Tag: #thestorkbag

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Happy New Year!

As we all head into a brand new year, we wanted to wish all of you a healthy, happy and full of love year ahead.

As winter is still here for some of us, we thought that some reminders about driving safely on hazardous roads would come in handy, specially when driving with babies and kids.

Here is an article from one of the talented people at Porch.

Stay safe and enjoy your travels.

The Ultimate Winter Road Trip Safety Guide

November 16, 2022

Monica Villanueva

Winter road trips are great — you can travel to some thrilling locations and have a fantastic winter experience. You might indulge in winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, ice skating, and curling. Perhaps you enjoy cozy winter holidays in snowy mountain cabins. Winter conditions are hazardous, so you need to be prepared to deal with anything that can go wrong. Snow and ice make it harder for you to slow your car down. Your car may lose traction on hills, or while starting from a complete stop. You’ll want to know what to do in the worst-case scenario and have the materials to help when needed. Winter conditions are livable if you’re a patient driver and prepared for the worst. You can have a safe, joyous trip by knowing the best practices for driving through the snow. 

Trucking companies take steps to prevent accidents, whether that be making sure truck drivers have proper safety information, pre-hiring training and tests, and rewarding drivers for safe driving.

Prepare your car for a winter road trip

Tires are an essential factor for a safe winter road trip. Ideally, you’ll have snow or all-season tires with a rating for mud and snow. The cold weather lowers air pressure in tires, so check and fill your tires if needed. Once your tires are winter-ready, you can outfit your car with supplies.

Winter driving and car safety are about preparedness. You’ll often use your windshield wiper fluid, so check that your tank is full, and keep an extra container on hand. Good sunglasses are also a game-changer to handle glares from the sun reflecting off the snow. Ensure your phone is charged, and keep it plugged in during the drive. Gloves and ice scrapers are helpful too.

It’s good to be prepared for the worst before you leave for your winter road trip. Have a large, thick blanket in the trunk and some emergency snacks. If you’re spinning your wheels on a slippery section, sand or kitty litter can provide traction to get you going. Finally, an emergency car kit that contains flairs, a flashlight, jumper cables, and other valuable items is wise to have on hand.

carsafety

What to do before the trip 

Before you leave, get an oil change, and ask them to ensure the car is ready for a winter road trip. The technicians will ensure all your fluids are topped off — including your antifreeze (which your car needs in the cold), windshield wiper fluid, and oil. They’ll check the tire pressure and will install winter windshield wipers if you need them. It’s always a good idea to have a paper map if the GPS fails. If the forecast predicts a blizzard, consider an alternative route, or travel on a different day.

How to drive on snow roads and ice

It’s vital to maximize your visibility in winter conditions. Scrape all the ice from your windows and the windshield. Brush all the snow from your car, including the sides and the back. Snow blows away in the wind, and the last thing you want is to suddenly have your vision impaired due to snow from your car.

There may be times you have to brake in slippery conditions. If you have ABS (traction control), push hard on the brake and leave it suppressed until the car fully stops. The ABS may make noise or cause the vehicle to vibrate, but it’s working to help you. If you don’t have ABS, pump the brakes so your vehicle continues to slow as it moves straight.

If you’re fully stopped and struggling to move, tap the gas repeatedly to get a rocking motion going. This method gives you momentum to help push you forward. Traction control can work against you if you’re struggling to get moving. Turn it off, and you should find it more manageable. Be sure to keep your tank over half full for the entire drive. The half a tank is a contingency if you need to pull over so you don’t lose access to heat.

On the road

The best thing you can do in the snow is drive slowly. Your vehicle will struggle to brake, and you may need extra clearance to avoid hitting the car in front of you. It’s best to give the car ahead a lot of distance. It’s also wise to stay in your lane and only pass if you’re sure it’s safe. Winter drivingis a hazard, but if you give yourself lots of time to arrive at your destination, you’ll maximize your chances of an uneventful drive.

If conditions are bad, it’s best to pull over rather than risk an accident. Avoid pulling over on the side of the highway if possible, as lanes can be challenging to see in snowy conditions. Oncoming traffic may not realize you’re unmoving on the side of the road.

