Got Mommy Friends?

After settling back into my life shortly after having my first child, I strongly began to feel the need again to socialize.  Like most people B.C. (Before Children), I had an active social calendar - dinners with other couples, coffee with friends, shopping, last minute pedicures, long, leisurely lunches, etc.

Eager to resume these social activities, of course, I picked up the phone to call my friends. 

However, after numerous conversations with my now categorized as child-less** friends, both on the phone and in person - I found a huge issue had arose.  In a lot of ways, it now felt to me as if we had nothing in common on the surface. 

While they still spoke of long nights out, shopping sprees and other "fun" things - I was consumed with thoughts of poopy diapers, laundry and just figuring out this whole new "mom" thing I had going on. 

Don't get me wrong or misunderstand - my friends are still wonderful, fabulous people and I am still friends with them today - however; I now had a baby and they did not.  And anyone who has kids knows what I'm sayin'.  It's not a bad thing, per se...it's just different. 

Oh, just let me explain.

Since I didn't have many friends who had children, I asked myself:  "Where can I find me some mommy friends?"

To the Internet I went and discovered a web site called Meetup.com.  I joined a lovely group of moms - some of whom I immediately connected with.  We went to parks, the local zoo, had play dates and I got a chance to socialize myself and my daughter while I still worked from home part-time.

However, I found that even in that large group, it was still hard to connect with another mom "just because" you both have kids.  I mean, you don't just randomly approach strangers in the store or in public and say - "Hey, I see you have a kid.  Well, I have a kid, too, so let's be friends!" 

Yeah...it doesn't work like that.  That would be weird. 

For a few months, I continued to be an active member of the group.  Then, after a short 8 months of having figured out be a mom to one baby, I became pregnant with my second child. 

At the same time, within the larger group of moms - a smaller group had inadvertently emerged with moms who had younger children.  We all started getting closer finding we had a lot more in common and became our own little network.  It was, and is to this day, VERY nice. 

Life went swimmingly along....until about a month prior to having my second child, I was faced with a career change.  This left me (yet again) in new waters which I had never swam before....and I almost sank.  In addition to the rough economy - finding a new career path in the marketing field in addition to being 9 months pregnant just was NOT going to happen! 

(Enter my current career of Newly Nested)

Thank goodness I had my wonderful husband, my supportive parents, friends and family... 

And, yes, you guessed it.

My group of mommy friends! 

So, what is the point of me sharing all this? 

First and foremost as a stay/work-at-home mom, and secondly, as a baby planner and advisor to new and expecting parents, it is important to address concerns and issues that may (or may not) arise as the result of decisions we make - i.e. staying at home versus going back to work*. 

As wonderful an opportunity as it is, at times, staying home can also be isolating.  If anyone would had ever said to me that being with my children all day was lonely, I would have called them crazy.  Even though I considered myself to be a very social person - this happened to me and I decided to DO something about it.

So, the point of all this is to not let it get to that point.  If you find yourself in a position like I was in - a new mom looking to connect with others - here are some ideas that will get you started. 

1. Go to Meet Up.  Like I said earlier, I found my mommy-saviors there. It's fast to sign up, free and will save your sanity!  There are new groups starting everyday. 

2.  Go to the park.  There's always some friendly moms there. (And some not so friendly ones) You'll quickly find who is willing to chat and those who are not.   

3.  The library.  Another great place to meet other moms is in the children's section.  

4.  If you're breastfeeding - visit La Leche Leauge to find a chapter near you. 

5.  Visit your local town or city's web site for classes for your kids.  I found another great friend from our local Toddler Gym Class at the Park and Recreation Department.  There's also Gymboree's and other kid-gyms or music programs to check out for finding other moms. 

Who knows - you may find a new "mom" friend in the least expected places. 

So, get out there and make some mom-friends! 

Note: This post was from my original blog I started in early 2010 and switched over to this site as my main outlet for information.  I felt it was worth updating and sharing.

**Since this post was originally written, one of my very best friends who was child-less at the time has since had her first baby!

*This post and the suggestions apply to working mothers also. I am speaking from my own experiences and am not looking to start the work at home versus stay at home debate.  I support motherhood. Period.

Product Review & Special Offer: Bamboobies!

Image found though Google image search

Within the past year, I have really gotten into Twitter.  I have to tell you that honestly, I'm glad I did! 

For a few reasons, actually.  First, I've been able to connect, follow and be followed by some really great people and companies - including a company called Bamboobies. 

