Now that it is getting a little cooler, it is time for one of my favorite parts of the fall (and winter) – soup season! There are so many different soups that TJ and I love to make but there is one that I keep coming back to – a chickpea noodle soup. It’s simple, vegetarian-friendly, light, but if you add the right amount of flavor, it is SO comforting and delicious. It took us a while to really figure out how to get the flavor right and the # of bullion cubes is KEY. This is a recipe I’d make every single week though. We recently made it when our family was all battling a cold a couple of weeks ago – highly recommend for a sick day. We hope you enjoy it!
Ingredients
3-4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3-4 stalks of celery, chopped
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp garlic, minced
1 tsp of Italian seasoning (or dried basil and oregano)
Pinch of salt and pepper
2 quarts chicken broth
2 quarts of water
6-8 bullion cubes (chicken or vegetable)
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cups of uncooked pasta (we like to use Rotini)
Add olive oil to the stockpot on medium-high heat and cook until shiny. Add garlic and saute for 30-45 seconds or until aromatic. Add in vegetables, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper, and cook until tender. Once tender, add broth, water, and bullion cubes and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add in pasta and cook until al dente. Once pasta is cooked add chickpeas. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Take off heat and serve immediately. We like to have a loaf of fresh sourdough bread to go along with it, if possible!
We hope you love this recipe as much as we do! Let us know if you add anything or cook it a different way in the comments!
Brooks is in the thick of teething right now and we have been trying a lot of different remedies to help soothe his gums and give him a little bit of relief. I wanted to share what we have tried and what seems to work the best for him. I hope it helps some other parents struggling with this with their babies.
The first time it looked like he was beginning the teething phase was when he started to really put everything in his mouth… his toys, his fingers, our finger, Pearl! Everything was going right to his mouth. We knew we needed to get him some teething-friendly toys so that his gums would be massaged, but he was also safe when he put them in his mouth. Here are some of the teething-friendly toys we got him.
Let us know if you have any teething remedies that we haven’t tried in the comments.
I’ve been meaning to talk about our favorite stroller and give you a thorough review of what we like and what we don’t like about… the Nuna TRVL Stroller! We use this stroller about 90% of the time and there is definitely a reason!
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Currently, we have 3 strollers and I do not recommend that when living in a New York apartment – but we have the Silver Cross Wave, the Nuna TRVL stroller, and a running stroller. I won’t really say too much else about the running stroller because we haven’t had a real chance to use it yet since it has been so hot up until recently. BUT the Silver Cross and the Nuna are the ones we have used regularly. Here is a breakdown of the Nuna! From months 0-4.5ish, we only used the Silver Cross Wave (with bassinet attachment). After that, we’ve almost exclusively been using our travel stroller.
PROS
Lightweight – The Nuna TRVL is extremely lightweight! It is made with very light parts and is meant to be very portable. The website says it weighs less than 14lbs, but even that seems high. I am able to easily lift it with one arm and carry it a decent distance when needed.
Foldability and compactsize – The Nuna has one-hand fold-up buttons on the top bar of the stroller. It is extremely conveniently located and easy to press to fold up into its compact position. Speaking of the compact position, this thing gets super small which is very nice when living in a smaller space where every inch counts. We are able to store this at the bottom of our coat closet, which isn’t that large of a closet. When we are traveling, it only takes up a small amount of room in the back of the car or front seat. It is also just as easy to unfold the stroller and that can be done with one hand too!
Adaptability – The Nuna TRVL stroller is adaptable with the Nuna Pipa car seat series. We have the Nuna Pipa Lite RX Infant car seat and it fits right into the top of the stroller, locking around the front bar. This makes it so easy to transition from car to walking without too much movement of the baby. This really comes in handy when Brooks is asleep and we don’t want to wake him up when we move him from the car. It also is nice to use when we want to take an Uber or taxi somewhere and then walk around. It all just becomes one! We also were able to move seamlessly from car seat to stroller when checking luggage at the airport, which made the process a little less stressful.
CONS
Lightweight – Yes, lightweight was a pro, but in this case, it is also a small con. The lightweight construction sometimes makes it feel like the stroller is a little flimsy. Brooks definitely feels every little bump on the sidewalk or gravel when we push him in the stroller. Sometimes the sidewalk bump can be big enough to cause a full-on abrupt stop.
NotAll-terrain – This one is kind of an extension of the above. You definitely cannot take this stroller off-roading very far. You can attempt but it might be a challenge. There have been a couple of instances where we have gotten a little stuck walking through certain areas in the park.
Features – To use this stroller, your baby definitely has to be able to graduate from the bassinet-style strollers. We had to make sure the Brooks had good control over his head because we knew he would be moving around a bit more than when he was in the bassinet. For this reason, we used the Silver Cross Wave until he was about 4-5 months old. You also cannot add on to this once you have more children like you can with the Silvercross Wave.
