Gift Guide: Mum and Mum to Be Under $50

The ultimate gift guide for a mum or mum to be, under $50! I thought it might be helpful to compile a list of budget-friendly gift ideas for your pregnant friend or new mum, with things I recieved or wished I received when pregnant and some mum-approved picks.

I know not everyone loves gift guides so I'm only going to do a couple this year just like last year, and you can always check out my previous post if you prefer just seeing outfits.

Pregnancy Gift Guide Under $50

Pampering is key here. Pregnancy is an incredible miracle, but you don't always feel like you're glowing and floating gracefully through your pregnancy!

Pictured in the guide:

Pregnancy Style on a Budget eBook

The ultimate guide to having a stylish pregnancy on a budget, gift this to your pregnant friend to help her continue to stay true to her personal style through pregnancy, and start each day looking and feeling great! Plus it's under $5! (I think it's the best value ebook ever but I may be biased, being the author!)

Pregnancy Body Pillow

$50 at Overstock
I got through a pregnancy without this and thought it was maybe a little gimmicky, but when I was given one for my last pregnancy that all changed - they are SUCH a good way to have a comfortable sleep! Highly recommend these!

Body Moisturiser Gift Pack

The Body Shop Shea Butter Set or Body Butter Gift Set both under $35
Whether you believe it helps stretch marks or not, a daily ritual of moisturising the growing bump becomes an essential part of pregnancy. It's a good way to sooth stretched skin, so a little pamper pack like this will gt a lot of use. Just be sure to double-check before you buy - pregnancy aversions may mean previously loved scents aren't tolerated any more. Bio-oil and shea butter are pretty popular but any lovely moisturiser can be used.

Confetti Water Bottle

Under $30 at Shopbop
Pregnancy is thirsty work, and it's easy to get your increased daily intake of water when your water bottle is as cute as this! I have the confetti tumbler version at home and love it, so sparkly.

Organiser/Agenda

Kate Spade Under $40 at Nordstrom
Essential to record all of those appointments, track pregnancy milestones and keep a daily-to-do list. Baby brain is real, having things written down helps.

Happy Wishes Jar

Gift Boutique Happy Wishes Jar at Shopbop
A cute jar to start recording happy wishes for baby - this makes a nice idea for a baby shower too.

Cute Sleepwear

'Mama Bird' maternity sleepwear set from BooHoo
Not for in labour, because that gets messy, but something nice she can wear now and pack in her hospital bag for later. There are a lot of cute bump-specific slogan sets, but 'mama bird' works for pregnancy and afterwards! More cute sleepwear at The Iconic.

Cosy Cardigan and Blanket Scarf

Open knit purple cardigan under $50 and tartan blanket scarf under $50
Because cardigans you don't have to button don't have to be maternity ones, she can wear them open over the growing bump. Add in a cute scarf to keep her warm while the cardigan is open and she'll be able to see through a cold weather pregnancy in style. As a bonus, the scarf can double up as a breastfeeding cover-up post baby!

A Roomy Handbag

Monogram stripe tote under $50
A big tote is a nice idea - to hold the snacks, bottles of water and to-do lists that you cart everywhere with you in pregnancy. Something monogrammed is a nice personal touch. You could even consider buying a baby bag too if you know what one she's picked out already.

---

Mum Gift Guide Under $50:

When you're a mum it can be hard to find time to yourself or to justify splurging on yourself instead of your kids, so little things to make her feel special are a good idea. And with any time-consuming activity, an offer of free babysitting to accompany it is so incredibly thoughtful! It's much easier to use movie tickets or spa vouchers if you know your kids are in good hands.

Pictured in the guide:

Coffee Mug

But First Coffee Thermal Mug under $25
A mug is nice, but an insulated tumbler that will keep coffee warm for longer is a mum essential, especially in those sleep deprived early days. Coffee vouchers are a good idea too for caffeine on the go.

Line a day journal

Sentence a Day from Kikki.K under $30 or Sentence a Day for mothers under $20
It's hard to find time for anything when you're a mum, but recording a sentence a day is definitely doable, and a sweet memento to look back on when the kids are bigger. A good way to keep track of things even in the early days of motherhood!