A personal choice that I'd like to quickly share with you is that for me, it was important to first try breastfeeding before using formula when I had my children.  Fortunately, I was successful in doing so with both my children. 

At times, with success also comes struggle. 

And, like everything else in the world, there are a few things that can be annoying about logistics.  The same goes for breastfeeding. 

In the grand scheme of things, these annoyances aren't such a big deal - there are bigger issues in life.  But, while you're going through them with a newborn and you're sleep-deprived...it can be the worst thing in the world at that time. 

Okay, okay.  Back to the point! (And the $ saving offer below!!!!)

This is where this product, Bamboobies, comes into the picture.  I am officially going to file this product under my "wish I had this when my kids were babies" category. 

As I began to say above, one of my logistical annoyances was having to wear breast pads in the early months of breastfeeding.  I knew of other products that were re-usable or had other features to soothe sore nipples.  There's even a brand that collects the milk you leak to collect and save. 

And disposable pads I had used most certainly served their purpose.  However, if I didn't change them in a timely manner, they became, at times, uncomfortable.  Since I had an active toddler and a newborn, I was often busy and would always notice I became uncomfortable around feeding time or shortly after.  And the days I would go out to run errands, the breast pads, even underneath a shirt, showed their outline which just screamed "I'm nursing!" to the world.     

Now, I'm happy to learn and share, there is a better way for nursing moms to stay dry and comfortable.  All while staying eco-friendly, too!

Bamboobies are these amazingly soft, re-usable breast pads with a really cool name.  Made from sustainable, organic bamboo and being for your boobies - they're Bamboobies. 

Adorable.

They come in two styles - daytime (thin) and overnight (thick).  Both incredibly soft and absorbent.

Pretty sure this says it all:



Taken from the Bamboobies web site



I'm so thrilled to learn about these wonderful pads.  I'm very impressed with their functionality and their overall feel. 

I've already recommended them to my friends and now I have the opportunity to share with you and your friends! 

Now for the best part!  If you need some Bamboobies or know someone who does, I have a lovely offer for you!

Save 20% on your order using the code

Nested20

at the checkout.

I promise you that these are awesome and should you purchase a pair for yourself or someone you know - your friend and her boobies will thank you ;p  They also make great baby shower gift or just a small gift for any new mom! 

Note:  I was offered two pairs of Bamboobies free of charge by the owner.   However, my opinions are entirely my own and I agreed to review this product on my own time.  I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Big Day In Baby Planning!

The International Baby Planner Association (IBPA) is something I'm very proud to be a part of.  I was recently featured on their site for being a Premier Member! 

Today, the IBPA released that they have celebrated another successful year in establishing the Baby Planning & Maternity Concierge Services as a new industry. 

As an organization, the IBPA is the premier organization for professional baby planners and has truly established this industry to help and empower new and expectant parents. 

In keeping with professionalism and taking baby planning to the next level, the IBPA has joined forces with some of the best known experts and professionals in the country.  The IBPA's prominent Trusted Advisory board members are nationally known for their industry knowledge and include: Kara Forney founder of The Bump®, nationally recognized Pediatrician/Author Dr. Alan Greene, and organizations such as Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), Environmental Working Group (EWG), International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS) and Stroller Strides.

Here at Newly Nested (as well as with other professional baby planners) you can expect me to provide new and expectant parents with guidance, support and offering the best advice when it comes to choosing baby gear, furniture, and products, finding the best pre- and post-natal care, birth planning, nursery design, non-toxic/green baby care, childproofing, parent coaching and more.

As the the world changes and the baby planning industry continues to grow, so will the services baby planners offer.

For a list of the IBPA Premier Baby Planner directory featuring Newly Nested and businesses in the USA and abroad view it here: Premier Baby Planning Members.

You can find the full press release here. 

Also, today, in the world of baby planning, there was a new novel released by Josie Brown called The Baby Planner.  Josie wrote the book after being inspired by many professional baby planners in today's industry.

Additionally, Rosie Pope, a maternity apparel designer, mother of two and now a Reality TV star, has her show Pregnant In Heels premiere tonight on Bravo.  With a tagline of "Drama On Board", I'm sure the verdict is still out on the show.  But if it's like any other "reality" show - we'll have to take it as it comes.  But, I'll be watching!

Medela Acquires Bravado Designs

Medela, a leading company for breastfeeding products, acquired Bravado Designs.  Bravado makes nursing bras and accessories and makes nursing a lot more accessible - literally! 

I own and have personally used products from both Medela and Bravado Designs and I highly recommend them to my clients. 