Bridges and tunnels are likely to form black ice. Black ice is a term for ice that blends into the street. Do not slam the brakes if you see a black ice patch and the car loses control. Take your foot off the gas so the car slows, and tap the brakes in short pumps.

Keep your wheel pointed in the direction you want the car to go.

If you’re on a hill, try not to stop for any reason. You may slide backward, and climbing the hill from a complete stop will be challenging. Avoid aggressively accelerating up the incline, which can cause your tires to spin. Take it slow and steady. When the temperature is below freezing, it’s best to take the road slower than usual. The faster you drive, the harder it is to stop (especially in bad conditions).

Winter driving is all about maintaining control.

Ideally, you can avoid driving in a snowstorm altogether. If you are in one, avoid using the high-beam lights. While this seems counter-intuitive, the snowfall reflects the light and mitigates the efficacy of the high beams. Stick with low beams in heavy snow if you drive in heavy snowfall. In any winter conditions, avoid using cruise control.

How to make the road trip more comfortable

You’ll want to be relaxed and alert for your winter drive. Your comfort is a crucial component, so you can’t afford to focus on discomfort when driving in bad conditions. Choose a comfortable temperature for the vehicle, and keep your windows defrosted. You should also wear your jacket while driving. If you get in an accident, and the heat stops working, you’ll be glad you did.

Have a great playlist ready for your drive, and don’t fiddle with it once yourtrip begins. If you like snacks, set them up in advance so you can reach them without taking your eyes off the road. The same suggestion applies to coffee or water.

car safety

Winter driving can lead to some enjoyable adventures. Winter conditions aren’t ideal, but if you take your time and go into the drive well-prepared, you’ll have an excellent trip. If winter driving makes you nervous, try finding a large empty parking lot, and practice losing control where you won’t hit anyone. Winter roads can be dangerous but can also lead to beautiful locations. By following the best practices, you’ll arrive safely and be glad you made the trip.

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Driveways & WalkwaysHolidaysMaintenance & UpgradesUncategorized

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Baby shower gift boxes and more

Hello and welcome to November everyone.

As we approach the winter holidays, we thought, that together with offering you the option of shopping for a Baby Shower Gift Box, we should also offer you some tips on how to take the stress out of planning a Baby Shower.

We were very lucky to be contacted by the wonderful people @porch.com and have a very helpful article for us to publish it on our blog.

As the busy season is really coming fast, don’t forget that we also offer Baby fashion on top of our Pregnancy Gift Boxes and Baby Shower Gift boxes.

So, without further delay, please enjoy this wonderful and useful article.

Take the Stress out of Planning a Home Baby Shower 

Pregnancy is a beautiful stage in the life of the parents-to-be that can bring joy and happiness. Still, it can also create nervousness and be overwhelming, especially when planning a baby shower at home, since it requires a lot of time and preparation in advance, not to mention the expense that this represents in an already tight budget.  

This guide offers you a variety of helpful tips that can be a solution to taking the stress out of your baby shower planning experience. Read on to learn more party organization tips, the most common stressors parents face when throwing a baby shower at home, and practical advice on tackling them. 

Table of Contents 

Baby shower planning guide 

Setting up a budget 

Picking a date & time 

Decide indoors or outdoors 

Make a guest list and send invitations 

Pick games and activities 

Choose hassle-free food options 

Top baby shower planning stressors and tips for beating them 

  1. Stressor: Budget 
  1. Stressor: Not having enough help 
  1. Stressor: Guest list 
  1. Stressor: Time 
  1. Stressor: Cleaning after the event 

Extra stress relieving tips to pamper mom 

Baby shower planning guide 

There are many things to consider when you’re planning to host a home baby shower. Here are some key party organization tips and ideas you’ll want to remember to ensure that your shower is a success. 

Setting a budget 

Before you set a date or send invitations, come up with a budget for your baby shower and stick to it, so you don’t overspend. 

  • Make a list of the things you’ll need, like food, drinks, decorations, etc. Then, come up with an approximate cost for each item and with the total amount to be spent. Adjust to your possibilities and try not to exceed the estimated cost you already have. 
  • Keep your guest list limited to help you save money on food and drinks. 
  • If you feel like you are going to need to exceed your budget limit, ask your closest friends and relatives to bring a side dish, snack, or drink to reduce your food costs and help keep your event budgeting in line. 

