1, 2, or 3?? @balielf making me feel pretty today 1, 2, or 3?? @balielf making me feel pretty today in all these gorgeous colors! 😍
#ad This past weekend I decided to do something re #ad This past weekend I decided to do something really fun for the kids and create a scavenger hunt for them with Kinder Joy eggs at the end! They had so much fun going throughout the house and the yard finding their clues and a special surprise was waiting for them at the end! They had so much fun putting their Jurassic World Dominion surprise together (David is obsessed with dinosaurs 🦖) as well as exploring the app that comes as a download from the Kinder Joy egg! Fun little surprises like these go such a long way and making the kids feel special 💗 
#KinderJoy #JurassicWorldDominion @kinderus
Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
I've been DIYing my hair for five (?) ish years no I've been DIYing my hair for five (?) ish years now and while I can't claim I've always done it perfectly, I've found a great routine that works for my hair and saves so much $$$ in the process!! Are you brave enough to DIY your hair??
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
I think this hairdo is perfect 👌 for anything y I think this hairdo is perfect 👌 for anything you want to do without getting your hair in your face: eating hot wings, riding on a boat, working out, the list goes on. Plus, you can wear it up ⬆️ or down ⬇️
Wife, mom, runner, writer, artist, or just the cle Wife, mom, runner, writer, artist, or just the cleaning lady?? ​😜
Josh is an old soul 🥰 and tonight he and I are Josh is an old soul 🥰 and tonight he and I are going to get to see a band from the 70s that he loves!! Any guesses who it is??
^^ Here's a fun hairstyle for a (date) night out 🌃
I think a sleek pony is honestly so cute for date I think a sleek pony is honestly so cute for date night OR work! I'm always wearing my hair up anyway, right?? Might as well make it cute 🥰
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Baby, Family, Motherhood, Outdoors · July 14, 2015

10 Things Not to Forget When Camping with Baby

10 Things Not to Forget When Camping with Baby

Maybe you’re a camping newbie looking for a little advice. Or possibly an outdoorsy backpacker who has been thrown for a loop with this new addition to the family. Either way, make sure to check off these must-have items before your embark on your next adventure with your little one!

Pack n Play

Our pack n play has been one of the best investments we’ve made since having our son. They’re great for indoors, outdoors, sleeping, and playing. When camping in our 4-person sized tent, Josh and I sleep in one half of the tent and the pack n play is set up on the opposite end with a covering on the wall facing us so baby doesn’t wake up jealous that he’s not cuddling with mom and pop. We tucked fuzzy blankets in the bottom for extra warmth and comfort for babe.

For outdoor use, pack n plays are great especially for babies that are in the pre-walking stage giving them a safe place to play out of the dust and bugs. We’ve also discovered that a fitted crib sheet fits perfectly over the top of our pack n play which keeps baby boy out of direct sunlight and keeps icky bugs out!

Bug spray/Sunscreen

Ok this one is obvious but oh so easily overlooked. So many bug sprays have awful chemicals and toxins that you do NOT want to be putting on baby’s sensitive skin. We use a coriander and lemon body mist from Arbonne which acts as a natural bug repellant. It not only smells GREAT but keeps the nasty blood suckers at bay as well.

The same goes for sunscreens! ESPECIALLY sprays. Never ever ever use a spray sunscreen especially on lil babe’s skin. No kidding, they can actually be worse for you than getting a sunburn. Take a look at this link to see a list of the most dangerous sunscreens and then suggestions for safer alternatives. Again, Arbonne also has great smelling and most importantly SAFE sunscreens for babies and adults.

Hook-on High Chair for picnic tables

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Here’s a great example of a hook-on high chair. We have loved using one of these as it frees us up during meal times and again this keeps baby right where you want him. I’ve seen these on Amazon for as low as $25 but they can get pretty expensive depending on the brand. Honestly, NO need to get fancy with these clip-on chairs. We started out using a sassy seat for babe that my mom had used when WE were babies and it still worked great for our son!

