Mom Hack: Creating a Nursing Nest

For those new mamas that breastfeed, it can be an exhausting and draining ordeal at the beginning.  Expectations are high but reality is that's it's often much harder than expected.  One way to make it easier on yourself is to set up a "nursing nest" to make those marathon nursing sessions at 2AM (and all other hours of the day and night) easier to handle.  | This post contains affiliate links |

First you'll need to set up somewhere convenient and quiet.  I set up my "nest" in a corner of our master bedroom since our baby will be sleeping in a co-sleeper next to us and I wouldn't have to go far to nurse in the middle of the night. 

Then outfit this area with all that you need for nursing:

• cozy rocking chair with footrest
• side table within easy reach
• nursing pillow
• blanket
• water bottle
• extra pillow
• snacks (mine are tucked away in the drawer)
• clock
• phone charger
• lanolin cream
• books, magazines, kindle
• phone (watching Netflix on my phone was sometimes the only way I could keep myself awake)

By setting yourself up to make it as easy as possible, you can help make those super-tough early weeks a bit more bearable.  Breastfeeding can be one of the most challenging - and rewarding - things you'll ever do.  Hang in there Mama - you got this!  

Log Cabin pillow c/o Hills & Trails

A Family Outing with L.L. Bean (Diaper Tote Insert Review)

Whew, this post was a long time coming!  The end of our pregnancy really knocked me for a loop as did the reality check of having a newborn again (how you forget these things!).  So the past couple of weeks really has been a whirlwind.  Thankfully L.L. Bean had been kind enough to send me their new diaper tote insert to try along with their large boat tote bag and it's been so helpful to carry around our gear as a new family of four.  
| This post contains affiliate links as well as an honest review of products provided by L.L. Bean |

Since we got home from the hospital after the birth of our little one, we've kept our outings pretty minimal - grocery store, doctor appointments, school, that sort of thing.  But now that momma is feeling better and baby has been doing well it's high time we get back outside and enjoy this beautiful weather before the snow flies.  

So much room and so easily organized!

Packing a diaper bag is always a little tricky - and even more-so when you have both a newborn and a toddler!  After all, you don't want to be caught without a necessity, but you don't want to overpack either.  Thankfully using the Diaper Tote Insert has made packing so much easier.  In the insert I am able to pack all the necessities like a changing mat (which is included!), diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for the newborn, small first aid kit, nursing cover, bottles, etc - all in handy pockets and zippered compartments.   (NOTE: This Reviewed Diaper Tote Insert is no longer available, however L.L. Bean has an amazing new Diaper Bag to check out HERE.)

After the Insert is packed it's easily interchangeable between a Medium or Large Boat Tote Bag, depending on what fits your needs best.  We've found that putting the insert in the Medium Tote works perfectly for grocery trips, school drop-offs, errands etc.  The insert fits snuggly inside with all your necessities.  

For longer outings we've really loved putting the insert in the Large Tote (with long handles), which allows for extra room along each side of the insert as well as at the bottom of the bag.  This additional room gives plenty of space for extra changes of clothes, blankets, toys, etc and the long handles make it a breeze to carry, even if you're juggling two kids.  

By using the Boat Tote Bags as diaper bags, they really pull double duty!  Their classic looks never go out of style and by going with a simple last initial monogram for the large bag, it becomes something that will grow with us and can be repurposed by anyone in our family.  By picking something classic like this you’ll be able to use it for many years to come!

(If you are looking for other ways to organize your Boat Tote bag, you can also use a canvas zip pouch or a tolietry organizer.)

This past weekend we finally got out of the house as a family of four and headed to do something fun - and what better way to take advantage of this beautiful day than spending time down by the lake and hitting up the playground before visiting family.  

Since we were going to be out for the full day, I made sure to pack the insert in the Large Boat Tote so I could pack extra supplies for everyone - and it's a good thing I did!  Right before we left our toddler got her pants all dirty playing in the wet sand at the edge of the water so it was great to have clean clothes packed for her for the rest of the day.  

