skin is incredibly dry. As in, patches of dry skin on my cheeks. So I've started to change things up a little. I've switched out most of my expensive stuff for products that can be found in most drug stores, Target or Wal-mart. I know my sister Christine is going to yell at me for calling this my routine, but this is really how I 'care' for my skin...or more like, here's what I do to/put on my face each day.

I wash with bar soap (I'm currently loving Dove's blue fig & orange blossom), slather with Nivea Soft (this has single-handedly rehydrated my skin), and top with Garnier BB Cream in fair/light (a great inexpensive option that simply evens out my skin tone and smells pretty nice too!) and my favorite tarte blush in Exposed (my one splurge of the bunch). Oh and at the end of the day? I remove it all with a Neutrogena cleansing towelette and re-slather with Nivea. It's that simple for me!

What are your favorite skin care products?

What is your skin care routine?