Treat Yourself Voucher

Little book of love vouchers under $10
Movies, spa treatments, mani/pedis, personal style sessions, there are so many options. A personal stylist session is a great gift for a mum who is feeling a little lost in her wardrobe post-baby! As mentioned above, make sure to include an offer of babysitting with your voucher, or find a local child-friendly beauty salon.

Beauty Advent Calendars

Under $20 at Target
There are so many nice ones around - The Body Shop do a lovely all-rounder that contains a few different beauty products, and I won a very luxe Charlotte Tilbury advent calendar last year. Something with lots of little beauty things to try in sample sizes lets mum work a new product into her routine whenever she has a moment, and the advent calendar idea is a good way to encourage her to take an extra few minutes to herself each day. If mum's not a fan of beauty products, what about a tea advent calendar? A nice spin on the traditional chocolate calendar.

Silicone Teething Necklaces

Under $30 at Nibbly Bits
I love gifting these to my mum friends! Find ones made with food grade silicone that meet Australian safety standards like Nibbly Bits, and they are the perfect accessory to wear safely around kids. Both my babies loved gnawing on these, and as you wear them you always have quick access to them when they get grizzly. Perfect for teething too. You can find some nice handmade ones on Etsy.

Scented Candles

Wish upon a star candle under $40 or patterned jar candle under $35
These might not be the best idea for mum friends with inquisitive toddlers, but for those with older or younger kids a great scented candle (I love Glasshouse vanilla caramel) is a sweet gift idea. It's a nice way to make a house feel more relaxing, no matter how many toy trains are scattered around.

Sentimental Jewelry

Initial disc necklace on Etsy, Mother Alex and Ani bracelet
There are so many options here from initial necklaces to personalised bangles. Anything that has charms to represent her family is a nice idea, especially if it can be added to later if her family expands.

Chocolate

Lindt 100 Chocolate Balls Gift Pack or Chocolate Coated Oreos
Covering off all the mum essentials, with coffee before and now chocolate - a little stash of chocolate she can enjoy once the kids are in bed for the night is a lovely idea! Lindt is my go-to for luxe chocolate treats.

A Cute Scarf

Kate Spade Scarf Under $50 or a cute neck scarf if it's summer
A big blanket scarf doubles as a breastfeeding cover for a breastfeeding mum, or can simply be added to an outfit to hide spit-up and other baby related marks you don't always notice until after you've left the house! Really handy to keep in the nappy bag.

Cross Body Bag

Leather Cross Body Bags Under $50 at Asos
A small cross body bag is perfect for any mum - it can hold all her essentials nice and close while keeping her hands free for kid-wrangling, and can also be slipped easily inside a nappy bag when her kids are babies. Rebecca Minkoff is a good luxe choice here.

Hope you got some good Christmas present ideas from my post. Everything selected still has plenty of time to be purchased and shipped to you or your recipient before Christmas, especially if you buy it this week!

Is there anything you would add to either gift list?


Linking up with Style on the Daily, Oh Hey Girl, Fashion Frenzy, Fashion Files, Fun Fashion, Passion For Fashion, Flashback Fashion, Weekend Wear, Style Elixir, Friday Favourites, Shoe & Tell, Modest Monday, Hello Monday, On Monday We Link Up.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Wrap Tops and Blue Textured Pencil Skirts for the Office

I've shared before about how easy it is to wear breastfeeding clothes after you've stopped breastfeeding. I bought a few wrap tops to help with breastfeeding, but they are still getting worn now. They are a really stylish option for work.

Ended up going a little monochrome, wearing my blue wrap tops with textured navy pencil skirts for the office. And of course my latest bag purchase, the purple Balenciaga work bag.

What I wore:

Necklace: Lovisa silver love knitted heart pendant necklace
Top: Dorothy Perkins 3/4 sleeve wrap top
Skirt: Asos blue textured lace pencil skirt
Shoes: Marc by Marc Jacobs silver tuxedo flats
Bracelets: the usual plus Roie Designs waxed leather cream howlite beaded wrap bracelet and Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

With warmer spring weather, I know there are going to be less opportunities to wear this longer sleeved wrap top. As I said last time I wore it too! It was good to take the chance to wear it again. I really liked how it looked with the blue lace pencil skirt, it made for a nice monochrome outfit.

