Inside ToteSavvy

Guest post by Tasha Saavedra, Aspire Organizing If you’re a parent, then you know that organizing your kids’ toys is not a “do it once and it’s done” kind of task. Between the constant influx of toys, their changing interests and growing developmental needs - it can almost feel like a never ending task. On top of that, you may find toys strewn all about your home without a good system in place to manage it all.  As the owner and lead professional organizer at Aspire Organizing as well as a mother of two young girls, I can totally empathize with you! The good news is that there are ways you can set up your playroom or toy area that will make this whole process just a little bit easier. So if you’re ready to start organizing your kids toys, here are some of the most important things to consider: What toys do you want within their reach vs out of reach? Carefully consider your child’s maturity, how messy the toy is and if you have any other younger children who it may not be appropriate for. This may be especially true for certain art supplies or ones that have small pieces. Utilize spaces that are higher up or stored things away in a closet if you don’t want them reaching for them without your approval. Put things at eye level and in easy to access bins that you want to encourage your kids to play with. Does your kid need to be able to see it in order to play with it? For some kids, if they can’t see the toy they simply won’t play with it. A true “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. If this is your kid, then use acrylic, clear plastic, or frosted bins to store their toys. This is often true for smaller children who are less likely to read the labels on bins. But if your child doesn’t need to see it to play with it, then consider if hiding the visual clutter will bring you more peace of mind. If that is the case, then go for a cute solid or woven bin. How will you contain small pieces and sets? It’s pretty hard to have a streamlined and organized playroom without the right toy storage and there are plenty of great furniture options out there - cube systems being one of our favorites! But many children's toys, games and puzzles have pieces that need to be stored together or as we like to call it “micro-organized.”  Think barbie clothes, lego sets, craft kits, game pieces etc. Two easy solutions include mesh vinyl zippered bags or small hinged clear boxes. These boxes work well from amazon, as do these. As for the zippered vinyl mesh bags, these are some of our favorites and this variety pack is very helpful, too! We ALWAYS keep zippered bags on hand at all times both on the job and in our own homes. There are an endless number of possibilities to use them! But before you buy anything always measure what you need to store! Will you rotate toys or organize them all? Some families find that setting up a toy rotation system in their home works well for their children. With toy rotations, you group your children’s toys into a couple sets and only make available one set of toys at a time. Then when you find your kids getting bored by their toys or after a pre-determined amount of time, you swap them out for the ones stored away. If you’d like to give this a try, be sure that you have the additional space to store toys, document what you’ve stored away (snap a pic or 2!) and have a calendar reminder set up to make the swap. Toy rotation isn’t for every parent or kid so give it a try if it sounds intriguing, but it’s okay if it is not your cup of tea. How will you categorize and label? Can your kids read? Will they read a bin label? Both are important questions to ask! No matter what you do - don’t skip out on labeling the zones you’ve created or all of your work will eventually be for nothing.  Use the broadest categories possible that are still specific enough to your kids needs.  Then either include a picture on the bin, a label from a label maker or if you’re feeling fancy order some cute custom vinyl labels from etsy and put them on a bin clip. This will save you, your kids and other caretakers so much trouble when it comes time to clean up. And it will make the system maintainable in the long term. Remember, you will need to update your labels when your kids’ needs change! What does your kid actually play with and what can you get rid of now? There is no way I could wrap this up without making a shameless plug to declutter and simplify your toy collection! There are countless articles out there summarizing the findings of studies which have shown that the fewer toys your child has, the more likely they will play with them AND the play will be higher quality. So go ahead, grab a box or two, label it “donations” and walk through your home right now to find some of those items. I promise you that they’re hiding (or in plain sight) somewhere! Be ruthless - it’s okay, you’ll thank yourself later. And remember, you’re the gatekeeper of your home and what enters it so be thoughtful about what you choose to add to your kid’s toy collection in the future!  If you’re looking for more organizing tips, be sure to follow us on Instagram and our other social platforms. Our DMs are always open and we’re here to help parents make life just a little bit easier!