I think that covers it. We love this stroller so much and it is the first one we reach for whenever we have someplace to be. We still love our Silver Cross, especially when he was little, but this is our current go-to! I did notice that Silver Cross Wave has released newer options though that look like they’d be great fits for city living. Hope this helps any moms and dads out there when deciding which stroller to choose from!
I mentioned previously that I’ve been in a major road trip mood this summer. I never really wanted to leave NYC those first couple of years here because everything was so new! I wanted to experience everything I possibly could in every season so we really didn’t leave very often. These days, I’ve felt a desire to see new places and retreat outside of the city for a few days at a time, especially since we have a car again. I also feel like there is a lot I want my son to experience and that has played a huge part in my road trip cravings! Don’t get me wrong… there are never-ending activities in NYC but sometimes it’s really good for my brain to get away for a few days. As someone who mainly grew up in southern states, there are SO many towns up here (and states in general) that I want to explore. We recently visited Greenport, New York which is located on the North Fork of Long Island and I’m already wanting to plan a trip back. We left Pearl with her dog-boarder this time around but, incase you missed it, I have a long summer wishlist of large dog-friendly places to take Pearl.
We had visited the Hamptons a few times before but we never really ventured up on the North Fork until this recent trip to Greenport. We stayed at The Harborfront Inn this time around but next time we’ll likely stay at The Soundview due to them allowing large dogs. The Harborfront Inn was located right in the downtown village area where you could walk to shops and restaurants in under 5 minutes. The entire town just felt so family-friendly (there was even a carousel right beside our hotel) and a few favorite places we ate were: Lucharito’s, Claudio’s, Duryea’s in Orient Point, and Sterlington Deli (for quick bagels). Others I want to try next time are: The Frisky Oyster, Noah’s, Crazy Beans, and The Halyard.
One of my favorite places we visited during this short trip was the lavender fields in East Marion, Lavender By The Bay. I’ve been a customer of Lavender By The Bay at our local farmers market for a while now but it was so fun getting to visit their farms in person. It truly felt like a piece of Provence but close to home. Getting to show Brooks the lavender was sweet too and we captured some of my favorite photos that I’ll treasure forever. The lavender fields were about a 6 minute drive from our hotel, FYI. They do also have another location in Calverton but the East Marion location was my favorite.
So, if you’re looking for a quaint family-friendly small town by the water, I’d definitely recommend checking out Greenport. Next week we’ll be visiting Hudson, NY… a trip I have been looking forward to since the day we took a day-trip there. So if you have any recommendations for there, I’d love to know!
(Big) Dog Friendly Stays in New York on our Summer Wish List
Recently I asked locals what their favorite spot to visit/vacation in the Northeast was, especially with a big dog. Pearl is over 100lbs right now and it is a struggle to find resorts or places that accommodate that size of a dog (even though she is the sweetest ever). There are a lot of beautiful places up here and I have a strong desire this summer to explore as many as possible! But here are a few that were mentioned multiple times that also accept large dogs:
Scribner’s Lodge is located in Hunter, NY, about a 2.5 hour drive from the city. Hunter is close to Hudson, NY so it gives you the opportunity to stay at a great mountainside resort and also do a little antiquing in Hudson and surrounding areas. They do not have a weight limit on dogs, but they do require a non-refundable $50 pet fee per night. The lodge has a cabin-y feel and a wide variety of amenities. There are many events throughout the year, including a 4th of July party, art exhibits, and even a special program for pups!
The Mirabeau Inn is located in Skanealetes, NY, near one of the famous finger lakes of New York. It’s about 5 hours from NYC, nestled in a beautiful lake town. It has several amenities including dining, on site spa, and fitness classes. There are also vineyards, wineries, boat rentals, and lake excursions that can be booked right near the Inn. They allow pets with no defined weight limits or fees according to their website.
A quick 3 hour drive from NYC, Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa is located in Milton, NY. This inn features luxury lodging in the main house that was built in 1764 along with private cottages. One unique thing about this Inn is the animal sanctuary! They have llamas, alpacas, peacocks, and goats! Buttermilk Farms is extremely pet friendly, hosting a pet program for their furry guests that includes a puppuccino upon arrival, pet care packages, bowls and beds upon request, and 75 acres to walk around! There is no pet fee in the months of August and October thanks to national dog and cat days in those months, but otherwise it is $25 per night fee. No weight limits listed.
