Trip Must Haves
We road trip and day trip a lot this time of year! So, I’ve put together a few things that are super helpful when we travel. These are good for kids of all ages!
I pack food. Duh. More importantly, I pack fun food that we don’t normally have. It makes great entertainment and fun, and even works when you need a little bribe. So helpful on a trip. Pre-packaged stuff is handy too!
I pack mess free coloring. So simple, but so handy. And I don’t have to worry about clothes and car being destroyed or crayons melting. They make some awesome mess free goodies now, all are clear to begin and make color on the special pages. Viola!
Pack a bag within a bag. I take a fold up beach bag like this one. We stop to put our feet in the water at the beach? We can throw things we might need in here instead of taking a bigger, bulkier bag out. Anything sandy can be contained here too!
I pack a wet bag! Same idea, but wet suits or shoes won’t make a mess when contained in here!
I pack a few new or not-used-in-a-while toys. Dollar Tree is great for finding inexpensive and fun surprises to pack. This popper toy has been a road trip favorite this year (from Target).
I pack Tubby Todd Baby Fresh Spray. Mom of boys here. They can get real sweaty and stinky. What if we want to stop for dinner? Spray ’em down. Fresh boys! 😉 (you can use this link for 10% off too!)
I pack a portable fan. I’ve got one that clips to the stroller and this one that mists too in the diaper bag. Easy entertainment and so refreshing when we all need it!
I pack this multi travel bottle.
It holds 4 bottles inside. Perfect for sanitizer, soap, lotion, etc, but keeps them small and contained.
I pack our weighted blankets. Our favorites are from Moxie. These make car naps so easy and enjoyable. Aah, some peace and quiet! (You can also use code Jess15 for 15% off here!)
Hope these are helpful! Happy road tripping!
Also, if you want my bigger list of toddler travel must haves, see the post here!
XX,
Jess
Toddler Packing
I’ve posted before about baby must haves and essentials, and talked about diaper bag supplies for babies, but what about when babies become toddlers?! Little different, right?!
No worries, I’ve rounded up everything I pack for a trip out with my toddler. All very handy!
Don’t worry, I’m an over packer, you can pick what you think would be helpful from the list. 😉
First, diapers, wipes, changing pad and extra change of clothes. Even if you toddler is potty training or has learned, these are super handy for emergencies. Believe me, I know. Also, a folding potty seat. Game changer. (This changing pad is so nice, and super wipeable/cleanable! )
Feeding supplies. Always snacks and water. I bring an extra bottle to refill our cups too (and use code Jessimarie15 on Swig bottles and mugs! 🙌) Having a bib, even if grown out of them at home, is super handy for keeping nice clothes tidy. I stash a fold up plate and silverware too, for when the eating situation is less than toddler friendly.
Also, these cups from Elk and Friends have solid lids that make packing snacks super easy too! 👌
This is where face wipes and wash clothes come in handy. And kid friendly sanitizer.
I always have safe sunscreen and bug spray. Plus Fight Bite is amazing for taking away bug bite and poison ivy itch!!
Bandaids and medicine are a must! These metal kits from Welly come loaded and are so handy. I buy the bandaid kit and med kit and swap half and half to put in places like the diaper bag, car, camper, etc. Their meds include stomach soother, fever relief, and allergy relief. And are rated for ages 2 and over. So handy!!
I like to pack a pouch of toys that the kids rarely see so that they are interesting. And soft headphones. So handy when they need to swipe my phone for entertainment.
A clip on fan for the stroller is helpful too!
And our Tubby Todd Dream Cream goes everywhere with us. Great for dry skin, rashes, etc and works for the whole fam. (This link saves you 10% automatically! 😉)
I also always add a mini CleanSmart spray. This guy disinfects surfaces with just a spray and is safe for the kiddos! CleanSmart and sanitizer both go in an easily accessible side pocket, not a pouch, for quick grabbing.
Our Lily Jade diaper bags are our favorite and their packing cases make great spots for all the things we need. I like to pack them by category. I even use one pouch for “mom stuff.” Think lip gloss, lotion, Tylenol, etc.