I am looking forward to what these two companies will be able to offer together to pregnant and new parents to support breastfeeding.

I am also proud to be a Medela Mom Maven. 

My New Gig

I'm so excited to share that I'm a new writer for my local Patch.com site!  I'm the new featured "Mom's Talk" columnist.  It is a weekly column where I get to write about all things parenting, kids, babies, products, tips, tricks and more.  

See the feature of me on Cheshire Patch.

About Patch (from the web site):

Simply put, Patch is a new way to find out about, and participate in, what’s going on near you.
We’re a community-specific news and information platform dedicated to providing comprehensive and trusted local coverage for individual towns and communities.
We want to make your life better by giving you quick access to the information that’s most relevant to you. Patch makes it easy to:

• Keep up with news and events
• Look at photos and videos from around town
• Learn about local businesses
• Participate in discussions
• Submit your own announcements, photos, and reviews

Cribsie Awards Announces Winners

Image provided by Cribsie Awards web site


The Cribsie Awards are just like the Oscars - only for baby products.  However, for baby planners, it's kind of exciting!  After much anticipation over the long nomination process, collecting votes and waiting - the winners were announced today. 

From the best diaper bags to products mom's can't live without - every type of category was covered.  

Did your favorite products win?  A few of mine did and some of them did not.  :sniff: 

There's always next year, I guess!

See the full list of winners by category here.

Book Review: One Year To An Organized Life With Baby



Image courtesy of Regina Leeds site via Google images



Every now and again, I come across something - a product, web site or book - that I wish I had known about before I was pregnant and had my two children (currently ages 2 1/2 and 15 months). 

I often do not find these said items very often.  When I do, it's much like those Ah-Ha! moments where the sun shines down from the sky and glorious music plays in the background (you get the picture).

As part of my mission to be an informed mother, as well as a good baby planner, I am always more than happy to pass along these goodies.  It just so happens this new goodie fell into my hands just this past week.  

Fortunately, thanks to a new book, you do not have to experience the same wishes and woes I that have had when it came to finding a parenting/pregnancy book that is worth your time and money. 

One Year To An Organized Life With Baby is a book in a series from Regina Leeds,  a professional organizer for 20 plus years.  It is written with Meagan Francis, writer and mother of five children.  In a nutshell, this book is genuinely refreshing, helpful and complete in preparing for life with baby. 

However, you'll want to keep this book apart from the other "must-reads" you've come across or have yet to discover.  (Some are better kept un-read.  You'll have to email me if you want to hear some opinions)

Image via Google Image search



One Year is filled with great information from both the perspective of a professional organizer and a mom's perspective.  I found it to be a smart combination and collaboration of ideas for the solutions and suggestions you'll find in the book.  From the easy to follow break down of pregnancy by weeks and what to do and when coupled with the time lines and checklists, it is one of those books I wanted to grab my highlighter and dog-ear page after page.  However, I could not bring myself to do so to this book - it's far too pretty to do that to!  So, I opted for those Post-It Flags instead :) 

One quote I found early in the book that really struck home with me was Regina recounting a conversation with a client.  The client said: "I get organized on a regular basis, but it never lasts." Regina responded with this (which I love and is totally me): "You didn't get organized. You tidied up."  Let it sink in...repeat.  Not organized, just tidied up.  Big difference.  I found myself implementing their advice immediately. 

Then, as I kept going through chapter by chapter, I found wonderful things in this book.  They touch on topics ranging from green cleaning to co-sleeping to fun and creative ideas and way too many to list.  Regina and Meagan also discuss and call attention to topics that are not always thought of in the grand scheme of having a baby - including sections on remembering to focus on your partner and making mom's emotional and physical health a priority.  From personal experience, I can say both of these can get lost when you're caught up in the utter cuteness of your newborn baby and all the change that comes with it.

All of which are presented with bits of humor and realistic advice.  There are checklists for everything you need to get organized for real and not just simply tidy up.  It is truly atop my new must-have resources for new and expecting parents. 

Hopefully after reading this book, you'll find yourself wanting to buy this for all your friends and family who are currently pregnant or even those who have had their babies.  

While I tell my clients that nothing can truly prepare you for life with baby (except your baby), I do feel you can do your best to educate yourself through reliable sources as much as possible.  I share my knowledge of products, tips and tricks with everyone to the best of my ability and cut out much of the leg work and research.  However, this book comes pretty close to taking what I feel is a great approach for preparing parents from pregnancy and beyond!

Note:  I was offered my own copy of One Year To An Organized Life With Baby for free by the author.  However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.