Mummy must haves
As mummy’s we all know that the bags from our ‘single gal’ days are gone. I do still use a bag I brought back from a ‘single self’ trip to India back in 2010 and this well used bag is what I use for lugging all sorts about with me.
Gone are the little luxuries, a book for a quiet five minutes, some makeup to preen myself with should the mood take me, a little snack just for me… All sorts. Now, the little luxuries have been replaced with spare pants just incase the little one has an accident out and about, a small bag for any dirties, a bag of dried fruit for quick bribery sessions when we’re out at the shops, various toys and lurking somewhere in the bottom is most likely a grubby tissue for those emergency toddler nose and hand wipes just before we head into someone’s pristine house.
Over the past few months however, I have made a conscious effort to carry less and less around with me when nipping out and I was using a grubby old tote bag I had spare. Then I spied the perfect bag on Little Maldod’s Instagram feed and just knew this was the bag for all my essentials.
This is a beautiful cotton canvas bag from The Gray Store and it is the perfect bag for your essential items. Perfect for a nursery run, nipping to the shops or the perfect travel companion. It’s like the modern day equivalent of Mary Poppin’s carpet bag as it’s generous size (measuring 32 x 22.5 x 11 cm) makes it absolutely ideal for storing changing essentials, toiletries, make up, but you can also go as far as storing a decent sized hardback book as well as an iPad, so this really is a great bag for all your busy mum essentials.
So, what are the ‘essential’ items that I take around with me? Well, just take a look!
1) iPhone with Fraser & Parsley’s Acorn ‘Tough Case’
My iPhone tends to always be on me, whether I’m walking in the woods or out on the road, I keep it with me. Living where we do, it’s nice to know that I’m still within reach. I do, however make more of a conscious effort to ‘disconnect’ when I’m outdoors and with friends and family, but it’s also there to capture moments of magic, special memories. If it’s not in my back pocket, it’s in my bag!
I love my acorn ‘tough’ phone case from Fraser & Parsley; 100% made in UK and covered in their beautiful acorn and oak leaf illustration. The tough case is perfect for me and other mums of toddlers as it has a black silicone inner lining which provides extra protection. There is also an option for a ‘Classic Case’, a simple plastic shell and provides basic protection.
2) The Little Book of Mindfulness
Given to me some time ago, this is something I treasure. I have a mindfulness app on my phone, however I think part of being mindful is about switching off, and my phone really doesn’t help with that, so I carry this little book around with me for the moments when I’m sitting in my car about to leap into the school run, or just taking a moment before I throw myself into the day ahead.
With more and more of us suffering from the stresses and strains of modern life, mindfulness has become very popular, and I truly believe that it can not only help alleviate the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression brought on by the pressures of our daily existence, but it can actually bring calm, joy and happiness into our lives.
You’ll see a little figure, lurking next to the book in the photo. That’s Ganesh, and he was given to me on a very special trip I took to India, by my beautiful yoga instructor who taught me the importance of self acceptance and allowing myself just to ‘be’. Ganesh, is the Lord of Good Fortune who provides prosperity, fortune and success. He is the Lord of Beginnings and the remover of obstacles of both material and spiritual kinds. Since that trip to India in 2010, this figure has been on me, wherever I go. A very special essential item for me.
3) MUM’S Office Diary
After years of writing on scraps of paper, forgetting to put important dates in my phone and being unable to transport my family calendar that hangs on the kitchen wall around, I decided to look around for a decent diary.
This has been totally invaluable since my little girl started school; with term dates, play dates as well as out of school activities this diary has it all. You can store all those important numbers incase you lose your phone, see a full school term on a page, meal plan, as well as plan your week with all important additional columns specifically for the rest of the brood.
It’s an absolutely perfect size to fit in a bag like mine, or even a largish pocket if you’re running out of the door! I’d recommend this MUM’s Office diary to any of my mum friends for simplifying things a bit!
4) Green People Essential items
I’m a complete Green People fan; so it may come as no surprise that there are a few lovely items in my bag of essentials.
Green People Vita Min Fix 24 hour Cream
The 30ml travel-size 24-hour anti-ageing moisturiser is the ideal size to keep in my bag and keeps my skin hydrated whilst reducing the appearance of wrinkles, just perfect for this tired mama. I keep it on me as I quite often run out the door without doing anything to myself, so this is my little mummy ‘pick-me-up’. It is also the perfect partner with Green People’s Fruitful Nights night cream for the ultimate natural beauty treat!
Green People Scent Free Lip Balm
This is a natural lip balm to keep your lips soft and protected, containing organic coconut, cupuaçu, vitamin E and berry wax. It is so gentle I even use it on my daughter if her lips become dry or chapped.
Green People Organic Children Sticky hand sanitiser
After a Winter of catching everything going, I have become one of those mothers I never thought I would be. I believe a child is better off building up immunity, so by constantly washing hands whilst playing is a bad thing. However, since successfully potty training and starting preschool not long after, I do make sure that when we have been having particular messy play, my little girl keeps the germs at bay as best we can. This hand sanitiser is perfect. She loves the foam it makes, and will happily rub it into her hands and through her fingers. In fact, whilst in hospital this last week, we used it a lot as she didn’t like the dispensers they had around various wards, so out popped this handy sized bottle of foam and we were left with germ-free hands.
This is ideal for days out and can be used after every nappy change on mum’s hands too. A really great eco buy as you get a lot out of a bottle.
You can buy Green People products from all good health stores, Ocado and selected Waitrose and John Lewis stores. For all stockist details visit Green People online.
Please Note: I have not been paid for this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Blog Terms & Conditions