In 2016 Amanda Little, along with her 3 co-founders (one being her husband), launched ABBY&FINN, a diaper subscription service that offers parents environmentally friendly diapers that grow with your child and don't cost a fortune. Sounds perfect, right? We caught up with Amanda to chat diaper duty, motherhood and of course, how she stays organized. Can you share how ABBY&FINN got started? ABBY&FINN started when my husband, Lance, and I realized we were spending over $180 a month with another diaper subscription company to diaper our two girls, which seemed crazy! We wanted to use high quality products that were free of harmful chemicals and gentle on our kids’ sensitive skin, but didn’t think it needed to be so expensive. Our girls also regularly didn’t finish a diaper size when we bought in bulk, which meant we were left with a “diaper graveyard” – a bunch of diapers that were too small and couldn’t be used or donated due to open packaging. We worked with our good friends and neighbors, Matt and Kyle, to create a diaper subscription that actually grew with our kids and gave parents the ability and convenience to mix sizes in the same box at an affordable price, while being delivered right to the front door. After diving into the world of diapers, we learned that 1 in 3 U.S. families experience diaper need. Helping these families provide the essentials for their children became central to our company’s mission. For every subscription bundle purchased, we donate diapers to our non-profit partners who use the diapers as incentives for participation in family programs. To ensure our commitment is never trivialized, we included it in the brand name; FINN stands for Families IN Need. With so many diapers on the market today the choices can be overwhelming. What should parents look for when shopping for diapers? We are parents ourselves and we get it! The choice can absolutely be overwhelming. I think finding a brand that is transparent about its products and the ingredients used is important. With some brands, it’s really hard to find out what exactly is in their products, even though ingredients like chlorine, dyes, fragrances and latex can commonly irritate the skin, cause an allergic reaction and be considered toxic. As a company, we want parents to be informed and empowered to make the best decisions for their family. No matter what way you look at it, diapers are a big expense for those first few years of life. Often times the more eco friendly, responsibly manufactured diapering options are more expensive than your typical big box brands.  However, if you have a baby with sensitive skin, those generic, less expensive brands just might not be an option. Someone shouldn’t have to choose between quality and affordability. So I think finding a diaper that fits with your budget is an important consideration. Along those lines, I would also recommend looking at price per diaper as an average across all sizes, because you will often find that the some brands have an attractive price per diaper in the smaller sizes, but then the price grows exponentially when you get to the larger sizes. Finally, flexibility within a brand is important. I remember when my two girls were in diapers, we would buy in bulk to save money only to find that they would go through a growth spurt and then the diapers would no longer fit and we couldn’t use them. When we started ABBY&FINN, we knew we wanted to have a flexible subscription where you could mix sizes in the same box to avoid that pile of unused diapers. At the end of the day, we are all trying to do the best for our loved ones, our planet and ourselves.  I’m proud to say that at ABBY&FINN, we want to support parents and make them feel confident in the decisions they are making for their family. ABBY&FINN is not only better for the environment - the company also donates diapers to those in need. To date, how many diapers have been donated? To date we have donated over 1.3M diapers! Our diapers are distributed to our non-profit partners across the U.S. who generally use the diapers as incentives for participation in family programs.  As the mother of two children who are now out of diapers, what advice do you have for new moms? I recently read a quote, “there is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one.” As moms, I think we feel pressured to live this seemingly flawless, effortless lifestyle. That just isn’t realistic, and to hold ourselves to this standard only lends us to ultimately feeling disappointed. I would recommend staying true to your own priorities, standards and values; not those that are imposed on you by others. Let’s be kind and empathetic to each other and not be so quick to judge.  We understand the need for moms to stay organized. Can you share what helps you keep it all together between work, kids and personal life? This is something I’m constantly working on and adjusting to, especially during COVID when school schedules could change at any moment. It’s very much a team effort with my husband and requires a lot of communication. We have really been utilizing a shared family calendar on our phones to help schedule work and personal appointments around each other. For someone who constantly gets sidetracked and forgets about things, this has been really helpful for me! While the kids are at school I try and get as much work done as possible. Once the kids are home I make a conscious effort to set work aside and focus on being together as a family. Once the kids are in bed, I generally go back to wrapping up work. It’s definitely a long day, but I also feel fortunate to have the ability to have a flexible work schedule.    On any given day, what can we find in your ToteSavvy? These days I am working from home, so don’t leave the house much, but my ToteSavvy has been so useful for family trips to the mountains and I can fit so much in it! In my ToteSavvy you can find my laptop, chargers, kid’s iPads and headphones, ABBY&FINN hand sanitizer spray and wipes, snacks, water bottle and a book!

