{lines we love} 4moms Origami stroller

Posted on April 19, 2012 by cara

The other day we were blessed with a little sunshine here in the PNW and I met a girlfriend for lunch at one of our downtown parks with her little one in tow. We enjoyed some much needed vitamin D, pellegrino & food from one of my favorite lunch spots (Flying Elephants Delicatessen) while the little man toddled around the (empty) fountain.

It was during that little lunch date she told me about this AWESOME stroller, the 4moms Origami. It’s powerfolding at the touch of a button, generators in the rear wheels charge the Origami (and even your cell phone!) while you walk, lights on the front wheels illuminate your pathway, plus there is TONS of storage. Not to mention, it’s pretty, sleek, and comes in so many fun colors.

Starting at $850 it’s no bargain however it is similarily priced to other high-end strollers on the market and I think you would agree that this one has a whole lot of fab features for the price!

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{registry essentials} on a budget

Posted on April 18, 2012 by cara

Last week we talked about registry essentials (in addition to my guilty pleasure, 16 & Pregnant!) and how to gather all the products you need without sacrificing quality and style or breaking the bank.

Starting with a budget of $1000, we put together a list of great products that will satisfy most registry needs (even basic nursery pieces) sure to please the aesthetic sensibilities of  any mama-to-be! Granted, most babies will need a lot more than this but the items on our list will get you off to a great start.

Money Saving Tip: Wait on buying many clothes for baby (including layette items) until later in your pregnancy. Odds are you’ll receive baby gifts and people just LOVE giving baby clothes! Instead, use that money for additional registry items or save it for things like diapers after baby is born. 

Now the fun part – the goods:


More money-saving tips: Use what you have for towels, washcloths & tummy-time mats. Borrow carriers/bouncers/jumpers from friends whose little ones may have out-grown them. Also – utilize Thrift Stores & garage sales when you can. One of my girlfriends has scored 3 baby bjorn & 1 Ergo Baby carrier for just a few bucks from her thrifting efforts!

What are your favorite go-to registry items? We’d love to put together a list of readers recomendations to share with you so please let us know!

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on a budget, baby! (and guilty pleasures)

Posted on April 12, 2012 by cara

I watch 16 & Pregnant. I’ll admit it… I’m not proud, but I just can’t stop! We all have guilty pleasures when it comes to television and mine just happens to be a doozy. I usually laugh, then cry, then get a little bit horrified for a few minutes… then cry again. In the end, all I really want is to find out that there are back to back episodes on that night! I know what you’re thinking… you secretly watch it too.

It did however get the wheels turning while watching a 16 year old soon-to-be-mama trying to put together a budget for all the supplies she would need for baby. It’s not just teen parents who can have a tough time when it comes to affording the necessities for a little one. There are so many awesome products on the market today but the reality is that many of them come with a price tag that isn’t so awesome. In fact, they can be down-right terrifying.

So… I set out to create a list of products to fulfill all the basic registry needs within a reasonable budget without sacrificing quality, style & design. The next question however was what in the world is a “reasonable” budget? Well, if you can set aside $25 a week for the duration of your pregnancy (assuming it’s 40 weeks) you would end up with $1000 to spend. Let’s go with that, $1000 to spend preparing for baby. Let the challenge begin!

Babies need a lot of stuff. Even for the most minimalist mama you end up with more stuff than you ever intended. I knew that quality, functionality, and design/style were going to be just as important to choosing the products on this list as the price of the item. Just becuase something is a good deal doesn’t make it the right product for everyone even if you’re on a tight budget.

I learned a long time ago that an important part of deciding to purchase something (especially if it was more pricey than you would normally choose) is cost per use, not simply price tag. Do you buy the $40 shoes you only wear twice because they KILL your feet or the $100 shoes you keep for 3 years and wear dozens of times? Cost per use, baby! It’s genius. Shoes, another guilty pleasure. Weird!

Stay tuned as we explore how to put together a fabulous collection of items sure to please  both mama and baby on a budget. Do you have some favorite items you recommend to new moms? Please share them with us!

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{registry essentials} baby gear basics

Posted on April 10, 2012 by cara

{Registry essentials} continued today with baby gear basics. Take a peek at some of our favorites below!

