Caraa Baby Bag Large Backpack Review
After 10 months, I still love my Caraa Baby Bag. Here’s why.
In the last month of my pregnancy, I was huge and therefore not particularly mobile. I spent a lot of time watching nursery reveals and diaper bag reviews on YouTube so I consider myself an armchair expert at this point.
Now, I have two disclosures before I get into my diaper bag post: the first is that, at this point, I am not running any affiliate links with the exception of one for a color consultation with Heather Riggs (more on that later) and am not sponsored by any brand. However, the second is that I am a Caraa fan girl so this post may be a bit biased. When I lived in NYC, I invested in the Caraa Studio Bag, and I was obsessed with how it easily fit my work life and after work life (aka, working out). I did a lot of travel for work as well, and it was perfect.
So when I started researching diaper bags, Caraa was immediately on the list. I didn’t want to rule out some of the other usual suspects like Lululemon’s New Parent Backpack or the Happ diaper bags. Eventually, after hours of videos, I came right back to the Caraa Baby Bag (in blush in the largest size, no less), and here’s why.
It is incredibly lightweight.
Caraa describes the material as a “cloud-like waterproof nylon.” It is indeed like a cloud - soft, lightweight, almost fluffy. I find that the material reduces the overall weight of the bag, which helps when I need to carry it on my back while also holding a rapidly growing infant. As a bonus, the material was incredibly washable: I threw it in the machine on a hand wash cycle with baby detergent and hung it to dry. I’ve only needed to do this twice in the 10 months I’ve owned the bag, and it looks good as new after the wash.
It has lots of interior organization.
While I love to keep things neat and organized, I find my best intentions as a mom are often thwarted by the realities of mom life. I knew I needed a bag with lots of interior organization to make it easy to find what I need, in a hurry, on the go. With front and side pouches lined in a soft, lux insulation, packing bottles and snacks is easy breezy. On the inside, a pull out diaper caddy makes changing on the go incredibly smooth. I never have trouble finding wipes or baggies to pack the poopie diapers. And the main compartment is lined with clear organizers so you can see all the little items you’ve stored. I use these for socks, burp cloths, and other odds and ends.
It fits my working, on-the-go mom life.
This bag has more compartments than any other bag or backpack I’ve ever owned, and it also has a ton of space. I can fit my cell phone, keys, credit card holder, and even an iPad or laptop in addition to everything my girl needs for a day out and about.
I’ve had this baby bag for nearly 10 months now, and I still love it.
Want to see more? Be sure to watch my review on Youtube.
We Tried Little Spoon Biteables, and Here’s What We Thought
We tried Little Spoon’s Biteables, and here are our honest thoughts.
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I can remember a time only a month ago where Evy wasn’t interested in solid foods. I would offer her a small morsel, and she would quickly push it out of her mouth, a grimace on her face. Then, almost overnight, she decided she wanted to eat what the adults around her were eating and began to reach for my food. At that point, she was willing to try everything, but I found myself having difficulty keeping up with her changing dietary demands.
I had seen ads for Little Spoon and had joined their private Facebook group back when I first had Evy so I could ask all my burning questions about feeding baby. I was worried that their meal options wouldn’t be quite right for Evy’s developmental stage, but it turns out they launched a product called Biteables. Oh, and I should note: this post was not sponsored, and I don’t have any affiliate links on this page (although I’ll certainly edit this post if Little Spoon decides to hit me up with the opportunity).
Biteables is designed especially for babies in Evy’s age group who are making the transition from formula and soft baby food to food they need to chew. They deliver healthy meals cut in bite-sized chunks. Knowing I could cancel at any time, I decided to give it a whirl.
How much does it cost?
The pricing varies depending on how many meals you choose and what discount you’re lucky enough to snag. I’m paying approximately $44 for 9 meals. If it hadn’t been for Evy flipping her first meal over, I am confident it would have been enough for two meals. So, each meal costs approximately $2.50. When you consider that one packet of baby food costs $2, I don’t think this is too bad, especially consider Evy’s reaction to these meals.
Update: Once my pricing increased to the full, normal cost, the meals cost approximately $5 - $9 each. While it was a helpful solution in the shortterm, it doesn’t make sense as Evy continues to grow and her teeth come in. Plus, she’s not a picky eater so I like exposing her to the same things I eat (minus any sushi or raw items!) to expand her palette.
Can you customize the meal selections?
Yes! And I was grateful for this option because it allowed me to pick some safer meals to start. As Evy gets used to Biteables, we can expand our palette and introduce new foods. Depending on your delivery schedule, you’ll have a set date by which you need to customize your selections for the upcoming delivery, which is similar to many meal plan options.
Is it healthy & appetizing?
These are frozen meals that offer healthy, kid-friendly options. While I’m not a dietician, I took a bite, and it did not taste salty or processed. In fact, it tasted home-cooked to me.
Importantly, Evy loved everything on her plate. We started with the Mini Cheesy Pasta. Since I’m a fan of Mac N’ Cheese, I thought she might be too. She also loved the bite-sized carrots and even the broccoli bites.
Would I recommend?
I’ve canceled a lot of meal delivery services in my time because I was dissatisfied with their offering, but this one is a keeper in my book. The meals were delivered on time and packed extremely well in the cutest little trays. Evy enjoyed eating it, and I felt good knowing I was giving her a healthy meal.
But the best part? The ease of preparing the meal - and her enjoyment of it - allowed me to enjoy what I find to be special bonding time with my baby girl. I love feeding her, and Biteables made the experience that much more special. So yes, if it’s in the budget, I highly recommend Biteables.
Resort Looks for Mommy & Mini
Resort ready? Not without these mommy & mini looks for jetsetting, pool time, and more.
Even after moving back to Southern California where the weather is mild by Northeast standards, I still find that January has me longing for warm beaches and sunshine. It’s about this time of year, after the familial warmth and charm of the holidays starts to fade, that I begin to plan my getaway. And this year, I have the cutest little travel sidekick ever. Here’s what we’re packing and wearing for resort season 2024.
New Balance Sneakers
New Balance Sneakers for Baby
Cutest Casual Mommy & Me Looks
We love a good mommy & me look, but make it casual.
In my humble opinion, the best mommy and me looks transcend any matching set you can buy on the internet and focus instead of coordinating key pieces for a more modern look. What do I mean by this?
While the frou frou matching dress sets pictured might have their place in formal family photos, I’d argue there’s a better way. I’ve shown two mommy and me looks that nailed casual mommy and mini aesthetic as well as a few combos we put together for inspiration.
A few things to keep in mind when building mommy and me looks:
Kids grow out of clothes so fast - always opt for interchangeable basics so you get lots of wear.
Matching color tones, textures, and silhouettes is the key to an adorable mommy and me outfit. Notice how the examples below match beige fleece jackets, light wash denim, and clean white tanks.
You don’t have to buy mommy and me outfits from a single brand. Have a vision and search for the pieces that fit the look you’re trying to achieve.
Accessories add something extra, but again, don’t have to be identical. What’s important is matching colors and textures for a cohesive look.
For casual looks, choose jeans, leggings, or sweatsuits that are comfy for running errands or dropping in on that mommy and me class.
Image courtesy of vibeywithvsco
Image courtesy of Jessakae
Image courtesy of Julia Berolzheimer