Picking a date & time 

  • Most expectant parents typically host their baby shower between the 28th and 30th week of pregnancy, but you can also choose to have it earlier in the pregnancy. Decide how far along you want to be before you select a date. 
  • If you want to have a gender reveal, plan to include it during your shower to save the extra cost and hassle of planning and hosting an additional event for this purpose.   
  • You can also host an after-birth baby shower if you prefer. This allows your guests to focus more on the baby when it’s already here rather than before it arrives. 

Decide indoors or outdoors 

  • If the weather is nice, hosting the baby shower party in your backyard will give you more room for guests and require fewer decorations. Hiring a landscaper to get your backyard in shape right before the event date is a great idea that will help reduce the stress of taking care of mowing the lawn and removing any unwanted weeds by yourself. 
  •  Hosting the party inside will allow a smaller number of guests, which translates into smaller costs and makes it a much cozier experience. 

Make a guest list and send invitations 

  • Plan your guest list early and save the money and hassle of printed invitations. Instead, design invitations yourself; look for online baby shower invitation templates from websites like Evite and Zazzle. These sites offer a variety of adorable templates to choose from, and they can be sent entirely virtually. 
  • Send your invitations online, and include a link asking your guests to RSVP online by a specific date. Getting your RSVPs online is much easier than calling each guest individually. 
  • Keep your invitations gender-neutral if you’re doing a gender reveal along with the baby shower to avoid spoiling the surprise. 
  • Don’t forget to let your guests know if they’re allowed to bring a “plus one” or if they can bring children with them to the shower. 
  • If you have a baby registry, remember to include that information in the invitations. 

Choose a theme 

  • Come up with a theme that is easy to decorate for. Choose easy and popular themes like baby animals, bees, clouds and rainbows, flowers, teddy bears, unicorns, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” or bohemian designs. Pinterest is an excellent resource to help you find easy and creative themes for your baby shower.  
  • Look for pre-made decorations you can buy at the Dollar Store or Amazon that you can just unpack and hang easily. 

Pick games and activities  

  • Choose to do low-stress activities during the party that doesn’t require a lot of extra work on your part or the part of your host, like fun printable items you can find online, games that everyone can play without requiring too many extra props or too much preparation. Think games like printable Mad Libs or a baby-themed word scramble are both great choices. 
  • Fill several bowls with some clean water along with three to five pacifiers and give one to each guest. Have everyone “bob for pacifiers” and see who can get the most within the shortest amount of time. Afterward, you can sterilize the pacifiers and keep them for your baby. 

Choose hassle-free food options 

  • Catering: If your budget allows, catering eliminates the need for you to plan a menu and cook the food yourself. There are many different options and price points available, and in some cases, hiring a caterer for your baby shower doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. 
  • Potluck: Ask every guest you invite to bring a dish to the shower. This makes it fun and interesting because you’ll get to try several different dishes. It’s also great for showers on a budget since your guests will help share food costs. Use cute, printed paper plates for your potluck to add a charming touch to the meal and to help with easy cleanup afterward.  
  • Self-service buffet: Set up a buffet-style party with different dishes lined up on a long table that includes finger foods and self-serve drinks. Serve the food in large bowls or on a few serving platters to make it look nice and professional without a lot of legwork. Decorate your table with some items that go along with the theme of your shower to take the experience to the next level.  
  • Dessert station: Create a custom dessert station with homemade cookies, cakes, and candy, so your guests can grab desserts and candy whenever they want to.  

Top baby shower planning stressors and tips for beating them 

Stressor: budget 

  • Make sure you set your budget ahead of time and stick to it in order to avoid overspending on things you won’t need or use.  
  • Design invites yourself, and send them digitally through email, text messages, or social media instead of printed ones. This option is better for the environment too. 
  • Plan your shower during a time that doesn’t coincide with mealtimes. You won’t need to make as much food when you don’t plan the shower during breakfast, lunch, or dinner hours. Offer finger foods and snacks instead of a full meal.  
  • If you have a dessert station, buy candy in bulk from wholesale stores, where you can find more affordable prices. 
  • Instead of expensive party favors, send your guests home with something inexpensive and yummy, like homemade cookies. 
  • Use printable baby shower activities and games that you can find and download online. This will save you lots of time preparing games that are usually finished within minutes. Remember, you can also ask some friends who recently had a baby shower to borrow their games.  