We had a lot of fun exploring around this brick boathouse from the 1900's!

Diaper Bag Must-Haves

• changing pad

• diapers

• wipes

• baggies for dirty diapers and soiled clothes

• nursing cover

• change of clothes for baby

• small first aid kit

• hand sanitizer

• wrap carrier

• pacifier (and a backup one!)

• snacks and water for mom and older siblings

• bottles

• formula

• a small receiving blanket or swaddle blanket

• small toy or book

Overall, having the versatility of this diaper tote organizer has been so helpful!  And I especially love that I can easily switch it between bags on the way out the door to best fit our needs for the day.  

Click here to Shop: This Reviewed Diaper Tote Insert is no longer available, however L.L. Bean has an amazing new Diaper Bag to check out HERE | L.L. Bean Boat Tote Bag

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- I received the Large Boat Tote and Diaper Tote Insert from L.L. Bean but all opinions expressed are my own.  Please see our full Disclosure Policy for more information.  Thank you to L.L. Bean for providing these items to me for review. -   

All outdoor photos by Adrian Pelletier Photography.  

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Back-to-School Lunch Ideas with Parenting New Hampshire Magazine

School is starting back up and that means it's back to the daily grind of packing lunches for most parents.  Parenting New Hampshire magazine interviewed myself and few other NH-based bloggers for our "Brown-Bag Makeover" tips and tricks.  

You can pick up a copy of this publication at many locations across the state, or read the article HERE online. 

"Brown-Bag Makeover" | Parenting New Hampshire Magazine

How to Best Help Those Affected by Hurricane Harvey

Helping in the Wake of Natural Disaster... 

After having helped with Hurricane Relief work after Katrina, I encourage anyone who wants to help with donations to give monetarily to charities, instead of donating supplies and "stuff."  Unfortunately the generosity of stuff tends to overwhelm distribution centers and so much ends up going to waste.

A few months after Katrina we threw away dumpsters-full of food, clothing, and school supplies - not because it wasn't wanted or needed but because the distribution center was overwhelmed with too much random stuff to organize and distribute in a timely fashion and sadly all these donations were quickly ruined by mice and water damage.

Please donate money instead so they can buy and coordinate what they essentially need right now and don't overwhelm them further logistically. 

Donate Now

This photo is one we took in 2006 on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, taken a few months after Hurricane Katrina.  

In The Final Stretch!

If I'll be very honest, these last two or three weeks of pregnancy have really kicked my butt!  For our first pregnancy, I worked 10 hour days in a doctors office up until the day after my due date.  This time around these last few weeks have been plagued by nearly constant Braxton Hicks contractions, ligament pain, dizzy spells, a terrible head cold, and now ocular migraines.  Second pregnancies definitely can be a whole different league than first pregnancies - I could write a whole post on this (and probably will later).  But in a nutshell, this is why I've been so MIA on the blog and Instagram lately, even though we're still waiting for the baby.    
| This post contains affiliate links as well as products provided for review by L.L. Bean |

Photo by: Adrian Pelletier Photography

For every "ailment" I've had these last few weeks the remedy from my doctors has been the same - "lay down and take it easy."  Which is much easier said than done when you've got a toddler and a million-and-one things you want to finish up!  Overall though we've been blessed with a healthy pregnancy so I really shouldn't be complaining.  

One thing I've been slowly working on these last few weeks is finally packing our hospital bags! L.L. Bean was kind enough to send me their new diaper tote insert as well as one of their iconic boat and tote bags and I'm looking forward to sharing a full review post with lots of pictures as soon as I can. For now I'll just say I'm really loving how spacious and organized everything is and how versatile this diaper tote insert and bag will be!

