Mail Order Mama!

I have to be honest, I'm a sucker for mail order gifts. I know I SHOULD like to shop but I have to admit, the effort it sometimes take to get to the shops is not always worth the joy I get in actually shopping. Maybe that's because window shopping just isn't the same! ;)

What I do love? Shopping online? I love finding a good bargain, reading good reviews, and - living overseas - the ease of purchasing a gift and shipping to friends and family all in one step! Often times when we're pricing an item for our family, I find the best deals are online. I get massive energy from a good deal!

That's why I'm stoked to soon be reviewing a product from buyster.com.au. They have an incredible amount of home and lifestyle items! Check out these Melbourne Bar Stools:
They have a heap of baby and childrens' toys too!

Its pretty much your one-stop shop! I'm so excited to review a product for them!! Be looking for my review soon!
From the living room couch,

Dimples Monkey Pram (Stroller) Liner (GIVE AWAY)

Well I am quite pleased to announce that I will soon be reviewing a Dimples Monkey Pram (Stroller) Liner which is being custom-made for my Baby Jogger. There are a number of reasons I am quite stoked about this but I don't want to spoil it all before the big review!In the mean time, the lovely Sara from Dimples Monkey has just launched her Facebook site and is celebrating by giving away TWO Stroller Liners. All you need to do is "Attend" her event and you will be entered to win.

While you're checking her out, be sure to take a look at all of the fabulous fabrics she has to chose from! The girl has got style!!

RedSnapper Onesies (GIVEAWAY)

Oh to know how many unnecessary snaps I have snapped in the last (almost) four months of my life. As the realisation of just how considerably the pace of my life slowed since having a baby continues to sink in, I must admit that I am more eager than ever to avoid whatever roadblocks I can - especially one as silly as mis-snapping a onesie.

When I find myself in a mis-snapping mis-hap, I take a deep breath, put on that big goofy smile my baby loves and, resisting an eye roll at myself, I start to sing our "1 snap, 2 snap, 3 snap song" (yes, I make these up as we go along)... again. But inside I do wish there was a better way.

Which is why I think RedSnapper Onesies are a seriously GENIUS idea.
Check out the little red snap right in the middle. Its like Baby-Dressing for Dummies. As someone who loves organisation (colour coding makes me giddy!), this is my new favourite mommy-minute saving tip! Plus, they have some super cute styles to choose from.
Hey, but don't take my word for it! Now is your chance to win your very own RedSnapper Onesie! Click here and you could be on your way to singing the "snap song" only once!

Onto singing the chopping veggies song,

Deal Alert - Muslin Wraps

When we were preparing for our baby, I must have been given muslin wraps from about 4 different people. Before he arrived, I told people I didn't need anymore because I thought, "This is getting ridiculous! What will we do with all these blankets!?"
Little did I know, that these wraps would be an absolute staple in our bed time routine!! And we found ourselves doing laundry more regularly just to have the best blankets to wrap our little one when naptime came around. It got to the point where we decided having a few more would be helpful because we were getting behind on laundry (hey, I never claimed to be on top of everything!) and lo and behold the next day we got a belated baby present - a set of SUPER adorable muslin wraps. Ummm, perfect!
American mommies, if you don't have muslin wraps, I 100% recommend you get a set, particularly if you live in a warm climate. They are a staple for Aussie mommies and I can see why. Our little one sweats like none other. In fact, we ended up sleeping him in just a nappy and a muslin wrap swaddle almost every night because it was so hot! They're also perfect for a lightweight blankie, a semi-breathable shade cloth for your stroller/pram, and a million other things like an impromptu breastfeeding cover (although not as ideal as proper one), a burp rag, and more. (Disorganised or resourseful - you decide!)

So, all this to say that Toys-R-Us (Australia) has these on sale for half off - just $10!! If you don't have some, be sure to go snag a pack... or a few!! You won't regret it... and if you do, just send them our way! ;) Your timing might be the perfect solution to me actually doing a load of laundry!

Definitely NOT avoiding housework,

Breastfeeding in Public Just Improved Dramatically

I remember my first experience breastfeeding in public. My mom was visiting from America the week after our son was born and despite the fact that I had had a bit of a hectic delivery (read: tearing an artery without drugs and requiring three bags of blood!), we decided to go for a hike to enjoy dinner with a view. It was a cool and windy evening and our baby needed a feed while we were out. Despite the beautiful sunset view, there I was with a muslin wrap trying to keep him latched on and not flash the world. I know some mums are cool with this and even though I'm happy to feed in public, I like to stay a little bit modest.

The next day my mom insisted on buying me a breastfeeding cover but we could only find one in town and it was $60 for this piece of square fabric. I was not impressed!

Instead, I hopped on etsy and found a wonderful seller - Lilacs & Lollipops. They had heaps of HideAway breastfeeding covers in beautiful fabrics with very reasonable prices!

Lilacs and Lollipops were great to work with. When my HideAway breastfeeding cover arrived, I was so impressed with the quick shipping and I don't know what they scented the cover with, but it had the most beautiful (but subtle) scent for the next few washes!!