Less than 2 hours away from the city, Hutton Brickyards is right on the Hudson River in Kingston, NY, providing amazing panoramic views from the property. There are luxury private cabins, similar to tiny houses located throughout the brickyards. Being located on the river allows for great experiences like guided kayaking and paddle-boarding, hiking, yoga, and snow adventures! There is a $75 pet fee per stay and part of that fee goes to a local no-kill shelter near the brickyards. No weight limits listed.
The Foxfire Mountain House is large boutique style inn located in Mt. Trempor, NY, about 2 hours from NYC. The mountain house was found and renovated in 2013 by husband and wife duo Tim Trojian and Eliza Clark, and opened for business in 2016. The Inn has ensuite rooms, shared bathroom lodging, and private cottages based on your preferences. There is a $100 pet fee per stay and no weight limits apply, however pets are only allowed in certain part of the mountain house and cottages.
Troutbeck is the shortest distance from NYC on this list, but offers just as much charm, wide open spaces, and luxury as the others. Troutbeck actually has the largest property on our wishlist which means more area for Pearl and other pets to explore. Troutbeck has served as a country inn and tavern since the 1700’s with its latest renovations and re-opening happening in 2017. Some famous folks frequented the propoerty, including MLK Jr., Teddy Roosevelt, Henry David Thoreau, and Duke Ellington. The property offers a wide range of activities like wellness hours, fitness classes, tennis, and poolside lounging. There is no pet fee, but dogs are only allowed in certain lodging and not in public places on the property. There is no size restriction listed and they must be leashed at all times when exploring the grounds.
The Roundtree, Amagansett is set right outside of East Hampton and a quick 2 hour journey from NYC (if there is no traffic!). While not located directly on the beach, The Roundtree has plenty for guests to experience – the Parrish Art Museum, winery tours, private workouts and in-room massages. They even have a partnership with a local golf course to get priority tee times to their guests! There is a $50 per night dog fee, but no weight limits. Dogs are treated just as well as their human companions at The Roundtree, getting a treat upon arrival, dog bowls in room, and a dog towel for wiping off paws after venturing around the Hamptons.
The Sound View Inn is located on the North Fork of Long Island in Greenport, one of the cutest beach towns. The North Fork is known as Long Island’s wine country and feels like being placed in a Hallmark movie, from the quaint Greenport downtown to the carousel to the shops, restaurants, and movie theatre. Sound View has a private beach just for guests, as well as a seaside pool. The outdoor restaurant serves food and cocktails to guests at either preferred location. The Sound View is one of the few hotels who allow dogs and have no weight limits. There is a $75 pet fee and all rooms are pet friendly.
Tomorrow is JUNE! June marks the month where I started this blog 8 years ago and it’s wild to see how much has changed since then. I used to come home after a long day at my office jobs and write away… it felt so rejuvenating and inspiring. There were no Instagram Stories, no term “influencer”, no Tiktok or Reels, it was such a different time and I feel like Iately social media has consumed my attention leaving me to neglect writing on here! Fast forward to now and I feel like life is moving at 100mph. With a baby it feels like 200mph. I look back at the last 5 months since becoming a mom and they honestly feel like a total blur! And I don’t know how I feel about that. I have this desire to remember every. single. moment. I know I take about 500 photos per day on my phone but I want to get back into writing… even if it’s just a quick journaly entry about my day so that I can look back and maybe life won’t feel like such a blur.
It’s hard to find time for one more daily task but I kind of want to view my blog as more of a fun creative outlet again. Maybe each night before bedtime, I’ll treat it as a journal. More like the “old days” of blogging.
We spent last weekend in Southampton, NY with our friends and it felt like an official kick-off to summer. I was telling my friends, Anna and Savvy, that I wanted to treat this summer like a 1990’s summer where the season felt more carefree. I want to spend the majority of my time with Brooks (my 5 month old) in the park, at the beach, exploring life, doing summer things because this is his only FIRST summer, you know? Not that he’ll remember any of it but because it only happens once (and I want to remember it). We arrived back home to the city on Monday and left again this morning for Newport, RI. My grandma lives here and I have some projects that need to be completed so it’s a little family trip mixed with work trip. We love living just a 3 hour drive away from my Grandma. We’ve been spending so much money on car rentals lately that we ended up buying a car again last week after two and half years without one. I know parking in the city will be a nightmare but it felt like it was time! I think we’re both really excited about being able to explore more of the state of New York and surrounding areas without the hassle of picking up a rental car and everything that goes along with that.
I’ll leave you with a few favorite photos from the weekend. 🙂
We have tried EVERYTHING when it comes to putting up wallpaper in our apartment. Renting a space but still wanting to make it unique and your own is possible, especially with all the beautiful wallpaper that is out there right now. But the method in how to hang it is where we got stuck. We tried the peel and stick route, traditional pasting, and a couple different removable ways that don’t involve pasting. We finally found a way that (so far) seems to really work and leave no residue behind, making it potentially one of the best options for renters!