Stressor: not having enough help 

  • Ask a family member or a close friend you trust to be your second-in-command/right hand. So you can leave some of the decisions to that person and not be overwhelmed with too much. 
  • Ask one or two of your close friends or relatives to make some DIY decorations, like picking flowers from your garden and using them as centerpieces or creating DIY custom banners and signs.  
  • Borrow items like plates and bowls from friends. Even if you use store-bought cookies and punch, proper bowls and plates will make everything look fancier and more attractive. You can also borrow a nice glass drink dispenser and fill it with lemonade or mocktails. Not only does this look nice, but your guests can easily help themselves to refills.  
  • Delegate tasks like inflating balloons and taking pictures to family and friends.  
  • Ask a friend who has already had babies for advice on the items most needed when having a baby. They can help create the registry list for you, or you can also use this downloadable 2022 ultimate baby registry list to ensure you have everything you need to equip your baby nursery, and don’t miss a thing! 

Stressor: guest list 

  • Make sure you’re clear in the invitations that the shower is for adults only to avoid the added stress of making food for kids and coming up with separate activities to keep little ones entertained. 
  • If you have friends and family who live far away, have them attend the shower virtually, to reduce your food and drinks costs. 

Stressor: time 

  • Finalize your guest list about six weeks before the event date. 
  • Ask your guests to RSVP four weeks in advance, so you have plenty of time to plan. 
  • Create a timeline or schedule for your shower that includes games and icebreakers, serving food, and opening gifts. 
  • Decide what type of food you want at least five weeks in advance so you can book a caterer, let your friends and relatives know if you need them to bring a dish, or come up with a menu in time. 

Stressor: Cleaning after the event 

  • Designate 3 or 4 of your closest friends or family members to help with the cleaning after the event is over. 
  • If your budget allows, hire a cleaning company that comes to your home and leaves the place neat and clean without you having to stress about this. 

Extra stress relieving tips to pamper mom: 

  • Gift mama with a relaxing spa day that includes a prenatal massage, foot soak, and mani-pedi to help her get rid of any accumulated stress she may hold from all the event planning. 
  • Since most presents in the baby shower are for the baby, send mama a gift especially for her, like a set that includes bath salts, organic body oil, moisturizing lotion, baby-safe nip cream, and a skincare body oil that prevents and improves the appearance of scars and stretch marks cream. Mom-to-be will be super grateful to receive these presents! 

Welcoming a new baby into the world is probably one of the most exciting experiences you’ll have. Use these helpful, practical tips to host an awesome baby shower at home that’s easy, stress-free, and a whole lot of fun. Remember to incorporate some of the practical money-saving tips to help you stay within your budget, and don’t be afraid to ask your friends and family members for help. Get creative and come up with fun decorations, activities, and food so that your guests have an amazing time. With the right planning and by sticking to your budget, you’ll have a wonderful shower that you’ll remember and cherish forever.  

Originally posted on Porch.com 

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Welcome to fall

Welcome to fall everyone.

As we are getting ready to enjoy that warm sweater or that yummy pumpkin latte, here at The Stork Bag we are getting ready to go on a hunt for fall products that are safe and useful to our moms and moms to be. We hope all of our customers have been enjoying their pregnancy gift boxes.

As some of you may have noticed, we have added baby/kids clothes and other related items to our website, after we had some requests for it. Our pregnancy gift boxes will always be our number one priority but we also want to make it easier to shop for babies and kids items.

We really appreciate your input, so please don’t hesitate to email us or message us on our social media platforms, with your ideas and feedbacks.

While we get ready for all the holidays coming in the next few months, please don’t forget to take care of yourself, make time for loved ones and we want to say a big “Thank you” to each and every one of you that have supported our small business.

Love, The Stork Bag

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Upcoming Changes at The Stork Bag

Welcome to June everyone. With summer upon us, our team at The Stork Bag has been “sweating” new ideas that are coming over the summer.