The new year is here and we can't help but think about a fresh start for the year ahead. Last year wasn't what any of us expected (to say the least!) but that doesn't mean we can't look forward with a little optimism and a plan to make it truly the best year yet. One of the best ways to feel renewed and refreshed is to declutter. Whether it be cleaning out your home, office, car or even your mind, a few easy steps to bring order to your things will dramatically impact your mood and boost productivity. Keep reading to learn 3 easy ways to declutter today!    1. Clean Out Your Bag Your handbag is your home away from home and the most important item you carry when on-the-go. Our new world requires being prepared with a face mask, hand sanitizer, and anything else needed to keep us safe on the go. Keeping those items clean and organized within your daily bag is paramount now more than ever.  Utilize ToteSavvy bag organizers to keep your essentials safely tucked away yet accessible in an instant. You can designate one pocket for clean masks and another (or zip bag) for dirty ones. You can store your other essentials safely inside the remaining pockets.  Take the time (10 minutes max!) to dump everything out of your bag, throw away the trash, and reorganize within your ToteSavvy organizer. We promise this small task will feel incredible when you're on-the-go and need to quickly reach for an essential.  The end result not only looks pretty, it will keep you feeling together throughout your day.  Shop Bag Organizers   2. Declutter Your Living Area A home with kids is undoubtably a home that's messy 90% of the day. We're not here to judge (who has the time to tidy all the time??) but we do have a simple hack to help keep the clutter at bay. It takes less than 5 minutes every day and will keep you on track throughout the week so weekends can be spent enjoying family time instead of organizing.  Here's the trick. Purchase a cute bin (like this one by Pehr or this one from Target) to leave in your main living area like your kitchen or family room. Any time you walk through and see an item that's not put away (like a toy or clean clothing item) quickly pop it in the bin to keep your floors and counters clear. At the end of the day, take 5 minutes to find a home for everything in the bin. If the item doesn't have a home then you may not need it and can choose to donate or recycle the item.  If your home is multi-level, we suggest keeping one bin on the stairs for items that need to be put away upstairs!    3. Plan Outfits In Advance A stress-free morning really sets the tone for a happy and productive day. One of the best ways to streamline your morning is to plan your child's outfits in advance so they can quickly grab and go. This takes no more than 10 minutes on a Sunday to plan for the whole week ahead.  Our travel organizer is perfect for keeping prepped outfits grouped together and and easily accessible for young children so they can see each outfit and easily dress themselves. By allowing them to "select" their outfit in the AM you'll encourage their independent nature while keeping their look put-together. Plus, you'll put a stop to the morning power struggle instantly by using this little trick!    Pro tip! Roll each outfit together before placing inside its own pocket.  Shop Outfit Organizer    

New year, new outlook, new order.  If you’ve been with us for a minute, it’s probably become self-evident that we are obsessed with organization. We like to think of it as our dirty little secret. In reality, (and not so ironically), it’s our especially orderly and unblemished code for everyday.  This is the piece of us that thrives with fresh starts, so we’re hopeful as we look towards a bright new year. For us, this means a chance at self-reflection, as well as a special time to reevaluate exactly how we’re living. The day to day makes such a difference in the big picture--be it a room where everything has a place, a closet with perfectly labeled bins, or a bag with a pocket for everything. And that’s the secret sauce to living well.  If you think about your spaces as a reflection of your mind, you’ll quickly start to realize the importance of organization--and the effects it has on your health. A messy room, for instance, might be a surefire sign of internal stressors. But we’re here to fix that. Because once you start to organize your life, you’ll start to feel the benefits. What better time than the new year to do exactly that? Here are all the stylish ToteSavvy pieces that make organization not only simple, but naturally intuitive.  ToteSavvy Bag Organizers ToteSavvy | Keep your diaper bag, work bag, or day bag precisely organized with our convenient bag inserts. An organized bag helps streamline your day, eliminating those stressful moments before you leave the house (you know the line: “where are my keys?!”). We’ve all gotten used to staying home, and keeping organized makes every outing easier.  Clothing Organizer Travel Organizer | It’s not just for travel. Streamline your morning routine by planning weekly outfits in advance. It helps to build confidence in toddlers by letting them select their own outfit for the day, while taking away the stress of getting dressed.    Crossbody Meets Change Kit Crossbody Change Kit | *Coming back in March!* Lightweight and easy to carry, our change kit is the perfect mini bag for keeping “just the essentials” always on-hand. Easy, effortless access to wipes just under the flap makes this bag an absolute must-have--not to mention the easiest way to keep your hands clean when out and about (without digging through your bag).  Don’t let a lack of organization get in the way of your plans for a bright, new year ahead. Usher in 2021 with the style-first essentials that transform your outlook from messy to functional--bonus points for fashion. Shop our full collection here! 

