10 Tips for Surviving a Flight with a One Year Old

First off, I am not an expert at traveling with kids…let alone one small child measuring approximately 31.5 inches. Such a small person should be easy to cart around right? I haven’t had a “wow that was such a great relaxing flight” with my one year old who is off to the races on foot.

However, I have flown with her a few times and have come up with a few tips to share with my future self when I have two small children under two and anyone else who might be dreading an upcoming cross-country flight.

If you are debating going on a long trip with your active toddler, it’s worth it. We had one of the worst 12-hour days with Bailey on our flight home from our recent family vacay but after all of that, I would 100% do it all over again to spend that well-deserved previous quality time with my little family. Our goal pre-baby was to fit Bailey into our lives, versus changing everything around to fit into hers. By continuing to travel and get into some unpleasant circumstances is all part of that and will hopefully help round her out as well.

We recently travelled to Florida from California which took us on a 7.5 hour flight with a one hour layover each way. Our flight was delayed both ways and we barely made it to our second flight. We even left our stroller at gate check on the way home to make sure we actually made it home. We had travelled to Vermont when Bailey was six months old but as it turns out, having an active toddler who enjoys yelling loudly and quickly walking around makes things a whole lot tougher.

Based on my newfound toddler-on-flight experience, I have a few tips to share:

  1. Do not have high expectations. And by that I mean, expect it to be one of the worst days of your life. You might come out of the terminal at your destination thinking it was alright.
  2. Buy that kid a seat. Don’t skimp out even though they’re free until two. If you have a flight over three hours it’s worth it to get them their own seat.
  3. Bring lots of snacks. The more variety the better! Veggie straws, baby Goldfish, granola bars, Cheerios are my go-tos. It’s totally okay if they don’t have a wholesome diet for one day.
  4. Do not try to force naps. Bailey has a very set nap schedule that she’s developed over her long 14 months of life and she loves her crib so much that she practically tosses herself into it to get away from me by the time it hits 10 am or 2 pm on the dot. Bailey slept about 45 minutes per flight on the way to Florida. Not bad considering our flight delay, loud announcements, and a bright daytime flight. The way home was a different story. She fought her morning nap HARD and unfortunately fell asleep for the last 20 minutes on flight one…basically the moment the pilot said “we’re getting ready to land”. We woke her up and raced to our second flight (sans stroller). Since it was time for her afternoon nap by the time we took off, I tried to help her get to sleep. Big mistake. She was SO exhausted she kept putting her head down on my shoulder and then yanking it back up…for three hours. In retrospect, I wish I had given up and just entertained her. She would’ve undoubtedly fallen asleep for a bit and we all would’ve been better off.
  5. Do not bring messy food. Smashed blueberries that Bailey loves? Yeah, probably not the best idea considering that both of our pants were stained purple from a few landing underneath us. Food pouches saved us (yes, you can get them through security even over 4 oz!).
  6. Bring a few favorite toys and a couple new ones. We brought a couple of her favorite books, and some wipeable toys along with a new fake remote (so exciting!) and new stacking cups. They fit well in the diaper bag and could be used at our hotel.
  7. Use the aisle to your advantage. Bailey loved walking up and down the aisle. Bonus for when the flight is slightly tilted so they have to work a bit harder to climb uphill, tiring them out faster. Just kidding.
  8. Avoid diaper changes. Unless they have a stinky poop or a diaper rash, try to get away without changing them until you land if possible (if the flight is a couple hours) by changing them right before take off in the comfort of the airport bathroom. I also learned that poopy diapers must be placed in a bag before being tossed. Oops.
  9. Help them get through take off and landing. If they still take a paci – great! A straw cup, food pouch or lollipop will also do the trick.
  10. Bring a carseat on board. I still haven’t seen this on a flight but I’ve heard it works wonders. It would be a lot more comfortable for napping (if they can get one in) to sleep and hang in the carseat than on mom/dad’s shoulder or on the seat since they are still so small. Next long flight, I’ll be trying this out!

To anyone out there reading this and getting ready for their next trip, good luck and have a ton of fun! Once you’re in the middle of enjoying your family vacation, it will be totally worth it!

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10 Gifts to Get Your Pregnant Friend

At this point in my life, lots of people are getting pregnant which means I’m in the market for baby shower, pregnancy announcement, and post-baby gifts. Obviously it’s not necessary to get a gift at each stage, but I really do love buying presents so I can’t always help myself.