Humidifier: Crane Drop Shape Cool Mist Humidifier ($49.99) Changing Wallet: Jonathan Adler Skip Hop Pronto Changing Station ($34.00) Stroller: Bugaboo Bee ($699) Toys: Under the Nile Veggie Toys ($32.00) Comb & Brush Set: Ore Originals  ($15.00) Art Cards: Wee Gallery Jungle Collection ($12.95) Baby Cream: California Baby Calendula Cream ($15)

Baby Gear, Health & Bathtime Basics:

  • 6-8 pacifiers
  • teething toy(s)
  • baby 1st aid & grooming kit
  • 6-10 washcloths
  • baby tub
  • infant bath products & lotions
  • carrier (Baby Bjorn, Moby, Ergo, etc)
  • stroller
  • carseat
  • monitor
  • bouncer/lounger/swing
  • diaper bag/changing wallet

Earlier this week we explored registry basics for the layette & feeding. Admittedly the broad category of “gear, health & bathtime” can contain any number of things but hopefully this little list will help you get started when it comes to determining just what is a “must-have” and what is in the “skip it” category for your and your family.

In the future we hope to share a little list of readers top 10 recommended registry items so we’d love to hear from you!

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{registry essentials} feeding basics

Posted on April 9, 2012 by cara

Next up on the list of registry essentials: feeding basics! The feeding choices you make for  your baby will largely determine the gear you need. Take a look at some of our favorite producst below & a checklist to help you with your own registry.

Feeding Chair: Prince Lionheart bébéPOD  ($49.95) Nursing Pillow: Boppy Bare Naked Pillow ($26.99) Boppy Blissfully Soft Slipcover ($19.99) Snack Bags: Itzy Ritzy ($12.99) Burp Cloths: Bumkins Organic ($8.69) Bibs: Circo 10-pk ($12.99) Utencils: Boon Modware 3 Pack Utensils ($11.99) Bottles: Born Free Glass Bottles 3-pk ($26.99) Drying Rack: Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack ($14.99)

Feeding Basics:

  • 6-8 5oz. bottles
  • 6-8 9oz. bottles
  • bottle brush
  • countertop drying rack
  • feeding pillow
  • high chair or other feeding chair
  • soft baby spoons & bowls
  • 7-10 bibs
  • 6-10 burp cloths
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{registry essentials} layette basics

Posted on April 5, 2012 by cara

So I know I promised a week filled with nursery inspiration posts in all kinds of cheerful, Easter inspired colors but we’re going to switch gears for the moment. To be honest, I have a really fun inspiration board I’ve been working on with a red, orange & blue color pallette but it just isn’t turning out the way I want it to. So – with that in mind – I’ve decided to re-visit a project I started awhile back.

Starting a baby registry can be tough – and finishing one is even harder! Especially for first time parents, the thought of where to start then where to go once you’ve started is intimidating to say the least. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll take a look at several categories most regisitries need like baby gear, nursery, feeding, etc. starting today with some basics for the layette.

I tend to like keeping things simple and uncluttered so I’m sure there are many things that could be added but this is a great place to begin. While items on the list are not neccessarily must-haves for everyone, there are some awesome products that will help get you started in putting together a wishlist for baby!

 

Sleep Gown: Tadpoles’ Cotton Sleep Gown, Target ($19.99) Bodysuits: giggle Better Basics Short-Sleeve Baby Body, set of 2 ($32) avail. in ivory, pink, blue Hat: Peek, Nordstrom ($8.00) Swaddling Blankets: aden + anais Swaddle Blankets, set of 3 ($39.95). Swaddle Designs Ultimate Receiving Blanket, ($16.50 – $46) Stroller Blanket: Little Giraffe, $86 Socks: Bibi & Mimi, set of 6 ($18.99) Footie: Nordstrom ($22.50)

Layette Basics:

  • 2-4 newborn sleep gowns
  • 6-10 cotton bodysuits (0-3 & 3-6)
  • 6-10 rompers & footies (0-3 & 3-6)
  • 8-10 pairs of socks (0-12 month)
  • 2 hats
  • 6-8 swaddling & receiving blankets
  • 2 stroller blankets

Coming soon: {Registry Essentials} baby gear, feeding & bath, nursery!

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Posted in baby gear, rave reviews, registry, showers | 1 Comment

{nursery inspiration} pink & green

Posted on April 3, 2012 by cara

This week continues with more nursery inspiration {under $600} in pinks & greens!

Curtains: Malin Figur, IKEA, $40. Chloe Gauze Curtain, $20. Mobile: Flensted Rabbits, $33.50. Dresser: NYVOLL 3-drawer, $179. Textiles: Bird Organic Blanket, $40. giggle Better Basics Fitted Crib Sheet, $40. Rug: Sheepskin, $30. Pouf: Knitted, CB2, $90. Crib: Gulliver, $99.

Total: $492.50

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