We have been thinking about making our site an easy and convenient way to shop for all the women in our lives, not just the wonderful pregnant and new moms. Although pregnancy gift boxes will remain our primary focus, we are excited to offer gift boxes for other occasions, and celebrating women. You want to surprise the women at your work place? We will be launching corporate gift boxes that are perfect for any occasion.

Do you have a woman in your life celebrating a birthday, baby shower, wedding anniversary or do you just need a simple “Thank you”? Our new site, FromYouToHer.com will be the place to go.

We can help you give that special lady in your life the gift that will be sure to make her happy, no matter the occasion. We make it easy by giving you special gifts for any occasion. No need to drive, pick and deliver anything; we will take care of it for you.

In order to deliver the perfect gift, all we need is some information about the lucky recipient and we will take care of the rest!

We are very excited about the changes coming and we really hope you, our valued customers, are too. We can’t wait to help you with all your gift giving needs to those amazing and important women in your life.

Stay tuned for more the launch of FromYouToHer.com in July of 2022!

Lots of love,

The Stork Bag Team

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Four Reasons To Drop The Mom-Guilt NOW!

A new mom that can’t breastfeed, a young mother of two who will miss her son’s first soccer game, and an older mother who can’t be with her sick daughter who lives across the country.  What do all these things have in common? MOM GUILT!!  I’ve been told that no matter how old children get, their mothers never stop worrying about them and I’m of the opinion that the same goes for the dreaded mom guilt. It never goes away. The truth of the matter is being a mom is hard and we need to give ourselves a break and here’s why:

  1. You aren’t perfect: No mom is!  You shouldn’t feel let down if you aren’t able to be in ten places at once and anticipate everyone’s needs and every sickness your child is going to have.  You are not a robot with endless energy. You are human and are doing your best.  And your best is good enough. In fact, it’s perfect. Trust us.
  2. Your guilt doesn’t help: If you are beating yourself up about coming up short all the time, you are never going to be able to enjoy the moment and what you do have.  Sure, guilt from coming up short might motivate you temporarily, but carrying guilt for too long will only make you feel worse in the long run  Let it go and move on.
  3. Your kids love you: It’s true, they really do!  They will be fine even if you forgot to dress them in pajamas for pajama day.  I promise, your child will survive. And chances are, if you are beating yourself up about something, they will feed off that energy and make you feel worse than your already do.  Are all their basic needs met? If the answer is yes, your kids love you.  If the answer is no, your kids love you. Twenty years from now your kids will not even remember.
  4. You can give yourself a break: True story time. I’m missing my daughter’s first softball game of the season this week because I have concert tickets with my best friend who I haven’t seen in 6 months.  When I told my daughter, she gave me a little grief and for a brief minute I thought about cancelling plans (sorry Amy!) I made 7 months before my daughter even decided she wanted to play softball.  Then, I told her that her daddy and brother would be there and I would make it to the next one.  She gave a whiney “OK” and then moved on to talking about something else.  The point is that I gave myself a break and you can too.  Your life does not have to be all about the kids, all the time.  Just be sure to cheer extra loud at the next game. Do your best, be present and remember you are human too.

What is your best reason for letting go of the dreaded Mom-Guilt?  Let us know in the comments below!

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Spoil An Amazing Mom-To-Be: The Best Way To Make Any Pregnant Woman Feel Loved!

The Stork bag - Spoiling Your Favorite Mama-To-Be: Our Favorite Ways To Make Any Pregnant Woman Feel Good!

 Pregnancy is tough, like really tough. As if growing human life isn’t hard enough, it also makes you feel nauseous, tired and really huge, just to name a few things. And let’s be honest, the baby showers are fun but they are mostly about the baby and all the things the baby needs. So today, we want to talk about how to spoil the new mom-to-be! If you know a pregnant woman in your life, now is the time to pamper her. Here are our favourite ways to accomplish this task!

Pamper her with a Spa Day: What’s better than having someone else paint your toenails when you can’t reach them anymore?  A trip to the spa would be a wonderful way to make her feel like a queen!  Manicures, pedicures, and massages- oh my! If you can’t join her, grab a gift card to her favorite place and send her there or some much-needed pampering. If you are still what to do, check out our Goddess spa line, by the Barefoot Venus–sure to excite any mom to be.