An easy outfit was just what was needed after spending the past few days with a sick baby and a lot of waking up in the night. Throwing on my favourite colour (blue) to boost my mood, makeup to hide the bags under my eyes and I felt pulled together enough for a day in the office.

Debated for a few minutes in the morning trying to pick out a necklace to wear with this top. I settled on this silver heart pendant that hadn't been worn in a while, but I think a longer necklace might have worked better.


Last worn: blue marle wrap top, ASOS lace pencil skirt, silver ballet flats, Balenciaga purple work bag.

Other ways to wear: blue marle wrap top in winter, lace pencil skirt worn casually, silver ballet flats and wrap dress, Balenciaga purple work bag and printed dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: lace pencil skirt in third trimester, ballet flats in third trimester,

---

Wrap Tops Under $50:

---

What I wore:

Jacket:  Zara cream jersey blazer

Necklace: Starfish Project Hannah turquoise bead necklace
Top: Atmos & Here Arlene wrap top in navy
Skirt: Warehouse navy jacquard pencil skirt
Shoes: Walnut Melbourne 'Ava' black lizard ballet flats (also available in silver)
Bracelets: the usual plus
Bag: Balenciaga raisin purple 2009 giant silver G21 hardware work bag

Why I wore it:

Another day at work, another sick boy! Toddler T had fallen ill the day before, so once again it was monochrome blue to try lift my mood and give me a bit of a boost to power through the work day. This time around I went with a longer turquoise beaded necklace with the wrap top, and I really liked this combination.

As the top is short sleeved, I added the cream jersey blazer to keep me warm in the office air-con, but I really didn't need to keep it on outside as it was such a warm spring day.

You can tell it's spring as the sun is rising earlier and my usual photo spot isn't in shade as much as usual! It's really tricky early in the mornings now trying to get a photo that's not in bright sunlight. Going to have to start changing up my photo spot.


Last worn: cream jersey blazer, navy wrap top, jacquard pencil skirt, black ballet flats, purple Balenciaga work bag (above).

Other ways to wear: cream jersey blazer and jeans, navy wrap top and maxi skirt, jacquard pencil skirt and heels, black ballet flats and maxi dress, purple Balenciaga work bag and black outfit.

Perfect for pregnancy: cream jersey blazer and hidden baby bump, wrap top in third trimester, ballet flats in third trimester.

---

More Wrap Tops Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

Wrap tops aren't just perfect for breastfeeding - they work great in a professional setting too and are good office options. You can't go wrong pairing them with a pencil skirt and a blazer.

Linking up with Hello Monday, On Mondays We Link Up, On Trend, Confident Twosday, Trend Spin, Style Sessions, Oh Hey Girl.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Sydney With Two Toddlers: What We Did and What I Wore

In October we took the boys on their first flight down to Sydney for a few days. I'm sharing what we did and things to see in Sydney if you're travelling with toddlers. If you want to skip that, I've included my regular outfits too.

Toddler T is 3, and Baby Boy is 19 months. Both are good walkers. We took a travel stroller and I had my Ergobaby carrier. The stroller was great for carrying the baby bag, layers to wear and food and snacks for the boys but we didn't think Sydney was very stroller friendly. Sydney had daylight savings time but it was only an hour different from Brisbane so we stuck to Brisbane time as normal.

What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tank: French Connection feather foil singlet
Skirt: Target grey marle maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Balenciaga Day bag in 2005 magenta (20% off with code 'REAL')

Why I wore it:

I was looking forward to this day the most! I didn't have a lot of space as we packed light, mostly taking extra clothes for the boys. I still prioritised so while I wore the same Converse every day, I had room for a change of bag and instead of my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere I swapped out to this magenta Balenciaga day bag for our morning at the aquarium and spending the afternoon with my bestie. She has a magenta Balenciaga bag too so I had to wear this for the occasion!

Did wish I'd packed another jacket, as it was an overcast and colder day and this purple cardigan was the warmest piece I'd packed.


Last worn: purple cardigan, black tank, grey jersey maxi skirt, Converse, Balenciaga magenta day bag.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and chambray dress, black tank and printed shorts, grey jersey maxi skirt in monochrome outfit, Converse and printed dresses, Balenciaga magenta day bag with button up breastfeeding dresses.

