5 Must Haves: For a Suburban Mom

Hi lovelies. Meet Jen.
The gal I'm about to introduce to you is so smart, talented, adorbs, successful, helpful, sweet as pie, and... a fantabulous, "pseudo" blog mentor! While the title is not official, she (along with her awesome hubs!) were instrumental as I got this blog up and running. And, they continue to be.

Beyond that, I'm so freaking impressed how she does it all. She has the super popular blog, TheSuburbanMom, does freelance projects and is a full-time mama to a totally adorable little blondie. Is that photo precious or what?? 

So, you can imagine my excitement when she more than happily agreed to guest blog on my little ol' thing.

Check out, in her words, 5 must haves... for a Suburban Mom (and other non mamas, too!)

Hi gals, I am so excited to have been asked to share TheSuburbanMom’s 5 must haves. As a busy mom of a toddler juggling working from home, blogging, keeping house and more, I am always looking for products to make my world easier and more fun! My 5 must haves are all things that fill both needs, and I can’t live without them.

Laptop
My number one must have is my laptop. Call me a geek, but the ability to stay connected sitting on my couch, at the kitchen table, in the play room or even on the road is imperative to help me juggle life. Once upon a time, I was an avid paper scrapbooker, today even my passion as a scrapbooker has gone digital. Forget the manly, simple grey laptop, I recently upgraded to a girly, fun pink laptop. Practical and cute, I even incorporated it into my blog’s logo! Yes, my laptop is my must have.

Reusable bags
I am obsessive about using reusable bags. I don’t think of myself as super granola, but at the same time eliminating waste and helping to preserve the world around us is something I think everyone should be passionate about. (Hello, have you seen Wall-E?). Reusable bags are one way I eliminate waste on an almost daily basis. At first I balked at the idea of having to carry my own bags around, now I can’t live without them. In fact, I have an entire arsenal of bags for various uses. If you are interested in learning more about using reusable bags, check out My Green Bag Story. If you are still stuck using throw away bags, I encourage you to take reusable ones on a test drive. I promise they are prettier and more functional!

 

Coupon organizer
Another must have for TheSuburbanMom is a good coupon organizer. If being a stay-at-home mom (now a work-at-home mom) has taught me anything, it has taught me the real value of coupons. When your budget is streaked thin, you look for creative ways to make it stretch a bit further, and I have become an expert at using coupons to do this. But with everything going on in my life, if I didn’t have a good organization system there would be coupon scraps all over the house. While my organizer isn’t very pretty, it is super functional and it helps me afford the pretty things we want.

Pandora bracelet
I ♥ my Pandora bracelet. Seriously, it is a must have for any gal. I got my bracelet for my 30th birthday, and now my husband automatically knows something he can buy me for each holiday (without spending a fortune). A charm ranges from $25+ (the gold ones are +$100, but I am a silver girl anyway), so it makes a nice little gift, and I love looking at my bracelet remembering each occasion. In fact, my whole family has gotten into the act – my mom, sister (not a mom), cousin, (not a mom) MIL, SIL and nice (also not a mom) all have Pandora bracelets and love to receive charms for them. Pandora is stylish, fun and practical for hubbies who have a hard time shopping for us ladies!

Baby wipes
My final must have might make you laugh… I MUST have baby wipes! Even though my daughter is (recently) out of diapers, I cannot envision a day when I will not carry baby wipes in my car and purse. They are a must for cleaning little hands, wiping off tables at restaurants and so much more. Of all the products for babies, this is one product that is great at any age. Go baby wipes!
TAGG tip: I have to brag for a moment on behalf my fab friend, M. See the baby on the Huggies "naturally refreshing" wipes? Umm yeah, that's her little girl, A!! How stinkin' cool is that?! VERY (if you ask me).

5 Must Haves: For a Chic Mama on the Go

Meet Kristin. She, along with her bff, are the incredible force behind BonBon Rose Girls. I "met" Kristin" on Twitter and instantly fell in love with her blog, her style and her warm personality. Wait. Do I have a girl crush? :) 

Must tell you, their blog kicks major ass! I suggest you check it out because, like The Average Girl's Guide -- they always have a random fun post up their sleeve! I'll let Kristin tell you a little bit more about herself, but from what I know... this girl is definitely worthy of the title, "a chic mama on the go," so this post is very fitting! And, please check out their site. You'll be thankful you did!

Here, in Kristin's words, are her five Must Haves for a Chic Mama on the Go!

Hi there! It's Kristin from BonBon Rose Girls. I'm so excited that I was asked to guest post on this beautiful blog! If any of you lovely readers are fellow mamas you can probably guess that I'm on the go...and on the go a LOT! Here are some things that help me get through the day when I'm on the move with my toddler P.I.C. (partner in crime) otherwise known as "The Dude."

A Large and in Charge Tote Bag

Longchamp Le Pliage at Nordstrom

One that doubles as a travel bag is most useful as I can cart around a Thomas the Train collection when tooling around the town with my kiddo or several fashion rags when I'm traveling!

Lip Gloss

Smashbox O-GLOSS at Nordstrom

I may not make it out of the house with a full face of makeup put on, but I never leave home without my gloss! A juicy bit of color brightens up my face and draws attention away from those ever present dark circles us mamas tend to have.