Easy, ready-to-eat foods (little to no prep)

Now if you’re still breastfeeding at this point, GREAT! Free and portable is the way to go! Formula will be pretty easy to mix up too, just more to remember to pack and pre-portion. We started baby led weaning with baby boy when he was about 6 months (another thing I am a HUGE advocate for). Check out my post on baby-led weaning here. We feed babe mostly fruits and veggies with some beans and meat mixed in here and there for additional protein. Canned foods are great for camping with babies! We look for peas, carrots, green beans, kidney beans. And all of these are usually soft enough for a baby to munch on even without teeth. We also pack blueberries, bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, and other fruits and veggies that are quick and easy to serve to a hungry, still-learning-the-whole-patience-thing baby.

Wipes, wipes, and more wipes!

This one really needs no explanation. Between diaper changes, meals, falling in the dirt 100 times, you’re going to need wipes when there’s no sink around. And you don’t want to be caught without them during a diaper change in middle of the woods! So pack more than you think you’ll need. (Here’s another tip- baby wipes aren’t just for babies! I use these to take off my makeup and clean up when no sink is available. Just be sure to get unscented to avoid skin irritation).

Baby Carrier

If you have a baby, chances are you have one of these in some shape or form. While hiking and camping in the woods, however, you’re going to want something a bit more structured than a boba wrap. Now if camping is something you do for fun a couple times a year, having a simple back carrier would be the way to go to free up for hands and relieve back pressure. BUT if you’re a hardcore camper/hiker who wants to bring the kids along and you’re looking for a great investment, I’ve started to see baby carrier/backpack combos that are great for freeing up your hands, storing the essentials, and for getting a great thigh workout on that hike.

Warm clothes

Ok so you may think that this is a given but don’t underestimate temperature changes! Whether it’s from day to night or sunny to pouring rain, temperatures can drop majorly and you want to be prepared. We were just camping in upstate NY where the days were sunny and in the 80s and the nights dropped as low as in the 40s! Nothing is worse than worrying that your baby is too cold at night. We packed soft wool pajamas, fleece booties, and extra blankets for baby boy on our last trip and a couple nights we used all 3! This is another time where it’s better safe than sorry.

Sleep Association Toy

I don’t know about you but our baby boy has a special toy that, when he sees it, he knows it’s time for nap or bedtime. His thumb goes immediately in his mouth and he leans his head on my chest when that toy is in sight. Now, he doesn’t NEED this toy on order to fall asleep, but it lets him know, “Hey baby, it’s time to sleep now” even if we’re in a new environment that he’s not used to. This has been a huge blessing when we travel to new places and Babe is out of his sleeping routine. I recommend having a sleep association toy for any traveler.

Nuby Nibbler

Before little boy was born, someone gifted these to us and I thought they looked pretty nifty, but when we started baby-led weaning I thought, “Well I guess we’ll never really need these now.” I was so wrong!  I re-found these right before we flew across the country to visit my husband’s family and they were a miracle worker on the plane! And all I had to do was stuff some blueberries and/or strawberries in them before we left. Since then we take these little food pacifiers on every lengthy trip we take, and even some sort ones too if I remember.

In: Baby, Family, Motherhood, Outdoors · Tagged: baby, backpacking, Camping, chelsea damon, family, toddlers

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Comments

  1. Esther of Local Adventurer says

    August 7, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    thank you for sharing our post!! 🙂 we’ll have to keep your list in mind when we have kids and take them camping.

    • Chelsea says

      August 13, 2015 at 12:28 am

      Thank you Esther!

Hi! I'm Chelsea and we're the Damon's. We spent the last two years in WA state paying off student loans and just bought our first house in SC! I love a smooth black coffee, Josh's first love is the Seattle Sounders. Our kids are huge dorks and constantly make us laugh and we all love spending as much time outside as possible.