We could all use a little luxury without the high price tag, especially when it comes to your everyday tote. We searched high and low for our favorite bags that don't break the bank. From classic silhouettes to cool reversible totes, find a bag that checks all of your boxes.    Everlane Day Market Tote  Retail: $180 Everlane's Day Market tote is a gorgeous option for a classic leather tote. The best part is you don't have to pay a hefty price-tag for a luxury leather handbag.  Thacker Leather Tote Retail: $198 The simple lines and chic knot detail of this ivory tote make it a must-have. Easily transition from day to night as this tote will pair well with just about any outfit.    Mercer Leather Tote Retail: $139 A Nordstrom exclusive, this tote is a great option if you're looking for a classic bag with a twist. The diagonal lines offer unique interest without being overpowering. Pair it with a ToteSavvy and you'll be ready to take on your day with ease.    Mali + Lili Reversible Tote Retail: $78   Three words. That. Shoulder. Strap. We love a good crossbody with an eye-catching strap, especially one that's reversible. There's so much to love here! Get the most out of this multitasking crossbody by adding a ToteSavvy Mini to organize your essentials inside.    The Sydney Tote Madewell Retail: $188 We adore the cool new shape of this floppy-yet-structured tote from Madewell. You'll look effortlessly chic sporting it on your shoulder, and feel put together by organizing the inside with ToteSavvy Mini.     

The ins and outs of organized travel with the essentials to get you through every trip!  Preparedness, health, and safety are always top of mind, but now more than ever before they are paramount. As restrictions ease up and some morsels of normalcy are slowly reinstated, we’re seeking out real-life escapes when and where we--safely--can. What that currently looks like: road trips! Here’s the best part about taking road trips--the travel essentials that keep us organized on-the-go. Ready to make them your go-to, too? Keep reading for all the ways we love them!  Travel Organizer  Our travel organizer was made for road trips and long, worldly hauls, and we consciously-crafted every minute detail to make it the perfect fit for any and every adventure. Featuring 6 generously sized pockets, you can mindfully pack individual outfits, allowing you to easily grab at your convenience--and then return once dirty (keeping dirty clothes separate from clean ones). We added extra storage pockets for loose items, and a hook for the convenience of hanging. The result: seriously organized travel days with a little less chaos. And, frankly, everyone needs a little of that lately. Crossbody Change Kit  The perfect road trip companion, our changing kit lets you keep everything close (and by close we mean close--this bag sits right where you need it with an adjustable strap). But that’s only the start, because we added a thoughtful wipe window that lives directly under the bag’s front flap. Now, diapers and wipes are right within reach, no matter where you are. And that aforementioned trio of hand sanitizer, masks, moisturizer? They’re there too, neatly organized within the smart dividers inside that keep everything snug and easy-to-grab. Genius? We think so.    Travel may not be our top priority now, but our sanity certainly is. And sometimes, travel can be just the thing we need to escape reality. For keeping things in check? We’ve got some bags for that. Shop the full collection of our travel essentials here.   