First, let’s talk about what didn’t work. We had a very hard time finding peel and stick wallpaper that we loved for the nursery. We tried some peel and stick in the master bedroom and it worked out fine, we just weren’t in love with how the colors looked in the end. It wasn’t overly difficult to put up and we didn’t have a huge mess on our hands afterward but it did cause a lot of headaches when applying and trying to get just right. With peel and stick, I’ve noticed that you are somewhat limited in your pattern choices.
Back to the nursery… I first found what looked like a unique and somewhat easy, albeit time consuming, way to add traditional wallpaper using painters tape and double sided tape. Applying the wallpaper on the tape helped to make it quickly removable when ready to leave the apartment. This method catered to renters and looked like it had some good results based on the posts I read. So I set TJ to work on this method. We started out by making a grid with painters tape – the green frog tape worked best as it was easier for the double sided tape to stick to.
Once the frog tape was up we then added the double sided tape to the frog tape in the same grid pattern. After that we put the wallpaper up on the double sided tape, trimmed off the edges, and had a final product.
One issue we saw was the double sided tape wasn’t very strong and would move slightly on the wall as we tried to stretch and make sure no air bubbles were underneath. It created a couple seams that were very noticeable. Also, it was a little more difficult to put up the frog tape, double sided tape, and wallpaper all in a straight and consistent line, even when using a laser level. We ended up having some of the walls a little slanted and bubbles on a few of them as well. This method was definitely not the right way to go for us, but could be for others, especially if you’re looking to just fill a small area.
The latest and greatest method we found for putting up wallpaper was super simple! It only involved a few things – wallpaper, a paint roller and roll, liquid starch, a paint tray, towel, and something to smooth out the wallpaper once on the wall (I literally just used a children’s board book). We also used a laser level which helped keep us on track. But essentially you apply the liquid starch very generously on the wall using the paint roller (the same way you would do if using paste), and then apply the wallpaper on the wall.
At first we didn’t think it would stick to the wall, but after smoothing it out, the paper stayed up. We let it dry and then cut off the excess at the corners. The wallpaper has been up for almost a week now and has had no issues! We even tried applying a test piece to a corner of the wall to make sure no residue was there when peeling off and after a few days it peeled off with nothing left behind! This was a game changer. It was even a little easier than using the peel and stick because the paper wasn’t sticking to everything or itself as we tried to apply on the wall. We are very happy with this hack and with the and result and hope all the other renters out there can use this to make their home beautiful!
I’ve come to the conclusion that I buy way too many things on Etsy. I just can’t help myself with all of the unique vintage shops when it comes to decor. I’ve also found several baby clothing shops on Etsy. It’s just a really favorite place of mine to shop so I decided to start sharing with you my latest finds, starting with today’s nursery edition.
When searching for unique wooden shelves on Etsy, I came across this antique shop and immediately ordered these wall shelves/towel holders. The towel holder is perfect for hanging up extra clothing and the wooden shelf fits perfectly in a spot to the left of the crib. Small shelves for kids rooms are so fun because you can use them for books, toys, stuffed animals, clothing, the options are endless. Linked more shelves with similar detailing here.
While filling one of our cabinets with books one day, I decided to look into some sturdy bookends and couldn’t pass up on all of the vintage dog options I found on Etsy. Love that these add character to the cabinet but aren’t just for one stage of life too… something he can have even as an adult.
I’ve always had an obsession with Land Rover Defenders but when we visited France last summer (and found a toy car at a flea market), I decided to start a collection of toy cars that our boy could grow up and play with. I collected toy cars when I was little so it feels really nostalgic to add to this growing collection.
I was searching for a wood tone that would match our crib and came across Hanna’s shop. These wooden holders are stunning and the perfect addition to our nursery. I must note though that Hanna lives in Ukraine and has had to put her business on pause due to the war (typing this feels absolutely unreal) so, while she cannot ship orders out (the last I checked she was sheltering in a subway in Ukraine), any support of her business during these times would mean so much to her. Even just favorite-ing her store would mean a lot.
Striped Baby Sweatshirt Onesie
Not decor but worth mentioning as part of my latest Etsy finds that I have been loving! These sweatshirt onesies are 0-6 months leaving a HUGE range of growth before no longer fitting. They’re really soft and simple and one of my favorite things to dress Brooks in. The specific store I placed an order from is currently taking a short break so I am unable to link the product but I’ve shared some similar options here.
A simple way to add some personalization to a nursery or kids room! Love how classic these look for a boy’s room. I originally had this over the crib but swapped it with a custom name felt pennant flag and moved this banner to a closet door.