Super-Useful Pouches

Pouch at Kara Maria Sophia

I can't say enough about pouches. I have one that I keep my lip glosses in and it prevents me from having to dig through my bag when my time is better spent doing other things, like chasing down my runaway toddler. HAHA!

A Travel Mug

OXO Good Grips Travel Mug at Sur La Table

I have posted about the beauty of the travel mug on more than one occasion and I will continue to do so! I gotta have my coffee and one of these ensures that I can take it with me wherever I go and I'm being kind to the environment at the same time. It's a win/win situation people!

Wellies

Hunter Original Glossy Rain Boot at Bloomingdale's

I didn't realize how much I needed a pair of all weather boots in my life until I was in NYC last year in the middle of a blizzard. My bestie/bloggy partner/travel P.I.C. was toasty warm in her Hunters, while I was not. I don't live in NYC, but it rains here enough in Florida that I think I might be able to justify the expense. A girl can't properly get her errands done with wet feet!

Well, there you have it...my must haves for a girl on the go. What are yours, lovelies?

5 Must Haves: For a Stylish Mom on the Go

5 Must Haves... for a Stylish Mom on the Go!

Meet Brianna. A gorgeous, adorable, sweet, funny, smart and pretty sassy gal... oh, and a mom of a one-year old little cutie. As a stay-at-home mom (a "sahm" for those who like the lingo), she's constantly on the go with her girl yet is always looking totally put together. Personally, I'm impressed! As a mom of an almost one-year old (who hardly naps), I don't know how she does it. I have a hard time getting a shower in when it's just me and my cupcake!

Since Brianna can keep it together, it's a must that she share with us her secrets to looking good. If you're not a mom, share this list with girlfriends that are... they'll thank you!

In her words, here are Brianna's five-must haves for a stylish mom on the go:

Fabulous Flats

Before I was a mama I would throw on heels all the time: during the day, out to dinner, Sunday brunch, for just about anything. But now that I'm carrying around an extra 20 pounds of a delicious little girl, it just seems impractical. So, they key is to find good-looking flats. These by Sam Edelman make my outfit. They're comfortable but so stylish and have a bit of sparkle that make any outfit pop.  Being a new mom or even a veteran, these flats will do any outfit all the justice you and your stylish self deserve... and they're currently on sale!
TAGG tip: quantities are limited of these flats, so look for any flats with embellishments, and def. consider silver the perfect neutral for a flat. It goes with everything.

Diaper bag

Your diaper bag is essentially going to be the only bag you carry for at least a year after your baby is born, so having a stylish one is well worth the price. I am in love with the Timi & Leslie Marie Antoinette Diaper Bag. It comes in black, bronze and silver and is made out of a lightweight quilted nylon. It comes with a cross body adjustable strap to make carrying the bag and baby easier and it's way easier when attaching it to your stroller. There's also a changing pad (a necessity), an insulated bottle tote (for bottles on the run), two big side pockets so you don't have to worry about spills, six interior pockets (we all know digging through a diaper bag for a cell or keys while holding a baby isn't fun). And, if that's not enough it has a cute clutch for you inside too!!! The bag costs $120.99, which is a little pricey if you're on a budget but there's free shipping (yay!) and this is as an investment; it's something you will wear EVERYDAY... it's worth every penny!

TAGG tip: adoring this bag, and it's something you can use even sans baby if you don't feel like switching from a regular bag to diaper bag. Avoid baby patterns; you want something you can walk into Bloomies or Saks in and feel good. We say YES!

Hair ties 
Any new mama knows that having a little one means that your hair will be pulled if you are wearing it down. These AMAZING rhinestone hair ties ($4.80 for six colors...cant beat it!) will make you love throwing your hair back so you can enjoy your little bundle without getting yanked on.  With all the colors, you can coordinate with any outfit...even if you have to change after a spit up!

Stroller Pads/Liners

Getting a great stroller is key, but even more important is the pad you get to personalize your stroller... and keep your big purchase clean. Stroller pads are also available as car seat covers and can really save you a lot of time if your munchkin has a bad accident or gets food all over the seat or stroller. It's not a fun chore to wash those seats so throw a stylish pad on top and not only will it make your life easier, it will make your seat look fabulous too!

Brianna's recommended boutique: http://www.purejoycollection.com/; she loves the black and pink hearts style ($65.95).
TAGG tip: as tempted as you are to buy a gender-specific color for your stroller or car seat, invest in the best you can and go neutral! This is a fun way to add personality for each child.

And, of course... a stylish little one

A stylish little one is a must have for a stylish mama... they practically go hand in hand! Now that I have a little one I find more joy in shopping for her than I do for myself; I love dressing her up. But, dressing your child does not have to break the bank. Target, Babies R Us, H&M and the Baby Gap sale rack are my top picks. They always have fun pieces for boys and girls that will make that baby on your hip just as stylish as their stylish mama!

One option: If you're a new mom looking for a stylish jacket for your babe, you must check out this moto jacket from Baby Gap, on sale for just $18.99! It's available online up to 12 months, and the stores often have more sizes available. Obsessed.