Perfect for pregnancy: black tank in first trimester, maxi skirt for second trimester travel, magenta Balenciaga and maternity denim.

---

4 Days in Sydney With Toddlers: Itinerary

Day One

We landed in Sydney in the afternoon, and it was off to where we were staying for nap time. I will not be sharing the name of the place we stayed as it was the worst place I have ever stayed and if there had been other options available I would have demanded a refund and moved out.

After failed nap time for Toddler T, I took him with me on my bloggy date with Rachel from a Nesting Nomad. It was great to catch up with her again, after meeting her in Brisbane a while back. I followed Google Maps but failed to realise the route resulted in walking up a very long hill to get to the meeting point. Only slightly late. Sorry again Rachel!

We walked through Hyde Park to let Toddler T run around a bit, then met up with Hubby and Baby Boy once he'd woken up. We went for a walk around Paddy's markets and through Chinatown before going to Darling Harbour.

Tip: Darling Harbour playground is perfect for toddlers. 

The boys had the chance to run around and play to expend some energy after sitting still on the flight. Lots of lovely restaurants nearby for dinner options too, although we went back to where we were staying and ordered takeout!

Day Two 

A cold and dull day, it was supposed to rain so we headed to the aquarium as we suspected we might. We hadn't bought our tickets in advance, not wanting to tie ourselves down to anything much with two toddlers.

Tip: Buy your aquarium ticket in advance. The line to purchase was extremely slow.

The aquarium was worth the wait though, the boys loved it. Despite it being perfect indoors weather and a weekend, there was plenty of space for the boys to run around from exhibit to exhibit as it wasn't too crowded. There were roving staff members in a few rooms presenting and talking about things to see, as well as lots of helpful educational information near each tank. Made it easy to explain to the boys what they were seeing, even though they were a little young to read for themselves.

Tip: Take toddlers to the bathroom before you enter. The bathrooms are at the end of the aquarium which is not what you want to discover halfway round.

After the aquarium, we attempted to head over the Pyrmont bridge to get to the shopping centre for lunch. I have fond memories of walking along the bridge on holiday as a kid, back when the monorail was still there! So difficult to do with a stroller though. We'd walked past the lift a few times before we found it, and then getting the lift down into the shopping centre on the other side of the harbour involved getting out on the top floor, walking through the shopping centre, getting another lift down then walking back to go to where we wanted to eat for lunch. On our way back we just walked around the harbour in the cold rather than attempt the silly lift system again.

As the boys napped, my bestie arrived and I snuck out leaving hubby and the boys to rest as we went to the Lindt Cafe for some chocolate and a catch up. It might have just been the company, but it was easily one of my favourite meals in Sydney, as we shared the 'dome of decadence' between 3 of us.




Tip: Lindt Cafe might be a little too chocolate filled to be a good option with a toddler, but they do takeaway!


After an amazing afternoon catching up, it was dinner time and we just headed to the nearest McDonalds for a fuss-free meal, perfect for toddlers!

Day Three

The day Toddler T was looking forward to most - a trip to the zoo and a ride on a Sydney Ferry!

After a slight detour into the Rocks, we eventually made our way to Circular Quay and had the chance to take photos with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Tip: The Rocks is NOT stroller friendly, don't even try it. Or you'll end up stuck looking down on the harbour realising the only way down is a very long flight of stairs with a stroller. Thanks again Google Maps!

I expected some excitement from the toddlers about the landmarks we'd been pointing out in books for weeks, but it was of course all about the boats! There was a big cruise liner docked while we were there which was exciting to see.

After buying our tickets we hopped on the ferry to go to Taronga Zoo. It's a short trip, just enough time for the toddlers to enjoy being on a boat and you to point out and take photos of all the landmarks before you arrive at the zoo.

Tip: You don't need to travel round all of Circular Quay to get landmark photos with toddlers - just hop on the Manly ferry and take photos from the boat!

When we arrived at the zoo, as we had bought our tickets in advance we were able to take the gondola up over the animals to the very top, with amazing views of the harbour. Of course it was the animals you fly over that the boys enjoyed more than the view!

Tip: buy your zoo ticket in advance, even if just at the ferry terminal. It gives you the ability to take a gondola up to the top of the hill and work your way down.