Hire a little “help”: The only thing worse than cleaning your house at any given time, is cleaning the house when you are pregnant. Feeling exhausted and not being as agile as you once were, makes cleaning a bigger chore than ever before.  Help a pregnant mama out by hiring her some help to clean! There are many verified, local cleaning companies in your area, or indepdent cleaners.  Or better yet, send her to the spa while the work is being done!

Meal Train has arrived early: We have all heard about the meal help that new parents truly need once the baby has come, but what about meals before? Help out a new mom, particularly if she already has other kids, by offering to come over and cook her dinner! Or better yet, just bring over dinner. Let her put her feet up and enjoy some down time!  Be sure to make extra so there are leftovers for another time she is too tired to cook.

Pre-Baby Getaway: Hitting the road with a few friends might be just the thing a pregnant woman needs to get some major rest and relaxation! Plan a fun trip before baby comes for a couple of days: head to the beach, hit the mountains or just rent a cabin to for the girls for a few days! Serve some mocktails and create wonderful memories for her, before baby arrives!

Order her The Stork Bag: We definitely saved the best for last.  In our eyes, there is no better way to spoil any pregnant mama than by getting her one (or more) of our gift boxes from The Stork Bag!  These bags will take the guess work out of gifting because each bag is tailored to fit her exact needs based on her trimester of pregnancy. From teas to belly butters- we have everything she could possibly need, and more!  And don’t forget to continue the spoiling with the Post Bump Bag for after the baby’s arrival!

What are your favorite ways to spoil a pregnant mama-to-be? Let us know in the comments below! Reach out to us at hello@thestorkbag.com with your comments.

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Our Top 5 Most Exciting Activities to Make the Most of Your Summer!

The Stork Bag - End Of Summer Fun: Our Top Five Favorite Activities To Get In With The Kids Before Summer Ends!

 Schools are starting back up and the leaves on the trees are starting to gently turn to the lush colors of autumn. Fall will officially begin in one month which means you have a little bit of time left to get the most out of every minute of summer.  We are all about memory making, and these are our top five, can’t miss activities that if you haven’t done yet, you should go out and do them before the temperatures start to drop! You will be making memories with your kids, and most of these activities are low-cost or no cost, which makes it easy on the wallet.

  1. Splash Pads: All kids love splash pads, even babies. It’s a great chance to cool off without the worry of keeping an eye on multiple children in a pool.  Make sure to visit one near you before they get shut off for the season, which usually happens around Labor Day! Better yet, make it a date and meet up with a friend, pack a lunch and make it a half day trip. The kids will love having a playmate and you will love having some company.
  1. Local Parks: Make a list of all the parks in your area that you haven’t visited yet this summer and hit a new one every couple of days. Pick a new favorite and come back with a few friends and a picnic lunch or dinner! Let the kids roam and play with their friends on the equipment, play some ball or frisbee on the grass, while you sit and re-connect with friends. It is a total win-win.
  1. Zoos: This is a must do if you haven’t been yet! It’s such a fun way to learn about animals while keeping the kids entertained! Keep in mind that many zoos begin to shorten the hours that they are open during colder months, so summer might be your last chance to make a full day of it!
  1. Fruit Picking: This is a fun one, especially for the fruit lovers in your family! Find a local berry farm, apple farm and take everyone out for a fun day of picking fresh fruit. The older ones will have fun finding the perfect fruit and the younger ones will enjoy all the free samples! Now is a wonderful time for blueberries, nectarines and of course, apples!
  1. Backyard fun: Summer got you drained and don’t feel like leaving the house? Never underestimate the “end of summer” fun kids can have in their own backyard. Throw a themed party, put out a kiddie pool and invite over some of the neighborhood kids. My kids can spend hours playing with thing like bubbles, sidewalk chalk, kites and water guns. 

What have we forgotten? What are your must do activities you still want to do? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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Last Month Of Pregnancy Checklist

This article originally appeared on Pregnant Chicken.

We know that pregnancy isn’t easy, as you near the end of your journey, you might need some additional tips and info.

There is a great list here ,and let us know in the comments what your last month of pregnancy checklist includes!  And don’t forget to order yourself a Post Partum Box from The Stork Bag!