It is so easy to feed in public with this cover. It fits right around my neck with a little pop out top so I can see my little man. Its also perfect to wear over his Baby Bjorn. He is one of those super stimulatable kids who is just always curious. Whenever he's tired and I pop the breastfeeding cover over his carrier, he falls asleep literally in about 30 seconds! Its breathable and I can peek down at him. PERFECT!

If you're a breastfeeding mom, i definitely recommend picking up one of these HideAway covers. It will seriously change your breastfeeding life!

Miracle Stain Remover

My baby happens to be a champion pooper. It generally happens about 7 minutes into his feed. He starts getting a big agitated at the breast and then pulls off entirely with this incredibly determined look.

Its then I know what's about to happen... and I wonder... how big will it be? Will my clothes be stained?

The rumble begins and can go for minutes and can be heard within a 10 metre radius at least. It can also be heard over the phone. I know because a vendor I was on the phone with commented on how loud it was. Embarrassing!? YES!

I hear about kids that store up their poops for days and then have these rippers. Well my son seems to have these rippers MULTIPLE times every day! And for a while there when he hit the 5 kilo mark, he seemed to be between nappy sizes and I was the victim of blowouts several times every day!

Now, when I find myself covered in the yummy yellow mustard sauce courtesy of my son, I am so diligent to soak it in nappy san immediately and then put it in the wash. Unfortunately, we have still succumbed to some stains. I thought all was a loss until my girlfriend heard about our misfortune and offered me her "EXIT" stick to borrow.

This little stick looks very humble and almost homemade. But let me tell you, it is a miracle worker! My yellow clothes suddenly turned back to their beautiful shades of blue, green, gray, and yes, even white in under 60 seconds.

According to their website, "EXIT INSTANT STAIN REMOVER is 100 % biodegradable, compact and portable, and is a safe and very effective mutli-purpose stain remover suitable for a wide range of stains made by blood, biro, boot polish, grease, lipstick, red wine and many other household stains.

The active ingredient is a by-product of the citrus juice industry and is a natural substitute for most other organic solvents, this results in a safe yet very effective stain removing soap."

Exit Soap is a new must-have in my house and I recommend it for yours too!

From one pooped out mommy to another,

We Want to PUMP! YOU UP! (My Double Electric Breast Pump Has Arrived!)

Yes, I have been so eagerly awaiting the day that my Medela InStyle Double Electric Breast Pump would arrive! I absolutely adore breastfeeding my little boy, but I am also a working mom. While I am blessed enough to be able to work from home and also have an area to bring my son to work, there are times when meetings are on and I need to leave bub with someone else to take care of him.

Because I've been breastfeeding exclusively, I've really been hesitant to use formula even for those occasions I had to leave my baby with someone else. I know breastfeeding is not for everyone but since it is something that is working for us, I wanted to maintain what was going into my son's body.

My pumping journey has been a bit on the hilarious side.

1. First, I tried a manual pump from a friend. I started out very optimistic., picturing an abundant flow milk pouring from my bosom. Then came the reality check. After about 15 very uncoordinated minutes, I found myself with a cramped hand, and an ounce of milk. I was so discouraged!

2. I then rang the chemist as I heard they hired out electric pumps which would hook up into this manual pump. I had to ring a few places before I found success and it was $30/week! Great for a once-off but not a good long-term solution at all.

3. A couple of days later I happened to be at a friend's house. She was moving out of the country and had a few items to get rid of so I was stoked to see that one such item was a electric (battery operated) pump. This was the funniest experience to date. I hooked up, convinced this was going to be the pump that changed my life. As soon as I got it connected, I cried out in pain! It literally felt like my nipple was going to fall off! I finally understood women who say they have great pain in breastfeeding and immediately felt horrible for them! Determined as I am, I continued to try but no milk came out. My midwife happened to be coming the following day for a home visit so I asked her about it. After showing her what I was going, she said, "First of all, this pump is too small for your nipple." (Hence the awful ripping feeling!) None the less, the battery faded out within the time that it took to try and show my midwife so I gave up on that one!

4. My husband and I decided to suck it up. We have been very thrifty with our "Baby Bonus" but this was going to be worth it. We did lots of homework online - and asking other breastfeeding moms - and decided to go with the Medela In Style Breast Pump.
Even the packaging indicates that THIS is the real deal! It arrived in a beautiful backpack with a compartment for the actual pumping mechanism on the bottom and a section at the top for bottles and the cooler bag (included.) There are all kinds of practical compartments which really excites an organised mom like me. It even came with a manual pump just in case!

My first pumping experience was in the evening and my baby was going through one of those big eating stages. He had all but sucked me dry but I still managed to pump 2 ounces. I couldn't believe how comfortable it was compared to the other pumps I had tried! It felt like a miracle and I waved the milk in my husband's face in joy!!

I now pump regularly to keep up a stock for those just in case times and always have a great yield in record time and with a lot of comfort.