When deciding what to hang on the wall over his crib, I thought these custom name pennant flags were timeless and personal. You can personalize the colors and font to make it fit any nursery color scheme but I decided to go the neutral route since we have so much green and blue happening in the room already.
Used Set of Children Books
One of my favorite weekend activities is stopping in the local bookstore and picking out a book to add to the nursery but man does it get $! New books are so pricey and I realized that you can buy a whole set of used children books on Etsy for $20 or less. The vintage book collection options are also endless on there! Children’s books also just add functional character to a room.
Baby Mobile for Crib
I have a couple of different baby mobiles but sharing a few of my favorites:
I can’t believe we’ve been parents for over 3 months now. I thought time flew by when I was pregnant but now it’s flying by at a whole other speed… and it makes me highly emotional but also really excited because even seeing just a glimpse of a baby laugh makes my heart burst. It’s the best feeling ever seeing him grow into his personality and his smiles take me OUT.
Throughout my pregnancy, I resisted sharing many baby-related items we purchased because I wanted to have a good amount of time to try them out and figure out what worked and didn’t work. It’s easy to panic and overbuy when it comes to babies and the last thing I would want is to share something I hadn’t used yet that I would later end up not liking… and trust me, there were a few buying regrets. I really had no idea what to expect as a new mom and there has been a lot of trial and error. It is a constant learning process although I do feel like I’m getting the hang of things, especially now that we’re getting out of the house more! Now that we’ve been using these products for a few months, I wanted to share our most used baby items, the ones we love and would recommend in case you are looking to add items to a registry or doing research on what to buy in preparation for a little one! Truth be told, babies don’t really need a lot so, if you’re pregnant, do not stress! Our nursery still isn’t complete and we’re 3 months in. I categorized the items below and while a lot of these can be found in my Amazon Storefront, not everything can so I just decided to make a complete list with details about why I love each.
Starting the list off with the most frequently used items… diapers, wipes, and a changing pad. After testing out a few different diapers and wipes once we got back from the hospital, we quickly figured out what we loved the most. Coterie diapers can be ordered directly through their website (and Whole Foods now!) and their shipping is super quick plus I love getting email reminders when it’s about time to re-order. We were already on the 3rd size at 8 weeks just as a reference for other soon-to-be moms so don’t order too many of the newborn sizes like I did! As far as wipes, Waterwipes are my favorite and they have the fewest ingredients compared to other brands. The only big brand of diaper I haven’t tried yet is Huggies but as long as I am happy with Coterie, I will probably stick to those. I’ll let you know if anything changes or I find something better!
While we’re on the diaper topic, my favorite diaper balm is by Earth Mama and having one of these Bum Brushes makes it an even quicker application for when your little one has diaper rashes. But we actually haven’t dealt with many diaper rashes at all… just something nice to have on hand.
The Keekaroo changing pad is so great to have to and would make a great baby registry gift. The surface can get cold though so I like to keep some of these changing pad covers close by too (which would also make a great gift!).
Munchkin Lightweight Baby Swing *Update: Used only until about month 3* – After doing research on the best baby swings for small spaces, I decided to order this one. It’s SO lightweight compared to another swing that we originally started with and I love how simple it is with basically 5 settings and a few sounds/music options. It’s lightweight enough to move from room to room if needed and Brooks seems to love it, especially in the mornings after his first feeding. Is it absolutely necessary? No! But it is really nice to have some sort of something for him to sit up in and start the day in while I’m getting ready or doing computer work. The only downside from what I’ve seen is no activity/mobile hanging options over top to keep him more interested.
Snuggle Me Organic Bare Baby Lounger This is probably one of the MOST most used items by far, especially in that first month. We keep it on the sectional part of our sofa in the living room and use these changing pad covers to cover it with to help keep it clean. It’s nice to have a safe and cozy spot to lay him down and this lounging pad is just that. *Update: After about month 3, we never used this again.
BabyBjörn Bouncer Bliss We love this bouncer and it’s nice to bring out when we want him to sit up and be engaged with what we’re doing OR if we want to get work done. For example, if we’re eating dinner, loading the dishwasher, making coffee, or cleaning and he’s awake, this is nice to have so that he can sit up and simply just watch the world and be content. He recently started bouncing himself in it (under his control) so now it is extra stimulating for him. I also LOVE how easy it is to fold up and store in our storage ottoman. It takes up really minimal space which I appreciate and requires no power or plugging in! We recently traveled to my grandma’s house with it and it didn’t take up much space at all. *Update: Still using this daily at month 6*
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FORSLEEPING
Dreamland Baby Sleep Swaddle We recently started using this every night and it’s weighted so it is supposed to help calm and keep a baby sleeping for longer. So far, we’ve had many 8 hour straight nights of sleep so I can’t say for sure if this is the reason but I do think it helps a lot! *Update: Never used again after month 3.