I also always add some Bumkins pouches. Handy to pack snacks or to stash things on the go. We’ve even filled one with shells and treasures on an adventure before. 🤣
Anything I’m forgetting? Always forgetting something. Hope this helps! 😉
Jess
XX
Best For Baby And The Environment
Two kids in and we’ve tried them all. Diapers. A must have. But they also must work. And I’ve found the ones!
First of all, these work. They do their job. I know that every kiddo is different and different things work best for each, but these are universally amazing. They have a slightly bigger fit, which seems helpful in preventing leaks! Daytime, and even all night, we have yet to experience a leak!
Next, they are easy on sensitive skin. Second babe gets rashy easily and diapers usually seem to add moisture and make this worse. Not these. Nest’s diapers are hypoallergenic, with skin-safe materials throughout. They are free of harmful chemicals and known allergens. Soft, super absorbent, and easy on all skin types.
Third, I want to use a brand that is more eco friendly. Nest’s diapers are made of all plant based materials- wood, bamboo cane, and are completely compostable.
Lastly, I don’t want to break the bank for something that ultimately is a toilet. These diapers are competitively priced! And that combined with how well they work and their benefits makes them the ultimate win!
Eco-friendly, sustainable materials, soft, absorbent, gentle on sensitive skin, affordable and mailed right to you…what else could you want in a diaper?!
Find them in select Meijer stores now. Or here on Amazon too!
XX,
Jess
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Must Have Baby Items You Didn’t Know You Needed
So many options when it comes to baby items now days! Its confusing and overwhelming. And some of those things you just plain don’t need to waste your money on. Here’s a list of things that you probably didn’t know you needed, but that I’ve found to be so helpful! Honestly!
Travel Plate- This has been one of the most handy inventions I’ve used with both the boys! Since it’s got it’s own case, I just fold up the dirty mat when we are out and put it back in the case to clean when we get home. So simple!
Travel Spoon– Handy when they are using purees and soft baby food still. You can fill this guy with food and there’s so much less mess! It’s even got a cover for the end.
Rubber Changing Pad– This one by Ubbi is so handy. Easy to wipe, roll, fold, it makes diapering on the go so much easier.
Roll-up Changing Clutch– I adore my diaper bag, but sometimes I don’t want to haul the whole thing if I’m just running in somewhere. This clutch can fit in my purse and get even smaller if I unzip the pad portion. Just the necessities for quick jonts!
Dream Egg Sound Machine– This is the most portable sound machine I’ve seen. Lots of noise and volume options, plus its wireless. Charge it and go. It can even be used in the car or stroller, etc. So handy for anyone, not just babies!
Baby Nest- There are lots of options out there, but we love ours from Doreen’s Bibs and Bobs. It’s cute, handy, and portable. We still use ours at almost age 2 and take it on trips too! It seems to keep kiddo nice and cozy.
Convertible High Chair– Seriously, if you going to use a high chair, make sure it’s convertible. I had an older Graco version for the oldest and this new model does so much more and therefore is so much more handy. It can be attached to a chair as a booster, the back can be removed for more space, the base itself can be a stool seat for older kids. It really has all the features we need, including folding up and the tray hangs on the back!
Tush Baby- One of the things I found with kiddo #2 is the Tush Baby and I love it! He always wants to be carried, but also get down and look. I’m sure you can all relate! This thing saves my hips and makes it easy to carry forward or backward, front or hip, and he can go up and down to his heart’s desire. So handy!
A Great Looking Diaper Bag- Ok, it’s not a necessity, but it sure does make momming a lot more fun. I’ve had many, loved several, but this Lily Jade bag takes the cake. Its gorgeous. Plus it can be a backpack, or the straps stow away to be a should or cross-body bag. It’s so spacious without being too big or heavy to carry too. I carry everything but the kitchen sink I’m here with me. Its officially my purse/ diaper bag. I just call that the mom bag. ❤
Hope these ideas help you too! Anything else you would add?
XX,
Jess
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Again For Mom ;)
I had to share Eshakti one more time. I couldn’t help it. They are just that awesome!
I was on the hunt for the perfect fall into winter dress… and knew just where to look. Eshakti! Plus, I’m on a major leopard kick right now! 🤣
Again I was able to fully customize this dress. The sleeve length, the hem length, the neck line, and even my size measurements. And again it fits perfectly and looks just like I had envisioned.