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10 Tips For Back-To-School With A Newborn At Home

The stork Bag - 10 Tips For Back-To-School With A Newborn At Home - school supplies

This article originally appeared on HuffPost

Back-to-school time is back. If you have a newborn and also have children attending school, it’s a lot for everyone in the household to deal with. Over the summer, you probably had more time to give everyone what they needed. Now, the days will be going quickly as the school schedule moves forward and you will want to keep up with it.

There are many things you can do so that the family doesn’t feel overwhelmed during the school year. While sleep is at the top of the list, it’s also about sticking to a schedule, keeping life balanced, knowing where to find things in your home and more. Here are 10 back-to-school tips for parents with a new baby and a school-age child.

1) Rest on the Same Schedule: Put the kids in bed and then get in bed as well. No TV watching. You will probably have to get up in the night for a feeding. By the time the baby is going to be fed at night, you will already have had some rest. Do the feeding and get back to sleep. People start resenting each other when they are tired, so rest is more important than anything else for you and your spouse.

2) Ride to School Refreshed: In the morning, mommy will feel refreshed if she went to sleep right after the children did. Put the baby in the car seat and drive the kids to school. The sleep was important because you want to get behind the wheel with your family in the car feeling rested in the morning.

3) Organize to Save Time: It doesn’t matter how much space you have, if you are organized it can work. One of the hardest things to do during the school year is to get the children’s clothes together. When each child has their own drawer or a cubby hole, you can easily find things rather than spending time searching through a hamper.

4) Pre-Pack Lunches: At night while daddy is holding the baby, you should lay out the children’s clothes for the morning as well as pack their lunches before you go to bed. Remember to refrigerate their lunch boxes.

5) Restock on the Weekends: Weekends are a good time to get restocked on everything your family needs in the house during the week. Make sure the laundry is done, the snacks are available and so on.

To read the rest of this list, head over to http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marva-soogrim/10-tips-for-back-to-school-with-a-newborn-at-home_b_3932347.html

What are your tips for Back-to-School?  Let us know in the comments below!

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New Breastfeeding Emoji Could Help Normalize Nursing

The Stork Bag - New Breastfeeding Emoji Could Help Normalize Nursing - woman breastfeeding

 (This article originally appeared on Scary Mommy.)

On Thursday, the internet powers-that-be, specifically Unicode, “the computing industry standard for encoding,” are gifting us with 56 new emojis for 2017. These include a zombie, a bowl of cereal, an elf, a bearded dude, a woman with a hijab, men and women in lotus positions, gender non-binary adults and children, and — may the heavens open and lactation consultants rejoice — an emoji of a woman breastfeeding.

Sisters in boobage, we have an emoji.

I don’t have to tell you this is a big deal. Unicode approved a baby bottle emoji in 2010, and since then, that bottle’s been the only way to use emojis to express infant feeding. And this has been a big deal, for several reasons: According to the proposal for the breastfeeding emoji, the baby bottle ranks in the top 50% of emojis used. It’s also important when U.S. breastfeeding rates are only 49.4% at six months, and 40.7% exclusive breastfeeding at three months — meaning 59% of mothers are supplementing by three months (this can include formula or food). So more than 50% of mamas do need that bottle emoji by then. Nobody is taking issue with that, I promise.

The CDC’s goals for 2020 have 60.6% of mothers nursing at six months, and 46.2% nursing exclusively at three months. The only way we’ll accomplish that is to make breastfeeding more accessible, and one of the key ways to make it more accessible is to make it more acceptable, more normal, more woven into the fabric of society.

Cue our new emoji.

The breastfeeding emoji was submitted for just that reason by Rachel Lee, a registered nurse at University College of London Hospital. She argued that it would fill a gap “given the prevalence of breastfeeding in cultures around the world, and throughout history.” She cites the frequency of breastfeeding, especially at birth (nearly 80% in the United States), and argues that other apps and sticker packs include breastfeeding moms. Apparently a breastfeeding emoji was one of the top 30 emoji requests, and inspired a Change.org petition, in addition to many tweets asking for it.

To read the entire article, please visit the link below:

http://www.scarymommy.com/new-breastfeeding-emoji-could-help-normalize-nursing/