Organic Muslin Swaddle Blankets We’re already out of the swaddle phase (HOW?!) but these blankets are the best for so many other uses too. We used these for swaddling the first 7-ish weeks when he slept and now we use them as a car seat blanket when we’re going places, burp cloths, and really anytime we need a blanket to warm him up. We like to keep one in the diaper bag too. *Update: Still using through month 7 when we go to restaurants or indoor places that tend to be cold.
HALO BassiNest Swivel Sleeper I had the hardest time deciding on a bassinet and, ultimately, I wish I had gotten an even simpler one. HALO has a few different types and I went with the one with all the extra bells and whistles… I never ended up using them though. I never used the sound feature, the vibrating/movement feature, the light feature… I used none of it except for the swivel feature. I do however still recommend this bassinet (the most simple version of it) because it is a safe place for him to sleep and I do love the swivel feature. I also want to note that I know all babies are different so maybe the extra features would be more beneficial to others but, in our case, I wish I had kept it more simple. *Update: Used up until month 3.5/4 and then he transitioned to his crib so we never used it after that.
Hatch Baby Rest Sound Machine We’ve used this sound machine every single night since the night he was born. I even brought it to the hospital. Not only does it provide many different sound settings but the light is also helpful to have when you’re waking up at night. *Update: still using daily at month 7.
Magnetic and/or Zipper Sleepers/Footies You’ve probably heard parents mention that zipper pajamas are key… and they weren’t lying. When it comes time to pajamas, we exclusively use zipper and magnetic ones because they’re just that much easier to handle when changing diapers at night. A couple of favorite brands are Magnetic Me and Kyte Baby which both are on the pricey side but are worth it in my opinion! I’ve also found some of my favorite ones at Baby Gap. The stretchier, the better and longer lasting because those babies grow FAST. *Update: still using at month 7 (just larger sizes). Our favorite currently is Kyte Baby.
Baby Mobile While we haven’t used our crib as much as we thought we would yet (we’ve been trying to do crib naps but he prefers his stroller…), when we DO use the crib, the baby mobile is the most fascinating thing for him. Ours came with a spinner and music device and it definitely keeps his attention for a very long time. *Update: No longer using past month 4.
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BATHTIME & SKINCARE/HEALTH
Skip Hop Smart Sling 3-Stage Bath Tub and Hooded Towel I like this bathtub because it has a mesh sling that is comfy for babies to sit on but the tub also is built to last through multiple stages of growth. We also have a couple of hooded towels to wrap him up in post-bath time… one is from Pottery Barn Kids and the other is from H&M Home (The PB one is a bit softer and thicker and would make a great gift). *Update: Still using at month 7!
Baby Shampoo and Body Wash The first baby shampoo we ever used was Babyganics and loved it! Then I did some more research on best shampoo for Cradle Cap specifically and found this one. We love both! Speaking of Cradle Cap, these fine-toothed baby combs are the best for getting those flakes out. *Update: Switched to Tubby Todd!
Tubby Todd All Over Ointment I am convinced this is a miracle skincare product for babies. We dealt with a lot of baby acne around week 2-3 and, after using this for a couple of days, the acne was nearly gone. It’s also great for getting rid of cradle cap. I lather this on after bath times too and it keeps his skin so moisturized. Just an all-around great product to have. *Update: Still using at month 7!
Nail Trimmer Nail files and nail trimmers worked well for us the first couple of months but then his nail growth got out of control and I had to just go straight for the adult nail clippers and be extra careful.
Vitamin D Our pediatrician recommended using this daily!
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ON THE GO/TRANSPORTATION
Nuna Pipa Lite RX Carseat This car seat jumped out at us when shopping because it is ideal for city living – can be installed in an Uber withOUT the base and just using the seatbelt. It also fits into our travel stroller with no adapter. *Update: Still using at month 7!
Nuna TRVL Stroller This is a fairly recent purchase but we absolutely LOVE how small and easily this travel stroller folds up, especially living in the city. It’s definitely not as smooth-rolling compared to our larger stroller but we use this just as much, if not more. Sometimes I question why we even have a second stroller but then I think about how eventually you can add on to the second one (plus more space for groceries/things with the larger one). It also holds our carseat perfectly which can come in handy in certain situations. *Update: We’ve really grown to love this stroller (maybe our favorite one) and are still using daily at month 7.