This one happens to be a crepe material, is double lined, has modesty buttons so that you can open up some in the neck or bottom, and has pockets too! Love!
I wore this out for my birthday dinner the other night and had so many compliments. I just can’t help but to keep telling everyone, its Eshakti, check them out!
Don’t forget that you can use code JESSI10 on their gorgeous dresses and clothes too!
XX,
Jess
Coolest New Gadget
I have a new gadget. I’m in love. Meet Lollipop baby camera.
This thing is so cool. We have always loved our baby monitor and it did a great job for years. But the battery is dying and we knew we needed something updated. Six years is quite a long time to use and abuse an electronic. We had heard awesome things about the Lollipop baby camera and really wanted to try it. So glad we got the chance!
First of all, how cute is this design?! I love the modern, simple look. They come in this blue, a pink, a yellow, and now they have a new gray cover option too.
The lollipop itself is bendable and can be posed or twisted to suit your needs and space. You can wrap it around the crib rail or twist it to perch on a shelf. It also came with a little branch to attach to the wall to wrap it around and an attachment that holds the end wrapped around a crib rail. This is what we have used here.
So not only is this guy cute and fun, but he’s also so versatile! This actually makes traveling with this monitor much easier than with our old one. We can simply twist and place in a new location, no charging station or monitor screen to bring… because of the other perk… it shows to an app on your phone!
Yes, that’s Barrett all curled up in the corner. 🤣 Silly goose. But I can see him, hear him, and monitor everything, right from my phone.
And since you use wifi… you can even access the picture when you are away from home! What?! I can check in on the kiddos even when we have a sitter!
It also alerts you of room environment factors like temperature, and if the baby is crying. You can zoom in. And you can record snapshots or video clips of what is going on.
I’m in love. It’s been a huge help for us! Check them out on IG!
Xx, Jess
(I was gifted this Lollipop baby camera to try and review, however, all opinions are my own!)
Perfect Mama Gift
Are you a mom? Do you know one? This is something you will want to see! I have the perfect gift for a mama you know or even for yourself!
My new necklace by Forever Anniversary is a sound wave of a clip I recorded of my boys!
How amazingly sweet is that? This has got to be the ultimate keepsake!
Visit here for their custom soundwave necklace.
They have lots of unique and customizable jewelry options that are all stunning. I think they would all make amazing gifts. I personally adore the soundwave and all it represents for me, so I can vouch that any mama would love to receive one! 😉
My husband recorded my 1 year old saying “mama, mama” and then my 6 year old says “we love you.” I find it so sweet that I haven’t stopped wearing this since I got it!
It’s made of steel, and just gorgeous. The simplicity of it is stunning with any outfit. I love that it’s my little secret as to what it really means. 💙
Here is the clip of my boys, just so you can hear (not much to see) what I gave them to customize this.
You will not be sorry if you visit Forever Anniversaryfor your next gift or treat!
Xx, Jess
*I recieved this necklace from Forrever Anniversary in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own! 😘
Just for Mama
Had to share something else that I got to try out recently and fell in love with. Eshakti! They are an online women’s clothing store. They specialize in customize clothes to your specifications and size. And let me tell you, their dress selection is almost overwhelming! 😍
I was on the hunt for a dress to wear to my cousin’s wedding and found Eshakti just in time.
I was not only able to make sure my dress would fit my size and shape exactly, but I also chose to make a dress they showed as long sleeved into a sleeveless one. You even get to see immediately online what it will look like! Wow! And it came out perfect!!
I absolutely loved the casual vibe of this dress with an almost denim look to it and the white stitching. The dupioni silk and long length dress it up just enough.
But the point isn’t the dress. It’s that you can design whatever you want! And the perfect fit! Plus, they had it to me in under two weeks. I’m going back. For all kinds of clothes. I love them all!!
One last tid bit. You get all of this, without an exorbitant cost! It was totally affordable! I mean it. We are looking for the step-daughter’s prom dress there too.
Right now, use cose JESSI10 on your purchase too!! 😘
Xx
Jess
What’s In My Pump Bag
Well, no house projects finished recently. No fun ones at least 😂. I’ve been mom level busy lately. But, this post is for all of you other busy moms out there. I wanted to stop by and show you all what’s in my pump bag. I will also have a what’s in the diaper bag post coming soon. Hopefully sharing what works for me will help you all out too!