But as much fun as it is to buy baby clothes and adorable soft patterned swaddles, mom-to-be also need some love! From my experience being pregnant, here are some small thoughtful gifts that expecting moms will enjoy:

  1. Slippers. I honestly have never been that into slippers but for some reason I have been wearing them nightly since being pregnant and post-partum.
  2. Soft, cozy robe. The hubs got me a robe/pj dress set for our anniversary a few months into pregnancy and I basically wore the robe every single night. Perks of a maternity dress – it can double as a super convenient whip-the-boob out for baby nightgown.
  3. Stretch Mark Lotion.  My mom gave this to me in a goodie bag after we found out we were pregnant and I love it. It dries fully and doesn’t leave me feeling greasy (I am not a lotion person). This one is dermatologist approved, hypoallergenic, and free from mineral oil, parabens, and phthalates. I’ve also been using it post-partum.
  4. Bath bombs, bath bubbles, bath salts. For relaxing of course!
  5. VertigoX Aromatherapy Oil. While I never got drastic morning sickness, there were a few times that I did feel woozy at random times, especially with certain foods like chicken, in the first trimester. I also had some nausea bouts in third trimester so this came in handy more than once. I carried this oil with me everywhere and would rub it on my wrists and neck which totally helped.
  6. 32 oz BPA free water bottle. Mamas-to-be need to drink more water than normal so having a cute large water may help remind them!
  7. Beauty products free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates. On a budget – Burt’s Bees. Splurge – Bare Minerals. Both have a lot of options. I especially like the Burt’s Bees tinted chapstick and Bare Minerals 30 SPF face moisturizer and matte lipstick.
  8. Comfy maternity clothes. Think leggings, pj sets, lounge pants, sports bras (one size up), and nursing bras for sore, expanding boobies.
  9. Amazon Echo. Matt got this for me (us) for 3rd trimester so I can be lazy all I want and tell Alexa to what to do or need to know. Still working on figuring out how to fully use it outside of having her turn on music…
  10. Motherhood Maternity or Amazon giftcard. If you’re not totally sure what to get, giftcards are a safe bet. Motherhood Maternity has tons of sales so it’s easy to get good deals on maternity clothes. Amazon Prime has come in handy more times than I can count (as per usual) so you really can’t go wrong there.

 

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DIY Thanksgiving Pumpkin Name Cards

This year, we’ll be hosting our immediate family for Thanksgiving so I wanted to create some quick, easy and cheap place cards for the table for the adults and kids.

I decided this would be a good time to re-use my mini pumpkins from Halloween and I shopped my house for the rest of the items so I didn’t have to worry about trying to print on thick paper, etc. Overall, it only took a couple minutes per pumpkin to make these!

Supplies Needed:

  • Printer paper or thick paper
  • Scissors
  • Twine or ribbon
  • Colored pencils
  • Hole punch
  • Mini pumpkins
  • Bunny tails (optional)

Instructions:

  • Print or write out the names of your guests on printer paper. I used “Adelline” from dafont.com. They have tons of free fonts that you can download to your computer for personal use which is awesome for projects like this!
  • Cut each name out into a leaf shape.
  • Outline each leaf with colored pencil. I chose three different greens but you do you! Shade in the rest of the leaf.
  • Hole punch the end of each leaf. Feed the twine through and tie it around the pumpkin stem to make a bow.
  • Thread a bunny tail through the hole punch or the twine.

Post-Partum Must Haves for New Moms

Post-partum struggle is real…physically, mentally, emotionally. Luckily I have a few friends who recently gave birth before me who were super helpful in telling me what to expect, what they recommended, what I would need, etc.

On the physical side, I am SO glad I had stuff ready to go when I got home from the hospital (Thank you to my girls for instructing me on what I would need!) That said, I wanted to compile these suggestions for everyone.

First of all, don’t be shy. Take all the supplies you can from the hospital. This means pads, mesh undies, ice packs, etc.

Tucks: These cooling pads were lifesavers for the first couple weeks post-partum. The hospital gave me half a container to bring home but I ordered more for at home since I used them so much.

Dermoplast: My nurses sent me home with two cans so I didn’t need this at home but it was also a lifesaver! This stuff is the BEST!

Padsicles: Make these ahead of time! Pour some aloe gel & witch hazel on large overnight pads and freeze or put in the fridge. Frozen were way too frozen for me so I ended up putting them in the fridge when I got home. They feel SO amazing.

Frida Peri Bottle: The hospital sent me home with a couple squirt bottles for down there but the Frida peri bottle has a better angle so I was grateful to have been gifted it at my baby shower.

Undies: The hospital mesh undies are alright but they didn’t fit very well and kept riding down. The Frida undies are full stretchy shorts that are super comfortable and made me feel very secure everywhere. These are disposable but technically you can wash and reuse. For the days after the Frida days, or possibly just for during the day, these high waisted undies were great. I wish I had ordered a size up though.

Nursing Bras: I would recommend two kinds. Soft criss-cross bras for bedtime and padded bras for daytime. I ended up ordering a two packs of the bedtime ones since they tend to get milk on them every night.

Joggers/Sweatpants: Somehow I only owned one pair of sweats that I bought two weeks before I had Bailey. Leggings are not really an option the first couple weeks since you want to wear loose fitting bottoms, so I could really only wear pj pants and my one pair of joggers. Don’t make this mistake, especially if you’re having a baby in colder months.