Silver Cross Wave Stroller This stroller was given to us as a gift after I had already purchased the Uppababy Vista. I ended up keeping this one and selling the Vista but both were very, very similar. Here is a good comparison article on the two. I will say… this one feels very luxurious. I feel like I’m pushing around a luxury baby vehicle. I also like how it can be converted to hold a newborn AND a toddler for when the time comes (the Vista does too). The only downside is that it is pretty big and doesn’t fit super well in smaller spaces. It’s basically always out in the open and living in a NYC apartment can feel crowded.
Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Mini I’ve used a couple of baby carriers and this one has been the quickest and easiest for me to put on over the last few months! It feels supportive enough for walks around the neighborhood too.
Solly Baby Wrap This was the first baby carrier/wrap I tried using and I love wearing it around the house. It took me a few tries before memorizing how to wrap it but now it’s built into my brain without even thinking about it. Ah, I get nostalgic thinking about those first few weeks home with him and his cozy little body snuggled up into this!
Tommee Tippee Ultra-Light Silicone Pacifier After trying at least 5 different pacifiers, these are the ones that stay in his mouth the longest! I don’t even know why I continued to search for new ones after trying these because none of them really kept his interest. Whenever we go to a restaurant, a friend’s house, or even just on a walk… we always remember to bring one of these. *Update: Still love these at month 7.
Diaper Bag We quickly learned that we needed a backpack diaper bag with all of the walking we do around the city and we have really loved this one these last 3 months! It holds everything we need and doesn’t look overly feminine for TJ, not that he cares. *Update: Switched to this one because the zipper on our old one broke and this new one is much more spacious.
Baby Einstein Sensory Play Space Newborn-to-Toddler Discovery Gym It’s definitely not necessary to have multiple play mats and gyms but this one was a gift from my mom and I love how it lights up and plays music. It’s also really easy to break down and store away in our storage ottoman! *Update: At month 7, we’re not really using this anymore.
Lovevery Play Gym I’m a big fan of all things Lovevery and this play gym is no exception. It’s designed beautifully but also incredibly stimulating and has so many different activities… mirrors to look at, contrasting cards, a rattle, and so much more. It’s also easy to break down when needed and doesn’t require much storage space at all. *Update: At month 7, we are more into Lovevery’s play kits and other activities. Have not pulled this out since probably month 5.
Kick and Play Piano Gym This is one of the most popular baby toys on Amazon and you’ll 100% get the songs stuck in your head but it’s basically a small playmat with a foot piano at the end that plays songs when the baby kicks it. Also easy to break down and store away! *Update: Still using at month 7 but more so while he sits up as opposed to feet playing the piano.
Lovevery Play Kits These play kits are my newest favorite delivery every couple of months or so! It’s a kit containing different developmental activities depending on how many months of age your child is. We just got our second kit (for 3-4 month olds) and it has so many great activities inside! I will definitely be a customer for as long as they make these kits. *Update: still using this service at month 7.
Books I figured the easiest way to organize my favorite children’s books would be Amazon Storefront. It’s an ever-growing list!
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BREASTFEEDING/PUMPING
My Brest Friend Nursing Pillow This nursing pillow changed the game for me and made breastfeeding 10x easier. It’s the perfect amount of firmness so that you don’t feel hunched over and it has incredible back support too. It was not the first one I tried (tried the Boppy and it just did not work well for me) but I’d definitely recommend packing this one with you when going to the hospital. *Update: stopped using this around month 4/5. He just got too big!
Motif Luna Pump This is a fairly standard breast pump (also should be covered under your insurance!) but I’ve really liked the simplicity of it! I did end up ordering extra parts just so I don’t have to constantly be washing the parts after each use and I carry it around the apartment inside of this caddy along with my favorite Milk Storage Bags (love these because of how stiff they are so that I can open it one-handed without it spilling). *Update: still using at month 7.
Ladybug Silicone Breast Milk Collector These fit inside of a bra seamlessly and collect breast milk while you are feeding with the other so that no milk is wasted.
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I think that covers all of our most used items for months 1-3. I cannot believe how quickly those last 3 months have flown by. The growth and development we’ve seen in such a short amount of time just blows my mind and they really have been my favorite months of my life. I hope this list helps you if you’re having a baby soon or maybe even just stuck on gift ideas.
When we moved from North Carolina to New York back in February of 2020 (can’t believe it’s been almost two years), I was willing to give up many things in order to spend more time with TJ (at the time, he was traveling here weekly for work) and that included selling our house which also meant no longer living with walk-in closets. Walk-in closets in NYC are hard to come by… turns out a lot of things are hard to come by here BUT, thankfully, IKEA came through and I decided to put one of their PAX wardrobe systems along one of the bedroom walls to give me some extra closet space. I never once missed my walk-in closet.