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Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over Doing my gosh darned best to manifest spring over here and I think it might be working 😉 Today the kids had TWOsday at school and they were so sweet. David wore a tie (I don't exactly get how it tirles in to Twosday but the kids were happy so..) and Evy "twinned" with a couple of sweet friends in her class. It's so sweet when you see your own kids building their own friendships. It just loosens a little piece of anxiety I've had about parenthood since David was still in my tummy. How did you spend your TWOsday??

Sandals @naotfootwear 💕
Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Jos Today was a sweet day. Woke up at 8:30 next to Josh in a quiet house - the kids slept over my parent's last night. Got up, raced to clean the kitchen as fast as I could while my coffee was brewing. The coffee won this time. 

I recorded a Reel while getting ready. Went to the place where we were going to meet my fam a bit early so Josh and I could get in a walk. Then we got coffee, went to a huge antique store (sadly left with nothing but took pictures of my faves so I can remember to come back) and went to lunch with the kids and my parents. Love easy-going and fun days like these 🖤

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1, 2, or 3?? @balielf making me feel pretty today 1, 2, or 3?? @balielf making me feel pretty today in all these gorgeous colors! 😍
#ad This past weekend I decided to do something re #ad This past weekend I decided to do something really fun for the kids and create a scavenger hunt for them with Kinder Joy eggs at the end! They had so much fun going throughout the house and the yard finding their clues and a special surprise was waiting for them at the end! They had so much fun putting their Jurassic World Dominion surprise together (David is obsessed with dinosaurs 🦖) as well as exploring the app that comes as a download from the Kinder Joy egg! Fun little surprises like these go such a long way and making the kids feel special 💗 
#KinderJoy #JurassicWorldDominion @kinderus
Now that we still have some sunlight hanging aroun Now that we still have some sunlight hanging around after the kids go to bed, my new thing is sipping a glass of wine on the back patio while making small talk with Josh and praying the kids stay in bed.
 
I've been obsessed with cleaning our house recently but I've been so good about it, I have nothing left to clean or tidy right now and I'm left to face the things I don't really want to think about like the fact that I miss my kids when they're at school or how I really want to fill this house up with some more of them 😅 

At any rate, one of my simple pleasures in life is decluttering and purging unused things and I feel like I've accomplished a lot!! What about you?
I've been DIYing my hair for five (?) ish years no I've been DIYing my hair for five (?) ish years now and while I can't claim I've always done it perfectly, I've found a great routine that works for my hair and saves so much $$$ in the process!! Are you brave enough to DIY your hair??
Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growin Being a mom has always meant so much to me. Growing up, I thought it was pretty much all I was cut out to do, which ended up being false. But even though I've learned that I'm capable of so many other things, being a mom is still one of my highest aspirations. As we're getting our home ready for fostering, I can't help but think of how the little one(s) entering our home will feel but also how David and Evy will feel. How will they react if we parent slightly differently? Will they understand that we're working to build trust and connection or will they feel indignant? These are the things I pray about and also speak to the kids about in the days leading up. We're all excited but I have the feeling of heaviness that we don't and won't understand the burden until we're all already carrying it together.
I think this hairdo is perfect 👌 for anything y I think this hairdo is perfect 👌 for anything you want to do without getting your hair in your face: eating hot wings, riding on a boat, working out, the list goes on. Plus, you can wear it up ⬆️ or down ⬇️
Wife, mom, runner, writer, artist, or just the cle Wife, mom, runner, writer, artist, or just the cleaning lady?? ​😜
Josh is an old soul 🥰 and tonight he and I are Josh is an old soul 🥰 and tonight he and I are going to get to see a band from the 70s that he loves!! Any guesses who it is??
^^ Here's a fun hairstyle for a (date) night out 🌃
I think a sleek pony is honestly so cute for date I think a sleek pony is honestly so cute for date night OR work! I'm always wearing my hair up anyway, right?? Might as well make it cute 🥰
I video called Josh last night with this hair in a I video called Josh last night with this hair in and he asked, "Are you wearing pigtails??" And I was like, "No! .. well. Kind of."

I thought this style was super cute!! And a really quick way to do something *different* with everyday hair. Would you try it??

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