Packing for a 10 Day Vacay

Indulge, Mom and Babe, style

Going away with my babe and our babe.

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Itinerary:

Two days with family in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Two days in Kingston at a wedding. Six days on a resort property.

WEDDING

wedding shoes (strappy leopard heels with geometric heel)
two dresses (in case of baby barf) – one is a rust coloured crepe and lace maxi with a tie front, the other is a black dress with elaborate back straps, both can accommodate breast feeding
gold clutch

BEACH

4 bikinis with mix and match prints
2 pareos/wraps for the beach that can also be sun drapes for the stroller
flip flops
long black floral kimono for over swim suits or for everyday wear
two hats (one floppy, one peaked)
sunglasses (2 pairs)

FOR THE PLANE

Cole Haan slip on loafer, bike shorts, midi dress in a blue and white print from HM with a tie waist and button front, beige breezy kimono layer

RESORT AND TOWN

Shoes –

Tom’s denim slides, Tom’s geometric black and white block heel sandal, Teva platform sandal (black), Cole Haan blush loafers

Dresses and Rompers –

blue gingham tie shoulder dress
red and navy stripe maxi dress (also for sleep/lounging)
white and black graphic print jumpsuit with snap front closure
brown and blush button up floral dress with cap sleeve
fern print shirt dress
rust dress alternate for wedding
Black shirt dress layering piece with long sleeves

Underwear –

strapless bra
nude bra, grey bra, black soft and grey soft
10 pairs underwear and 4 thongs
3 pairs of slip shorts, blue bike shorts and peach bike shorts (for under dresses and bending/sitting with baby)
black sleep slip
nursing sleep bra

Pants

cream lace pant
paper bag waist stripe red pant with matching crop top
moss green flowy capri length
white and blue stripe palazzo pant with tie waist
black Lulu legging

Tops –

mustard ruffle neck top
rust ruffle neck top
matching red stripe bustier top
white t-shirt
cream knit tank
navy knit tank
grey waffle tank
tropical flora and fauna print button up sleeveless
white crepe tank
white, black and grey nursing tanks
black crop t-shirt

Travel with Baby

style

Planning our trip to Mexico with a two month old, was a great challenge for these new moms. It was a grand success. Check out the photos at the end. Drumroll…here is what we packed:

Infantino Carrier
Travel bassinet
wipes
diapers and swim diapers
formula (pre-mixed or concentrate)
birth certificate, parent letter and passport
breast pads/washable inserts
pump (we skipped this since I’m now producing enough milk on my own, with some formula top-ups)
bottles and tops, enough to have spares
lactation aide (we also skipped this)
baby shampoo, creams (diaper cream, lotion, etc.), bug repellent (safe for babes)
rashguard, swim diaper, sunhat and sun glasses
baby headphones
pacifier/soother
clothes
carseat, base (or learn to safely install without the base), stroller attachment
changes of clothes for you
I’m investigating, in advance of travel, to see if our destination stocks the formula, diapers and other things we like for baby. If we can avoid taking a week’s supply, that will really save on space
Also, look up whether breast feeding in public is safe/legal/recommended in your destination
Sleep Sheep or white noise machine
medications (like Domperidone, for me)
vitamins for you and vitamin D for baby
coconut oil for sun protection for the babe
a UV protecting cover for the stroller. Jolly Jumper makes a great one and Milk Snob has a great cover that doubles as a nursing screen
Diaper cream and corn starch
Baby paper and some simple toys (we ended up getting some beautiful, colourful pompom garlands in a market, which he couldn’t take his eyes off. These now hang over his change table! But careful that he isn’t unsupervised, as with anything that involves string)
Nosefrida (for air travel and stuffiness)
Infant Tylenol
Gripe Water if you have a gassy baby

We upgraded our tickets and baby’s first trip was in Business Class.

First Class Flyer – extra leg room, wider seats and a bulkhead gave us ample room for him. No tears at all on either flight to and from Mexico! Bravo little traveller!