At the time, I just needed something quick and deliverable. I settled on this wardrobe layout because it was in stock and could be delivered quickly but decided to do the open-closet look without doors. I loved it but fast forward two years and our family has grown but our space has not! The only spot this IKEA closet could fit was in our second bedroom AKA the forever-in-progress-soon-to-be nursery. I wanted the room to feel like an intentional nursery despite it’s multiple functions. That meant it was time to hide my clothes and buy doors for the closet. I recently purchased 3 of these doors and 1 of these along with these handles. The doors I purchased had literally NO details… just a flat white tall rectangle. Figuring out what doors to buy was half the battle. We had experience adding moulding to various walls in our home so we decided to create a layout of moulding for the doors to make it less plain and boring.
Once all of the doors arrived, I picked out a paint color and picked up some primer. We have an embarrassing amount of paint cans in our apartment and for some reason I had an unopened can of Farrow and Ball paint. I think I was going to use it for a previous project but it turned out to be the perfect color for the nursery. You can read more about the nursery colors here.
Now that we had the doors and the paint ready to go, the most important first step was to PRIME. We needed to prime the Ikea doors REALLY well because of the material they are made of. Look for a primer specifically mentioning it works for laminate! We did NOT sand our doors at all but if you wanted to roughen the surface a little, it probably wouldn’t hurt. But, I just had a baby so if I can save some time (and keep our air a little cleaner), that’s what I’d like to do! We used Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond Primer but I’ve also heard great things about this primer working REALLY well for IKEA furniture.
*If you are planning to add some sort of moulding design onto the doors, I would try and decide on the layout and take measurements BEFORE priming and painting. I always do this with painters tape as shown below:
We let the primer settle overnight and then next day we started the paint the first coat. Once painted, it was time to add the moulding/trim design. If you’re new to doing this… you basically need:
wood or polyurethane moulding (Personally, I like between 1-2 inches wide with a few “grooves” and ridges… not sure of the technical term)
double-sided mounting tape (you may also want some back-up type of glue incase your tape has trouble sticking to the trim… we just used a hot glue gun for a few spots)
For the trim, I always go to a local lumber store… Mike’s Lumber on W. 88th St./West End Ave. But I will link some options below too if you’d rather just order online. You can use regular wood or polyurethane but I’ve only ever used wood.
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For the layout, I decided to have the trim sit one inch from the sides of the doors and 3 inches from the top and bottom. Simply cut the trim using the saw/box at a 45 degree angle with the measurements your specific layout/design calls for.
We applied the trim using double-sided mounting tape and caulk to fill the little side gaps as well as help secure it more to the doors.
I have a few paint touch-ups left to do but, other than that, these closet doors are complete! Let me know if you have any questions that I might have missed.
Paint Colors and Wallpaper We’re Using In The Nursery
We’ve been slowly transitioning our second bedroom to a nursery and, while we would have loved to have completed it before the baby arrived, shipping delays combined with my 3rd trimester lack of energy and just overall timing with the busy holiday season shifted our plans a tad. But the extra time also gave me some clarity on the color palette and overall feel I want the room to have.
The room started off as a clean white canvas but I knew I wanted some calming colors to compliment a fun wallpaper print. It took me months to find the right wallpaper. After ordering samples upon samples, I finally came across this one by Sandberg Wallpaper in the color “Misty Blue”. The print features leaves and what appears to be fruit hanging from branches – a nice gender neutral nature-inspired pattern. The only hurdle was the fact that it wasn’t technically “removable” so we wanted to find a technique to make non-removable wallpaper removable… stay tuned for what we did! If you want to know my two FAVORITE wallpaper brands lately… they are Sandberg Wallpaper and Borastapeter. Both are Swedish companies (Sweden knows how to do wallpaper) and you might have to do some searching for US locations/online retailers but both have the most beautiful prints I’ve ever seen and make me want to buy a home just so I can wallpaper the entire thing.
For paint colors, I found two colors that unexpectedly look really great paired with the wallpaper (in my opinion, at least :)). I ultimately decided to paint the doors and trim this smokey green color (Green Smoke) from Farrow and Ball and for other accents including an IKEA closet (and potentially a dresser TBD), I went with this green-gray color (French Gray). Both are really beautiful timeless colors that give the room a young, fresh, fun feel while still remaining calm and serene.
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We recently finished painting our IKEA closet in French Gray and it looks SO good. I can’t wait to share a photo of it (it’s too dark now to get a good look at it but I’ll share one tomorrow on Instagram once the sun comes back out).
Cyber Week starts earlier and earlier each year it seems and *most* of my favorite retailers have already started sharing the best deals they’ll probably share all week long. I rounded up a few favorites below. Personally, I’ll be shopping for a few last minute baby items since my due date is less than a month away. AH! This season is flying by. I’m also on the hunt for a new long puffy winter coat for myself… a New York winter staple.