Starting at the top of the zoo made getting around with the stroller very easy, no need to push up any hills. While we didn't see all the animals (we skipped the aquatic section after the aquarium the day before, and the line for the tiger experience was too long for a toddler's attention span) the boys had a great time running around and getting up close with the animals we did see.

We had lunch at 'The Fish Stop' which does have non-seafood options, and was less busy than the central 'Food Market' although it does have less choices. It was so easy to get food and then sit in one of the many picnic areas right next to it, with incredible views of the Sydney city and the harbour.

Tip: Grab a bite to eat at 'The Fish Stop' or bring a picnic and sit back on the lawns for an amazing view out over the harbour!

While the monkeys were the favourite animal of the day (and it was incredible watching one of them mesmerised by my teething necklace!) there were so many to choose from. There was a lovely playground in the farm animal section. Although it was geared towards older kids the boys really enjoyed playing there for a break from animal-watching.

The walk back to the ferry was a really nice downhill stretch, and while you do have to go through a gift shop as you exit the big shark tank and presentation that was on around the sharks meant the boys were nicely distracted as we left, souvenir free. If only that had been the case at the aquarium, ha!


Once we got back to Sydney, we headed to Helm Bar for dinner. I'd looked up a few places online for food and Helm bar was highly recommended, but seemed like a noisy party bar every time we passed it before. Having no luck finding anywhere else open on a Sunday night in our price range, we went there as it was listed as wheelchair accessible. While there's no easy way to get a stroller up the stairs to the bar, there is a lovely beer garden you can sit in and order food and drinks. It was perfect for families.

Food was so well priced, especially for Sydney, and the boys loved their kids meal. I'm still sad we tried it on the last night so I couldn't go back for another schnitzel burger - definitely will be next time I'm in Sydney!

Day Four

This was our travel day, we didn't do much other than pack up, prepare another lunchbox full of snacks for the plane trip home, and make our way to the airport.

Top Tips for Travelling With Toddlers

Have transport options
The toddlers can walk, and we had the stroller and Ergo Baby carrier for babywearing so there were options when the boys didn't want to walk any more.

Be flexible
We had a general list of the sights we wanted to see but didn't buy any tickets in advance so that our days could change if necessary, and we weren't feeling rushed as we didn't try to do too much each day. One activity or outing is fine, and just wing it for the rest of the day.

Pack snacks
This works for the plane flight too, but when you're in a new place you might not know how far away the next kid-friendly place to eat is, so having snacks with you for the toddlers and yourself comes in helpful.

Take lots of photos
The only regret I had in Sydney was that I didn't take a lot of photos (a few hundred over the 4 days instead of my usual couple of hundred I take a day when something exciting is going on!).


Would we do it again?
Not until the boys are bigger and the stroller isn't needed - it was a real pain trying to fit the stroller in places - even though we packed a small umbrella travel stroller instead of our usual big one. Sydney definitely felt a lot more cramped and less stroller friendly than Brisbane.


What I wore:

Jacket: Jeanswest Dana drape knit cardi in boysenberry
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tee: Jeanswest Flavia foil printed polka dot tee deep iris
Skirt: Target grey marle maxi skirt
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

Unlike the outfit above, I actually found it too warm to wear the cardigan on this day and wished I hadn't brought it! We took the boys to see the Harbour Bridge and Opera House at last (our third day in Sydney...) and hopped on the Manly Ferry over to Taronga Zoo.

The benefit of wearing the Ergo Baby carrier in the back carry position (you can just see Baby Boy's little foot peeking out in the pic!) is that it's easy to wear a cross body bag, and my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere was perfect for keeping my camera close by for walking around the zoo.


Last worn: purple cardigan (above), polka dot tee, jersey maxi skirt (above), Converse (above), Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere bag.

Other ways to wear: purple cardigan and button down tank, polka dot tee and mustard cardi, jersey maxi skirt and graphic tee, Converse and colourful jeans, Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere bag and skinny jeans.

Perfect for pregnancy: maxi skirt in third trimester, Converse in the second trimester, Louis Vuitton speedy Bandouliere and maternity denim.