Its a real blessing. This morning, our baby woke up about half an hour early. Being the weekend, my sweet husband grabbed him and gave him a bath while I kept sleeping (yes, exhausted from the other 3 times I had fed him in the night!). I started to hear my son's hunger squack but by the time I had come out from bed, there was my wonderful husband feeding our baby a bottle.

We love our Medela In Style Advanced Breast Pump and would DEFINITELY RECOMMEND it!

Happy feeding times!

Let's Get Our Jog On!

Who isn't eager to get out after that baby and lose that tummy!? I didn't gain much excess weight, but I really am not into the little "souvenier" that is hanging on my almost flat tummy!!

That's why I was thrilled when we received the "City Elite Stroller" as a gift for our new baby. I love walking and tolerate jogging because I know its good for me... and I love doing it with my little one inside his pram!

This pram is FABULOUS! In my pre-baby days have helped numbers of friends get their prams in and out of cars and always feel like the most incompetent child-carer because I can never seem to get them to fold or open. Literally the very first time I used the City Elite Stroller, I was able to both open and close it - with their patented one step process. It was SHOCKINGLY easy! It left me feeling like the most confident mom in the world! (Heck yes, I can do this!)

Its also very lightweight, and even though our tiny, fuel efficient car doesn't have heaps of boot space, we are able to pop one wheel off to fit easily in the tiniets of compartments.

Other things I love?

• The easy grip handle bar... with adjustbale heights
• The locking front wheel for easy navigation
• The quick-tap locking break right at the back
• Ventilation options for our very hot climate
• The padded (and nearly fully reclining seat) - perfect for resting on the go
• The efficient shade cover for the hottest of days and good sleeps for my little one
• The ability to add on cupholders and other accessories
• The ability to add on a toddler seat
• TWO storage compartments

We have used the City Elite on dirt trails, roads, and concrete pathways and we love it! Most importantly, our little one is very happy in side!

The kangaroo and I both have our "joeys"!

You can purchase your own City Elite Pram on Amazon!

Well on my way to loosing that tummy,

Sleep in (Adorable) Peace

I am not the mom who found I was pregnant and went out and bought anything and everything. I love organisation and detest clutter. As much as I love a good gadget, I was not about to fill my house with baby stuff I'd never use.

Add to that the fact that I'm (along with my husband) incredibly frugal. I had a candy stash that lasted me from holiday to holiday when I was little and saved almost every penny (literally! pennies still exist in the States) that I found.

So when it came to decorating my baby's room, I was not about to spend hundreds purchasing a matching set of cot sheets, wall hangings, nappy holders, and light switch covers.

I found a $6 set of cot sheets on a clearance sale at Spotlight, and as much as I love the clean look of all white, I just could not do that to my little baby.

In fact, I had one of those ridiculous preggo emotional outbursts about it to my husband one day. Sobbing in the car I irrationally asked him, "Am I already such a bad mother that my baby's room has no colour?! I have to do something!"

Fortunatley, my girlfriend mentioned that she had found an inexpensive - but awesome set of sheets at IKEA. Even though we don't have a shop in town and they don't ship, I hopped online and picked out my favourite set. The next time I knew a friend planning to go, I asked her if she would mind picking me up the set. She didn't and I have to say, I am stoked with how our little man's room turned out... for only $14 for the sheets!!

We chose this set for a few reasons:

1. The fab deal
2. Bright colours for stimulating our little one
3. Its not gender specific so in case our ultrasound proved wrong, we wouldn't be caught out... AND when we have number 2, it won't matter either way!
4. I loved the adorable little receiving blanket that came with it

We love it! Its super soft, washes well, and our little man looks very handsome sleeping on it.

May your penny-pinching be rewarded with fabulous results,

Soothie Soothes My Baby

Dummy. Pacifier. Binkie. I'll be honest. No matter what you call it, I was the kind of mom who said I'd NEVER give my baby any "sleep aides."

And then I actually became a mom... of a crabby baby.

Let me tell you, things changed FAST. I know they say that crying is healthy. "Its your baby's way of communicating." "Its your baby's only form of exercise." But every mom knows, sometimes you're just desperate to help your baby calm down.

Fortunately, my mom was about to fly across the Pacific to the land down under and before she left, my sister (who has been through just about every pacifier in the shops) handed her a two-pack of Soothies as she was leaving.



According to the manufacturer's website, "Soothie is a premium pacifier designed for newborns and babies without teeth who are successfully bottle or breastfeeding. Its one-piece construction adheres to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines."

From a mom's point of view, my first thought was, "I can't believe I'm succumbing to this." The second was, "Wow. My child looks ridiculous!" HOWEVER, when I saw how happy it made him, I was stoked! The Soothie is small enough to fit in his mouth and flexible enough to feel pretty close to the real deal. When he's not hungry but wanting to suckle, this is the perfect solution. Plus, it gives Daddy a way to help soothe him too. Good for bonding and to give mom a rest.



The best part is, Soothie's are very affordable. You can purchase them online at a number of outlets including, The Preemie Store. A 2-pack is only $4.29 (USD) and they ship to Australia!




Please comment if you know where to pick one of these up in Australia!