spiffykermsbaby

Minimal Hospital Bag

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I’ve been told many times by many people that I don’t need to bring much to the hospital here in California. A lot (if not all) of it is provided for you. I thought I was a good planner when it comes to packing. But since a few things are still up in the air, even this late in the game, I’m only now finally sorted all out with the hospital bag at close to 38 weeks pregnant. I want to preface this by saying that I know many new mom-to-be’s bring a lot of unnecessary stuff. I know that everything I bring I may not use. Just be supportive of other’s going through this for the first time.

Let’s get to the real deal. I’m glad I have a few extras (like toothbrushes, and hairbrushes) so I can keep it stowed away for when the time comes to grab the bag and deliver a baby (lol). I always have a drawer in our bathroom dedicated to travel-sized items, and travel bags for organizing it all.

So, this is what I’ve packed. Is it sufficient? I’ll let you know after the delivery!

  • Snacks:
    • Trader Joe’s “Nothing But”: a variety of fig & walnut, and date & cocoa disks
    • A pack of gum
    • Trader Joe’s fruit leather
    • Crackers & nuts
    • Bottle of drink (this one’s a free “vitamin water” dupe from Costco lol)
  • Toiletries:
  • Clothing:
    • 1 pair of H&M maternity leggings
    • 2 long sleeved tees from Target (the “A New Day” collection is ALL I have been wearing this entire pregnancy. They’re non-maternity. I just sized up)
    • 1 sweater
    • 1 tank top
    • 1 pair of fuzzy socks (couldn’t find the non-slip one’s. Hoping the hospital has some!)
    • HUGE undies (lol)
    • maternity bra (it’s this one I had on my Gift Guide for Mama’s!)
  • Sleepwear:
    • Mahabis slippers (I got 2 sizes bigger than my regular slipper size those wondering!)
    • These soft PJs from Target in a bigger size. I also bought them in red but they’re staying home.
  • For Baby:
    • 2 baby outfits (newborn sized + 0-3month)
    • baby undershirt/onesie whatever they’re called
    • baby blanket for car seat (this bicycle one!)
  • Other
    • IDs
    • Phone charger

I’ve labeled everything in plastic baggies for easier access and less thinking. Plus if/when my husband goes through the bag he doesn’t have to search hard to find what I’m looking for, for instance.

The overnight bag is actually a workout bag that I bought online from the Tone It Up girls a few year ago. It’s actually my rock climbing bag, but I cleaned the chalk dust out of it and now it’s my hospital bag.

I’m taking the simple approach when it comes to packing the hospital bag. I questioned my pals on Instagram and Twitter of what they suggest I pack in the bag, and you’d think I’m going on a cross-country trip with some of the answers I received. Haha! I love it. But, I suppose you could say I’m only packing some necessities for myself to keep me comfortable, and nothing over the top. I understand that I could wear a hospital gown the entire time I’m in hospital. But what if I’m done with those gowns, yet don’t want to wear a normal long sleeved tee (which I’ve been living in) and I want to wear my new button-up PJ top from Target? I am darn sure gonna bring it with me. I’m also not bringing a robe, I only have one and I don’t want it ruined and I’m not going out to buy one just for the hospital.

I also don’t have a birth plan. That’s been quite controversial, but that’s okay with me!

Basically what’s going in the bag is what’s listed above, and some have suggested I bring some huuuuuge undies, and even depends diapers and dermoplast, hey I’ll consider it! From all the stories (all of them) I’ve heard, it’s not going to be a pretty process, I know that much.

Next and final steps? Getting a pedicure this weekend with my friend Nicole! I haven’t had my nails done since my birthday back in May. I simply want to spoil myself and cannot wait to do so! White nail polish forever.

What are some “must have’s” in your pregnancy hospital bag? Did I miss anything?

What did you bring and didn’t use? 

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Daily, spiffykermsbaby

The Nursery Reveal

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Ah, the nursery decorating process. How is that going, you may ask?

Well first of all, Alfie claimed the glider as his, ha!

It’s actually going quite well. I still have to pick up a few things before it’s finalized, and I have free reign to decorate it how I wish and to be quite frank I’m kinda leaning towards the gender neutral route. I didn’t want to buy anything unnecessary, like a change-table for instance, when I can simply use one of the dressers we have currently. For many months the nursery room became a storage room as we moved into our first home. When we moved in, it was of course bare bones. Even the closet was completely empty without a rod going across. Which is fine, it let us decide what we actually wanted to do with it. (Which is nothing at this point but putting in a shelving unit in — oops?).

I’ve been reaching out to a few companies I’ve been eyeing up the past few months ever since I found out I was pregnant, and I’m luckily many of them wanted to help me on this decorating journey with our little boy’s nursery.