Linking up with Friday Faves, Style Wise, Mix It Monday, Modest Monday, Hello Monday, On Monday We Link Up, On Trend, Confident Twosday, Trend Spin, Turning Heads.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

First Flight With Two Toddlers: Travel Style Brisbane to Sydney

Mid-October we took the boys on their first ever flight, a short trip for a few days down to Sydney. When I was planning our trip I was curious about how I'd keep the boys entertained on the flights and what our first flight experience would be like. I've had a few questions about that too so I thought I'd share more about what the flights were like as well as what I was wearing. Feel free to skip the flight-related stuff if you're not interested and just focus on the outfits, it's a bit of a long post otherwise.

Background to Our Trip:

Toddler T is 3, and Baby Boy is 19 months. Both are good walkers. We took a travel stroller but checked it at the gate along with a suitcase and I had my Ergobaby carrier (which couldn't be used during takeoff and landing or to go through airport security, but can be used at all other times). Baby Boy was on an infant ticket and had to sit in my lap, Toddler T had his own seat.

For luggage, we had my Louis Vuitton speedy bandouliere, the baby bag, hubby's backpack and a carry on 'pull along' suitcase as hand luggage.

We flew Qantas both ways. Both flights were mid-morning flights, when the boys are most relaxed. Toddler T was enthusiastically greeted and given a small activity pack gift on boarding and the flight attendants were polite, friendly, and reminded us we could ask them for anything if we needed help.

What I wore:

Jacket: Kmart striped maxi cardigan
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Tank: Target embroidered khaki tank
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

Simple comfortable outfit for our first flight. While it was a warm day in Brisbane, I suspected I might need the light duster on the plane and in cooler Sydney. This duster washes well, dries quickly and the print disguises any creases so it's perfect for travel.

While I had multiple outfit choices for the boys, I limited what I brought along to just one pair of shoes (my trusty Converse) and these jeans and a maxi skirt. I usually wear jeans when flying, they are comfortable and it also means that the the heaviest item of clothing is outside your bag in case you're getting near the baggage weight limit!


Last worn: stripe duster, khaki embroidered tank, grey skinny jeans, Converse, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere.

Other ways to wear: stripe duster and chambray dress, khaki embroidered tank and denim shorts, grey skinny jeans and colourful cardis, Converse and a shift dress, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere and maxi dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe duster and maternity shorts, Converse for second trimester travel, wrap dresses and speedy bandouliere in second trimester.

---

How To Keep Two Toddlers Amused on a Flight

Take a Short Flight

The flight from Brisbane to Sydney is only around an hour and a half, so we didn't have to keep the boys amused for too long. We also luckily didn't have to attempt using the airplane bathroom with either of them. Not always possible, but definitely helpful for us to have a small flight as our first one, and it's one of the reasons we picked Sydney to travel to.

Run Around the Airport

We got to the airport and the gate early. We picked window seats at the gate so that the boys could watch the planes and vehicles on the tarmac, while also giving them a large 'corridor' along the window to run up and down while staying in sight and out of the way of the rest of the waiting passengers. We encouraged them to run frequently while we waited for boarding. Did have to stop them from crawling under the seats and disturbing the other people waiting at one point though....

Boarding Tips

We didn't board right away, and waited until the line was shorter so they weren't standing in one spot too long. Toddler T had his boarding pass so he was responsible for getting it scanned and showing it to the flight attendants as we boarded which got him involved. We found it best to have Baby Boy and I on the window seat with Toddler T in the middle of hubby and I so there were two sets of hands if either boy needed anything. Boarding time is a good time to wipe down the tray tables and other surfaces with a disinfectant wipe too.

Breastfeeding

If you're breastfeeding remember that baby has to stay seated in your lap and sitting upright for takeoff and landing, so you'll need to wear something you can easily pull down or unbutton to breastfeed as your toddler sits up. Breastfeeding during takeoff and landing is a good way to help with the pressure on little ears.

