Dream Diaper Bag: Review of Lily Jade Shaylee

October 9, 2015 by Aliesha

Well, it finally happened. After four kids, I found the perfect diaper bag! I don’t know why it took me so long to find my dream diaper bag, but I’m glad I stumbled across Lily Jade! The bag I have is from Lily Jade’s brand new collection, and it’s called Shaylee (in color: brandy). It is made out of beautiful brown leather and has gorgeous gold hardware and a pretty little tassel. From the looks of it, you would never guess it is a diaper bag! But when it comes down to functionality, Shaylee has all other bags beat. It has so many wonderful details and features and I’m excited to show them to you!

Shaylee can be worn three ways: crossbody, backpack-style, or as a tote. And changing your mind about how you want to wear it is a snap! For the tote, simply carry it on your shoulder using the tote straps. They are a great length and don’t slide. For the crossbody style, there is a longer strap that can be attached and adjusted for your perfect length. And for the backpack, simply slip the long strap through the loop on the back of the bag and clip the ends of the strap at the bottom.

The backpack conversion feature is the one thing I never knew I always wanted! If you’ve ever tried to wrangle kids, load up a car, or carry other bags while also trying to keep your diaper bag from sliding off your shoulder and bonking a little one in the head, you will love this feature too. I wasn’t sure at first if I would even wear the Shaylee as a backpack all that much, but I’m finding I love it SO much!

Update: I learned a new way to anchor the backpack! So much more secure! See it here, shown on Elizabeth.

On the outside of the Shaylee bag, there are two zippered pockets on the front and one in the back. I use the front ones for my cell and for my lip gloss (things I need to access quickly). Inside the main zippered portion (which glides open so easily!) there are three pockets (one that zips) attached to the main bag as well as a key fob (YES! I’m forever losing my keys in the bottom of my bag…but no more!).

If you’re not familiar with Lily Jade bags, then you may not know about their most awesome feature. The “baby bag” portion of Lily Jade bags snaps in and is completely removable (and machine washable) so that your bag can function as a diaper bag for now, and as a normal purse later. I really love that if I spill something inside the baby bag, I can just pop it in the washing machine (gentle cycle) and call it a day! The spacious baby bag matches the inside of Shaylee, which is a cheery red. There are countless pockets of varying sizes so that you can organize your bag in an enviable way. It even comes with a padded changing pad (which I’ve already used several times!). I love how multi-functional this bag is!

I will be doing a post soon about what I carry in my diaper bag and how I organize it with my Lily Jade Shaylee. So I’ll definitely share more interior shots in that post!

Update: Here is that post!

Lily Jade’s Shaylee is hands-down my favorite bag, and believe me when I say I wear it even without kids in tow! (Which isn’t all that often, but hey, I’ll be ready!)

Learn more about Lily Jade here, and follow them on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Update: Read my NEW review of Lily Jade Elizabeth in Camel here!

For more of my favorite baby products, check out this post!

Disclosure: I received a Lily Jade Shaylee bag in order to conduct this review/showcase. All opinions are my own.

Creating a Mommy Survival Kit

September 30, 2015 by Aliesha

This post was sponsored by Sam’s Club^®, however, the text and opinions are all my own.

Before having a new baby join your family, I highly recommend stocking up on baby items and creating a “Mommy Survival Kit”!

In the early days of having a baby, running out of diapers can be a huge inconvenience. That’s why I always stock up before baby comes so I’ll be prepared!

Here are the essentials you should include in your Mommy Survival Kit

-diapers (even if you’re planning on cloth diapering, you will most likely want to use disposables for the first couple of months)

-wipes (you’ll go through these faster than you can imagine)

-baby wash (you’ll be giving lots of baths in those early days!)

-diaper rash cream (something you want to have on hand in case you need it)

-snacks for mom (you will be glad you stocked up on healthy, one-handed snacks!)

-chocolate (a piece a day keeps the baby blues away!)

Recently I had a chance to shop at Sam’s Club^® for some baby items! As you know, newborn babies go through a LOT of diapers, so I was excited to check out the options and everyday savings at Sam’s Club.

Even though it was nearing bedtime, my kids were excited to explore the store as well. So many fun things to see!

A membership to Sam’s Club costs $45, but this includes over $80 in instant savings–coupons for items like diapers and wipes when you join online using this link. It’s easy to see how you could easily save that initial $45!

Sam’s Club carries their own brand of diapers called Member’s Mark. They also stock Huggies diapers for an everyday savings–no couponing required! I love that they carry a high quality store brand as well as my favorite national brands!

Another great benefit of a Sam’s Club membership is the club pick-up feature. I just learned about this and I think it’s awesome! You can place your order online, and then they will send you a text when it’s ready for pick-up. Then, you just show up at the store and get your items–how convenient!

In case you don’t want to shop in store (which is totally understandable if you’re a mom of a new baby!), a Sam’s Club membership also allows you to conveniently shop at SamsClub.com. They offer free shipping on many items, including diapers, wipes, and formula, and they also have a subscription service that allows you to ship your most-used products to your home at regular intervals. Yay for not running out of diapers!

We use Desitin Diaper Rash Cream for diaper rashes, so I was excited to see the savings Sam’s Club offered on that product.

Shopping at Sam’s Club offers savings for the entire family, not just on baby items! You can save on fresh produce, meat, dairy products, household supplies, baked goods, seasonal items, and so much more.

Sam’s Club provides big savings for growing families, join online using this link and get $80 in special savings on baby basics.

This post was sponsored by Sam’s Club, however, the text and opinions are all my own.

Theodore’s Newborn Portraits

September 22, 2015 by Aliesha

Today I wanted to share some of Theodore’s newborn portraits that I took over a few days when he was about 7-10 days old. He’s 4 weeks today, so he’s changed a lot even since these were taken! He’s our little sweetheart and we’re really enjoying him!