Once we moved into our new home officially, we quickly put the largest dresser known to man-kind, which as I mentioned, will operate as a changing table that also holds a few baskets for I suppose what will soon-to-be diapers, wipes, and whatever else goes on a diaper change table. #NewMomStatus. The dresser is a hand-me-down from our friends Father who was living here in California but moved back to Canada.

We then put together the Serta Mid-Century 4-in-1 Convertible Crib in Bianca White with the Serta Perfect Balance™ Deluxe Firm Crib and Toddler Mattress to go inside.

Putting together the crib was all Scott’s handy-work. I love how bright the room feels. I’m pretty confident in saying it’s my favourite room in the house right now as it perhaps should be — in the coming months I’ll be spending a ton of time in there.

There’s a monochromatic and gender neutral palette throughout the room at the moment, which I think pulls it all together to add to the sophistication of the nursery. I don’t want it to look too childish, so I purposely kept everything soft in the room with greys, browns and whites. But I think I want to incorporate more blue-toned items in there somehow, we bought a crib sheet today in navy, while we were out – but I definitely want some more rich navy’s in there somewhere.

There you have it, our little baby’s nursery room in its glory, thus far.

Now, who wants to win the exact same DaVinci glider as featured in our nursery? Please note that the giveaway is open only to US Residents (sorry!).

Enter below to win this DaVinci Owen Glider + Ottoman!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

FURNITURE:

Mattress: Serta Perfect Balance™ Deluxe Firm Crib and Toddler Mattress | Crib: Serta Mid-Century 4-in-1 Convertible Crib
Area Rug: Lorena Canals Rugs | Dresser: Hand-me-down
Glider: DaVinci Owen Glider/Ottoman

ART & ACCESSORIES:

Art: The Animal Print Shop by Sharon Montrose | Polar Bear: Cuddle + Kind
Changing pad: Amazon | Baskets: Overstock | Baby Carrier: LilleBaby
Baby skincare: California Baby | Diaperbag: Homemade from my old co-worker back in Canada!
Blue + White knit blanket: Homemade knitted from my Great Aunt (ages ago)

 

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Daily, OOTD, spiffykermsbaby

The diaper bag journey begins

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Can I really give feedback on whether or not I found the best diaper bag just yet? I’m not due until February so I clearly haven’t a clue what I’ll be bringing in my diaper bag. Seriously clueless at the moment and I suppose it’s different for everyone. For me, I’m a pretty minimal packer — but would that make sense when baby comes? Don’t they need their diaper changed 18 times a day? An exaggeration perhaps, but I suppose one really needs to be prepared rather than having too little diapers might not be the best thing. Plus most of these listed below don’t have those fancy insulated pockets for bottles (or whatever else goes in those) nor changing pads to lay out. You can get that after the fact, right? Help!

Either way, I’ve come to the conclusion after carting our pup Alfie around in airports (I mean, he’s kinda like a kid, right? I meaaaann… he needs similar attention!) that I’d rather have a backpack for a diaper bag, than anything slung over my shoulder, ready to drop when I reach down to pick the baby (or Alfie! Lol) up. Ya know?

There’s definitely a whole slew of cute backpacks going around, especially at the affordable shops like Target, and even Asos. I’ve been on the hunt for some unisex diaper backpacks for a while, mainly because I know my husband will be carting it around too and I don’t want it to be too feminine for him.

I bought this one on eBay for under $20. It arrived a month or so ago and I’m super pleased with it. It’s silly how expensive some of these diaper bags get, especially considering the one’s I want: backpack style. I want my hands free. Not some bag I sling over my shoulder…why are those popular? Who knows. Maybe I’ll change my mind once kiddo arrives. I’m a bargain hunter, and I hope this one holds up well. It seems quite sturdy, and a nice size.

Plus, it goes with everything right? Including my outfit today?

Wearing:
PinkBlush Purple Floral Knot Maternity Shirt ($31)
H&M Mama Super Skinny Maternity Jeans ($35)
Black Velvet Shoes ($14)
Diaper Bag (I paid $16.25 but it’s now $28? Y tho.)

30 weeks now. I feel like I’m carrying a soccer ball – lol at the look on my face. Also? This Sinful Colours nail polish is $2 and it’s the only white nail polish I use, unless I’m getting shellac done.

This is a cute floral maternity top I’ve been eyeing up for a few weeks on Shop Pink Blush, but I have to admit – it’s quite sheer and is made of a thinner material than most of my items from Pink Blush. So keep that in mind if you plan on ordering!

Disclaimer: Huge thanks to my pal Megan for hooking me up with PinkBlush to be an ambassador with them too! As a PinkBlush Ambassador I get a point for each piece of clothing to review. Each time I post = 1 point. I did not receive monetary compensation for posting about the brand. 

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