Bring Snacks

The flights were around regular morning tea time for the boys so that they would be looking for something to eat. As they are so small, eating and drinking during takeoff and landing is the best way to relieve the pressure in their ears. In keeping with my usual over-packing style, I had a Bento lunchbox with two 'levels' of snacks, as well as two identical smaller snack-boxes.
This worked out well for our first flight, when baby Boy enthusiastically grabbed one of the smaller boxes and managed to open it and shower the gate area with food. I was relieved to still have the second backup box.
We opened out the second 'level' of the lunchbox for snacks for the descent. While they weren't as hungry at the end of the flight, having favourite foods and treats available like biscuits meant they were still happy to eat and help their ears on the descent.
One important point to note is that you have to check the customs requirements for food. There are interstate laws about taking fruit across state lines in Australia. This meant we picked strawberries, raisins and apple which could be freshly prepared, cut and washed the morning of the flight and completely consumed before landing. We left out bananas and mandarins as we didn't want to get in trouble for still having the peel, and just bought more fruit when we arrived in Sydney.

Bring Things to Do

As well as the activity pack Qantas provided, I brought a few books along, some colouring books and activity packs with stickers and pencils. We put the bento lunchbox in the seat pocket, along with their drinks and a book and kept the activity packs in the baby bag under the seat in front. With backups in the carry on case we put in the overhead compartment, but never needed to use.
We didn't bring toys as everything you bring will end up on the floor at least once. My teething necklace was the only 'toy' as it stayed around my neck, and Baby Boy gnawed on it a little when he got grizzly during the descent into Sydney.

Plan Your Flight Entertainment

On takeoff we sat the lunchbox in Toddler T's lap so both boys could easily reach it and pick what they wanted to eat. Once the plane was level, we packed it away and did some of the activity books together until the refreshments were served (we asked for a bottle of water at this point to refill the boys drinks). Once they got tired of picking at the bun provided for morning tea, as neither of them seemed to like it, we got out the books to read and did some more activity packs. We followed what the boys wanted to do and changed activities as they wanted until it was time to descend and pack up the tray tables and bring the snacks out again.

Explain Everything

For weeks leading up to the flight we were reading all the plane related books we had, explaining the check in process, take off and landing. Knowing that the plane would go fast, that the plane would be noisy and that eating and drinking will stop your ears feeling funny helped. Instead of trying to detail everything in the moment, we could quickly refer back to earlier conversations. With a toddler who doesn't like loud noises, explaining each and every noise and movement of the plane helped calm any fears. A tip I picked up from my Dad, who would always tell us what noises to look out for next on our flights as kids. It's a habit now!

What I wore:

Jacket: Kmart striped maxi cardigan
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Dress: MEV Britney bubble tank in mood indigo C/O Zibibo
Jeans: Jeanswest Cecile dove grey skinny jeans
Shoes: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star low in black
Bracelets: the usual plus Cora purpleheart and mother of pearl watch C/O JORD
Bag: Louis Vuitton Damier Ebene 30 speedy bandouliere

Why I wore it:

This is what I wore for our flight home from Sydney to Brisbane. The same duster, jeans and shoes, just a different tank. I wore my Converse every day, there was no room to pack two pairs of shoes with all the extra clothes I had for the boys. I did manage to pack an extra handbag though, ha! I used my Speedy Bandouliere most days. It's so helpful having a cross body bag when you're navigating airports with toddlers in tow.

My jeans were covered with food crumbs after the first flight, but nothing that a baby wipe couldn't fix to make them presentable enough to travel home in a few days later. The ultimate mum essential: baby wipes clean everything!


Last worn: stripe duster (above), navy breastfeeding tank, grey skinny jeans (above), Converse (above), Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere (above).

Other ways to wear: stripe duster and flares, navy breastfeeding tank and maxi skirt, grey skinny jeans and purple cardi, Converse and colourful jeans, Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandouliere and a dress.

Perfect for pregnancy: stripe duster and skater dress, bubble tank in second trimester, Converse in Third Trimester, speedy bandouliere and maternity pencil skirts.

---

Style Essentials for Traveling with Toddlers:

---

How You Can Wear It:

Comfort is key when flying with toddlers - you don't want to be fussing over your outfit. Make everything machine washable as it will get dirty! A cover-up like a cardigan or duster hides spills and stains and keeps you warm on a cold plane. Converse are comfortable and practical for running around in airports. Jeans are a good choice too as you can easily wipe food crumbs off with a baby wipe.