To start, I am using a Medela Pump In Style pump again with this baby. It’s not the best out there, but it works. Unfortunately, my favorite part with my first baby was that it came in a handy little backpack. This time, insurance decided that they no longer pay for the bag. Had I know that insurance will cover all or most of almost any brand pump, I would have chosen differently this time. But, I did not know this.
So, this brings me to choosing a bag to carry my pump and supplies in. I have to pump a lot now that I am back to work, so I need space for quite an array of things to come with me. I love the gorgeous Sara Wells pump bags. But, I initially grabbed what I had, and it has worked, so here I am. This is a Mary Kay bag I had. Big enough for everything, sturdy, straps that are long enough to sling onto my shoulder with one arm, and a zipper, for just in case. It’s also best suited to be a pump bag if the bottom is flat like this one. It would be even better if the inside were a wipeable plastic material, but the silky inside of this one cleans out ok when needed.
I keep a car plug adapter in my car at all times. I pump while I drive. A lot. Why not multitask during that time available? You can get these at Walmart.
So that brings me to my hands free pumping bra. I never used one of these last time, but it is super handy this time. This one is from Simple Wishes. I only use it when I dont have a stretchy bra on, so I didn’t need something super expensive or fancy. This one fit the bill with its low price and strapless zip-on design.
Water and snacks are a must have. These Coconut Butter Biscuits from Nature Valley are a big favorite right now. I also love my lactation bars from Oat Mama.
Nipple cream is also a must, especially at first. Now, I just carry a little packet for just in case.
The La Vie massager has been a huge help to me with this baby. It massages out clogged ducts, whclich I’ve had a bunch of, so it stays with me at all times
As do my Lactalite pump lights. I was using my cell phone to light up the flanges and make sure I had everything on straight at night. But when I saw these I knew they would be a life saver. Anything that helps me keep the room dark and quiet to not wake the babe is a win for me!
When I started pumping, I was barely keeping up with how much milk baby wanted. So I started trying lactation bars and supplements. Ask me anytime if you want more info on what I use. I am Hypothyroid, so I can’t take supplements with fenugreek in them. It limits my options a bit. But one thing that helped a lot is this oil roller all from Harper Apothecary called Mama Milk Boost.
I also started carrying this rose water Soothing Facial Mist from Garnier. Like all moms, I am exhausted right now and sometimes I feel even more drowsy when I pump. A little refresh with this spray helps perk me up!
I have this mini lavender hand lotion from Tree to Tub in there too. Not because you need it to pump, but because sometime it’s nice to have a little relaxing treat while you work so hard!
I carry a burp cloth because it is the perfect size to throw in and I need something to dry off or even wipe up any spills (gah!).
I also carry a notebook. This is not a necessity, but so handy. Your phone would also work. I jot notes while I’m tied down to the pump, and I also note how much I pump so that I can see progress and try to figure out what affects my supply.
Since my pump bag goes pretty much everywhere with me, even up to bed at night, I also throw in things I might need. Almost like a little diaper bag to go. For a while it was the aspirator, then it was a thermometer and tylenol, etc.
I dont carry spare pump parts, although it’s sometimes wise. I keep a few things like new membranes at home. When I am out for work I know that fortunately Medela stuff is carried at stores around me if an emergency ever arises. I used to carry a Haakaa pump for use while feeding on the other side when I was first starting out and often engorged. A manual pump is often also a good idea to carry or at least own in case of electricity outages and such. We did lose power one night in a storm and I had gotten rid of my manual, thinking I never used it. I ended up pumping out in the car in the storm. 
I do carry 2 Avent bottles to fill and if I am going to be gone for a while or it is hot out I bring a soft cooler bag (Dr. Brown’s) with ice packs. The other times, I leave my milk in the bottles in the bag. Milk can sit out fresh for up to 6 hours. I then feed it or refrigerate it. Makes things simple.
There you have it. I try not to get too weighed down with lots of stuff, but I have to have a few necessities.
What else would you add? And don’t hesitate to ask questions!
Make Mine Eclectic 