Slippers: I invested in some Ugg slippers as my first pair of Uggs and I have worn them basically every day since I got them in January. They were super cozy for late night feedings and walking around rocking the babe.

Nursing gowns: Breastfeeding can be pretty messy (milk and spit up everywhere). We’ve made a ton of progress as time has gone on but I definitely went through nursing clothes sometimes a couple times a day. The Ekouaer nursing gowns are super soft and affordable.

Nursing tanks: Again, breastfeeding is messy so these are clutch. Bonus points for dressing up your tank with a cardigan!

You got this mama!!

ClaudettesCorner

 

 

 

22 Binge-Worthy Shows (Part 3)

I put together binge-worthy shows back in 2016 and 2017 (which, by the way are still very much binge-worthy shows if you haven’t seen them!) so I’ve been slacking on the last couple years. The good news is that I have a long list comin’ for ya.

In honor of quarantine, I’m sure we could all use more shows to watch. And now for part 3 of my binge-worthy list…drum roll pleaseeee!

Jack Ryan: 2 Seasons on Amazon Prime

Before you do anything, watch these if you haven’t . Action-packed, fun for the whole family…well at least you and your SO.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: 3 Seasons on Netflix

Were you obsessed with Sabrina the Teenage Witch back in the day? Yeah, this isn’t like that at all. It’s extremely weird, creepy, and sometimes a bit too much, especially as the seasons go on. But we still like it. I guess we’re that messed up. .

Bodyguard: 1 Season on Netflix

Action-packed thriller about a bad ass bodyguard.

The Politician: 1 Season on Netflix

Quirky, entertaining dramedy about high school kids who are obsessed with getting to the top in politics, whatever the cost.

Workin’ Moms: 3 Seasons on Netflix

Hilarious. I watched this before I was even pregnant and now I feel like I have to watch it again. Based in Canada, these moms are super funny and raunchy. Constantly looking forward to another season.

The Stranger: 1 Season on Netflix

Haven’t seen a great mystery in awhile, so here’s one! British of course.

Dead to Me: 1 Season on Netflix (1 more coming soon!)

We went through this one way too quickly and have been eagerly waiting for season to come out.

Insatiable: 2 Seasons on Netflix

Kinda weird, pretty funny, and very entertaining. Beauty queen struggling with overeating who sort of accidentally kills multiple people.

Vikings: 6 Seasons on Prime

6 seasons to binge…makes your mouth water right?! We binged this real hard during our home remodel. Never thought I would be so into vikings and Valhalla but wow, completely sucked in. P.S. this one has a lot of action, a lot of blood and some nudity.

The Tudors: 4 Seasons on Netflix

As I write this, I realize we watch a LOT of TV. But what better way to decompress from a long day? Watching King Henry VIII killing off his wives of course!

Harlots: 2 Seasons on Hulu

Keeping up with historical TV, this one’s about brothel drama in the 1700s.

Better Call Saul: 5 Seasons on Netflix (And on Demand)

Okay, we’re late to the game here for sure. Recently started back at the beginning so I haven’t made my way through all the seasons yet but I love this show. Definitely heavily invested with the characters which I think is why I love it so much.

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: 1 Season on Netflix

Did you know Versace was murdered? Neither did I…and I DEFINITELY didn’t know about all the other people he killed along the way.

Godless: 1 Season on Netflix

An intense and exciting Western featuring a female-run town that is about to be overrun by a murderous gang (who ride on horses obviously).

Wild Wild Country: 1 Season on Netflix

A true story all about this crazy religious cult that started in India in the 60’s and how they took over a small town in Oregon for four years. If you liked Mary in Downton Abbey, here she is as a bad ass b.

Killing Eve: 4 Seasons on Demand BBC

If you miss Christina Yang, you may as well check this out. Christina (this will forever be her name to me) is trying to catch a psychotic Russian assassin but is also obsessed with her.

Santa Clarita Diet: 3 Seasons on Netflix

Drew Barrymore turns into a friendly zombie trying to live a normal life as a realtor while trying to avoid her blood thirst. Yes, it sounds absolutely ridiculous but it’s surprisingly quite funny. We throw it on when we want something we don’t have to think about.

The Good Place: 3 Seasons on Netflix

For a light hearted comedy, the Good Place is great. Fricken love Kristen Bell.

Girlfriends Guide to Divorce: 5 Seasons on Netflix

This one’s a classic for us chick-flick lovers.

You: 2 Seasons on Netflix

I’m sure you’ve heard of it, started it or watched it already. If you are into murder and creepy things, give it a go.

3 Wives One Husband: 1 Season on Netflix

I obviously have to throw a reality show in so here you go. The title says it all.

Marrying Millions: 1 Season on Hulu

Okay, one more reality show. God these people are entertaining…

 

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