This was the main entrance to the condos we called home for two weeks.

Watching the sunrise. Three generations.

For Clothes, we knew we’d have access to in-suite laundry, so we packed:

Bibs

Layettes

Shorts and pants

Short-onesies/rompers (this was the majority of the outfits)

Pajamas – for the plane and at night with the A/C

Burp cloths and muslin wraps

Socks

A knit jacket/sweater for air conditioned spaces and the plane

Swimsuits/rashguard

Sunglasses

Hats

Copy of his birth certificate, immunization record, passport, health card

Swimming with baby was an amazing first.

We loved all the time with each other, with him and with our family. For the rest of the trip photos, scroll down, past the last of the items from our travel must-haves.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Fanny pack, a carry on for us, carry on Diaper bag, small purse, big suitcase x 2 (one for us and one for all the baby stuff), a small suitcase of diapers and formula.

We made a call to set up/confirm our travel insurance/health insurance, etc.

We arranged a cat and house sitter, and also opted to use the Park ‘N Fly valet service (plus detailing) so we came home to a happy cat, safe home and a clean car.

Adios, Mexico and Gracias for a great first vacay with our blossoming family.

Hot Mama, with our Milk Snob Stroller cover

Hard to believe our little one is 11 weeks old!

What are your travel must-haves? Share your faves in the comments!

Up Up and Away

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Travelling to Mexico … with a baby. The list looks very different from the usual. ‘Remember,’ says my mom, ‘It’s not a fashion show… people dress super casual in Nuevo Vallarta.’

Paring down will be key. Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up.

For the winter arrival at the airport, then to walk the streets in Mexico: brown ankle boots – pairs with jeans and dresses.

For tops and bottoms, everything has to go with everything and it needs to enable nursing. In addition to a few mix and match pieces, I’ll be bringing some dresses.

Nursing bras from HM and I’ll also be bringing three nursing tanks (which are tops or layers) in black, white and grey

Kokette long cardigan and some stretch jeans

Orange hues tie the wardrobe together with blues and cream colours. Robe – Urban Outfitters

Swim suit from Urban Outfitters – two bikinis and two one-pieces will be rounding out my suitcase

Athleisure will feature heavily – like this combo from Aerie

What vacation would be complete without some crop tops? I just gave birth two months ago and feel more empowered than ever to rock a bathing suit and live the mantra – a swimsuit body is any body with a swimsuit on it.

OOTD x 3 – Cottage Style – Take Me Away

Indulge, style

Cottage vacations are a perfect way to explore your own country without going too far afield. Three nights in a beautiful Prince Edward County farmhouse. Beaches. Family. Early bedtimes. Bonfires. Sunsets. Sunscreen. Sand. Yes, to easy getaways close to home.

A hop over the pond: What to pack for 10 days in the UK

Indulge

Vacation Packing 101, or 102 if you consider this the upgrade from my trip this weekend (Cottage Trip)

Hot on the heels of a gorgeous cottage getaway (stay tuned for that), I am packing it up for a vacay to the UK. I’m going with my mum, while my lovely wife stays on the homefront. I managed to pack for 4 days of beach and countryside in a carryon (including all my pregnancy vitamins and meds), so this time, the challenge will be taking all those extras, for more than twice the time away, in a medium sized case and soft-sided carryon. I’m a classic over-packer.

The UK is the perfect not-too-hot, not-too-crowded, great healthcare in case of emergency destination for a pregnant gal on the go. So, as I lay out my look book for the days away, what is the inspiration?

Here you go! For all images, links and credits, check out my Pinterest page, Vacation Lookbook

Dresses will the the staple of this trip, with some basic black pants (one flowy, one pair of skinny jeans) and two skirts thrown into the mix.

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Some hats, a classic bag and comfortable shoes are also making the cut. Simple gold necklaces, a few good bracelets and my wedding ring will be the basics that come along.