Linking up with Fab Favourites, Mummy Monday, Style Nudge, Hello Monday.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It 

Dresses and Kimonos: Easy Spring Boho Stay at Home Mum Style

So excited for warm weather and the chance to wear my kimonos again! I love wearing dresses in spring, so dresses and kimonos together make me happy.

What I wore:

Jacket: Choies red vintage pattern kimono
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Feather pendant in peach (C/O)
Dress: Kmart Aztec print tiered little black dress
Shoes: Wittner 'Jasmarie' studded sandals
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff Love cross body bag in grey

Why I wore it:

A quick errand in the morning, my local ABA mother's group meeting and then a doctor's appointment for Baby Boy in the afternoon. As it was such a hot day, I wanted something nice and easy to wear. I knew I wanted to wear this dress again, but wasn't sure what kimono to wear with it. In the end I settled on this tribal print kimono as some of the print is similar to the Aztec print on the dress. The night before I held them up side by side and figured it would look okay.

When I put it on in the morning, I loved this outfit. I like the extra colour the kimono adds to the dress, and this was perfect for a day with a bit of running around. This dress is loose and flowy and knee-length on me so it's just as good for a doctor's appointment as it is sitting down on the floor chatting to my mum friends who have younger babies doing tummy time. I wouldn't change anything about this outfit. So glad I was able to buy this dress at the end of my #6MonthsWithoutShopping challenge, I've loved it every time I've worn it.


Last worn: red tribal print kimono, black Aztec print dress, studded sandals, Rebecca Minkoff grey Love bag.

Other ways to wear: red tribal print kimono and gold jeans, black Aztec print dress worn two ways, studded sandals and maxi dress, Rebecca Minkoff grey Love bag and flares.

Perfect for pregnancy: red kimono and maternity tank, studded sandals in second trimester, Rebecca Minkoff Love bag in third trimester.

---

Spring Dresses Under $50:

---

What I wore:

Jacket: Somedays Lovin' Yakuza print kimono
Necklace: Nibbly Bits Abacus teething necklace in pop
Dress: Jeanswest Rachel Lyocell chambray dress (C/O)
Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff Georgina studded gladiator sandals in blush
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC in aquamarine with python embossed leather (on sale!)
Nails: OPI This Cost Me a Mint

Why I wore it:

Another doctor's appointment! Vaccinations for baby boy meant we were going to have a quiet day. After the doctors, we headed out to do a little shopping and take part in a fun plant pot decorating activity for the boys. Surprisingly we have managed to not only keep the seeds alive, they are now sprouting quite nicely! As someone who has killed succulents and cacti I'm quite proud we are keeping these plants alive so far.

The morning came undone when we stopped at Kmart to buy some new shorts and tees for the warmer weather and someone wanted to buy a train (even though they had just convinced their Grandmother to buy them two trains the day before). Ended up getting lots of side eyes as I hurriedly finished shopping and headed home after realising nothing I was saying was helping end the tantrum. Not quite the quiet relaxing day I had planned, but will be a funny story to tell later! "Remember that time you screamed in Kmart and all the way home because you wanted a train?" 😂

At least I liked my outfit, plenty of people saw it when they looked around to see where the screaming child was! Toddler tantrums are just an unavoidable part of motherhood.


Last worn: floral kimono, chambray dress, studded Rebecca Minkoff sandals, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC.

Other ways to wear: floral kimono and striped tank, chambray dress and ankle boots, studded Rebecca Minkoff sandals worn 30 ways, Rebecca Minkoff aqua mini MAC and graphic tee.

Perfect for pregnancy: kimono and maternity shorts in second trimester, chambray dress and second trimester bump, mini MAC and non-maternity clothes in third trimester.

---

Kimonos Under $50:

---

How You Can Wear It:

Kimonos work perfectly in spring when you need a light layer. While they look wonderful with denim shorts and jeans, they look equally good worn with dresses. It's a quick and easy spring outfit.

If you're unsure what kimono to wear with your dress, you can pick one with a similar print, or add some more colour and print with a kimono over a plain dress.


Linking up with Flashback Fashion, Friday Favourites, Shoe and Tell, Mix It Monday, Hello Monday, Modest Monday.

Follow Away From the Blue on:
Bloglovin : Twitter : Instagram : Youtube : Facebook : Google Plus : LikeToKnow.It