Packed and ready!

| L.L. Bean Large Boat + Tote c/o L.L. Bean | L.L. Bean Diaper Tote Insert c/o L.L. Bean | aden + anais Swaddle Blankets | Tiny Sheep (part of a Baby Stella doll set) |

Once I come back to the blog from maternity leave I'll be sharing lots more on this amazing bag and insert as well as featuring some more great New England-based businesses and makers - stay tuned!  

- I received this diaper tote insert and boat tote bag for review from L.L. Bean but all opinions expressed are my own.  Please see our full Disclosure Policy for more information -   

DIY Teacup or Dish Bird Feeder

You might remember a previous post where I reused a repaired coffee mug as an herb planter in the kitchen.  Well this year I decided to transform that mug one more time into a little bird feeder for a focal point in the flower garden.  

Supplies & How-to:   

The supply list really couldn't be more simple - all you need is a mug, bowl, or plate, a wooden dowel, a rubber cap, and some super glue!  That's it!  

I had my husband paint the wooden dowel with a couple coats of white outdoor paint first (normally I would have painted it, but the outdoor paint isn't recommended to be used by pregnant women).  I wanted it painted to give a bit more of a finished look and to help make sure the dowel lasts longer outdoors.  

Then with a little bit of Super Glue, I attached the rubber cap to the bottom of the ceramic mug.

By having the mug be removable from the dowel, you can easily pound the dowel sturdily into the ground with a small mallet or hammer then add the feeder once the dowel is in place.  It also makes it easy to clean out the feeder regularly.  

Since we've had bears frequent our neighborhood lately, I will just be filling the mug with water for now for birds and butterflies to drink from.  Once the bears go into hibernation again I will be able to safely fill it with bird seed for our feathered friends.  

Overall I'm happy with how this simple project came out - it adds the perfect touch to our flower bed!  

Amazon Prime Day Sales Start Tonight!

Amazon Prime Day deals start tonight at 9PM! I'll be sharing some of my favorite deals here over on Facebook so stay tuned!  Prime Day is a great time to get ahead on Christmas and birthday shopping and to finally get that something special for yourself too.  

Not a Prime Member? Sign up for a FREE 30-day trial HERE (affiliate link) and take advantage of all the sales over the next two days.

Creating and Maintaining a Monthly Budget {Free Excel Spreadsheet}

With baby #2 coming, we've been more mindful than ever about where our money is going and working hard to stay on-budget.  By closely keeping track of everything we're getting a better idea on where everything is going and where we can shave off a few dollars.  With only one income and a lot of expenses (both expected and unexpected) it can make it very challenging to stay on-budget each month.   | This post contains affiliate links. |

Here I've shared a more simplified version of the spreadsheet we use (since we're self-employed we also need to set aside money for quarterly taxes and other expenses).  You can change the Expense titles in the left hand column to fit your needs, but I've tried to include all the basic expenses that most young adults will have.  

Next replace the monthly Income in the example with your own monthly income (I had to put in a number here as an example so the formulas wouldn't result in error).  Then go down the Budget column and fill in what you expect or budget your bills to be.  As your bills come in, put in these figures in the Actual Spent column.  All of the percentages and totals will auto-update as you fill in the chart.  

Over the course of the next few months, you'll see how your expectations (Budget) line up with reality (Actual Spent) and will be able to identify trends.  Maybe you spend more for Gas than you thought you did.. or maybe you realize that you spend too much on Entertainment and should put some of that towards other bills...?  Keeping track of where everything is going is very eye-opening and will help you stay ahead.  The most important thing is writing everything down and sticking to it!  

In the event the doing an Excel spreadsheet isn't your thing, there are also many great paper-based Budget Planners/Trackers you can buy out there! I haven't used it myself (yet), but I have heard great things in particular about this highly rated Budget Planner Notebook.

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Check out some of our other Money Saving posts:  

• Making it Work on One Income: Becoming a Stay-at-Home Mom

• How to Save on Health Insurance & Medical Bills

• How to Save Money on Groceries - Rural Edition

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