How to turn your bag and bag organizers into the best friend you need right now.  This new world of ours has certainly created a need for organization and structure. And when things feel chaotic, it’s usually helpful to have immediate access to life’s essentials. Better yet, make it organized. Enter: ToteSavvy, the missing piece to the puzzle that is life at present. Maybe you’ve recently been inspired by Netflix’s The Home Edit, or perhaps you’ve lost your favorite lipstick one too many times, but the time has never been more ripe for picking just-right organizational accessories. ToteSavvy is here to enhance the bags you have, and to keep you feeling more coordinated and put-together than you might actually feel.  ToteSavvy will keep you feeling put-together Our Original Bag Organizer Our ToteSavvy Original is a staple in our lives for so many reasons, and has been for years (we used our Original so much, we made two more sizes). But without question, it’s become more important than we could have ever imagined. The list of things that we need to have within reach (i.e. not lost in the black hole of every mom’s giant tote bag) is now longer than ever before. Ensuring that our masks, our kids’ masks, sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, plus diapers, snacks, bottles, and the inevitable miscellanea that comes with parenthood are within immediate, findable reach is beyond imperative. ToteSavvy bag organizers were designed in a Pre-Covid world, but incorporating them into our present lives has made the biggest difference in feeling like we have a reliable, trustworthy companion for everyday. Put everything in its designated  pocket, and never lose anything again.     Our Crossbody We designed this bag for the mother on-the-go. Featuring a brilliant front panel window that gives you instant access to your choice of wipes (ours is currently disinfectant on repeat), plus a roomier-than-it-looks inside pocket with divider, you can pack everything you need within. We know you do the heavy-lifting, so we did the thinking, letting you have a smart alternative that makes motherhood look more chic than ever (kind of like your coolest mom friend).    Our Travel Organizer  For those times you’re on the road, our travel kit is an absolute essential. We designed it so you can keep individual outfits perfectly contained but easily accessible, and in turn keep dirty clothes separate from clean ones. Then we added a zipper pocket for loose items that need to be snuggly tucked away, making it a must-have for every adventure. You’d never travel without your best friend, right? Now you don’t have to.    We don’t think of our bags as just simply bags. They’re more like our confidantes, someone we trust to be complicit with our daily goings-on and to willingly hold all of our secrets, too. Sounds a little like a BFF, right? Let’s make that BBF: Best Bag Friend. Get yours when you shop the full collection today.   

So you stay sane while your little one gains independence. Weekday mornings can be hectic––to say the least. Between getting your family dressed, preparing breakfast, and taking that split second for yourself, it’s 9 am in the blink of an eye. Our mission at ToteSavvy is to create products that make your life easier, which of course includes your morning routine. While our tote inserts keep your favorite bag precisely organized, ToteSavvy Travel, is the perfect solution to keeping your morning stress-free whether you’re on a family trip or in the comfort of your own home.  With six individual pockets and two transparent pouches, ToteSavvy Travel seamlessly allows you to organize nearly a week’s worth of outfits in advance, making getting dressed in the morning a breeze. As a bonus, toddlers can work on their independence within a structured framework. They are able to select an outfit from a pocket and have the opportunity to choose which they’d like to wear that day. This little bit of independence to get dressed and select their favorite style will help build confidence while keeping tantrums over what to wear at a minimum.   HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR WEEK 1. Select 5 outfits for your child and lay them out in front of you. 2. Layer the components of each outfit on top of each other and roll them together to form one outfit roll. 3. Place each outfit inside one of the 6 mesh pockets. 4. Since only 5 pockets will be filled, use the 6th mesh pocket for socks, underwear, or PullUps. 5. The 2 clear pockets on the bottom of the organizer can be used for sunglasses, hair bows, and other small accessories. 6. Once the organizer is packed, hang it inside a closet, on a doorknob, or really anywhere that’s convenient for you and your toddler. It’s amazing to see how this small amount of preparation can contribute to streamlining your morning routine. With everything we have to worry about these days, it will be nice to check one thing off your list before you even wake up ;)  

Your newest travel accessory was meant for every adventure. Here’s how to pack it.   Our travel kit was born out of necessity when ToteSavvy founder, Lauren, realized that nothing like it existed. And with the need to save space once at her destination, but to keep efficient while on-the-go, she manifested a beautiful travel accessory that’s as stylish as it is functional. In every way utilitarian, the new ToteSavvy Travel Kit won’t just keep you organized, it will make every leg of your journey perfectly effortless. Here’s just how to do it:  ROLL OUT One of the biggest benefits of the Travel Kit: the organization factor. You can plan outfits ahead of time with the flexibility to compactly roll each up--including socks and underwear--and stash them into each of the the convenient mesh pockets.    SMALL WORLD  A seriously thoughtful design means that we didn’t overlook the small stuff. Because in a world with kids, the small stuff is often exactly what you can’t forget. Store things like hair clips, headbands, bow ties, tiny nail clippers, and more in the smaller, clear pockets.   KEEP IT HANGIN'  The Travel organizer allows for items like sweaters, dresses, and jackets to hang neatly in its designated garment bag section. Hard yes to anything arriving wrinkle-free.  HANG OUT The Travel Organizer fits perfectly over the inside of a closet or over the door, so that you never get hung up on the small stuff.  TALK DIRTY TO ME  After your outfits have been worn, you can pack them right back up in the pockets you brought them in. Separating them from the rest of your items means that germs, dirt, and more stay a safe distance away from the things you need to keep clean (even if you’re away for a full week).  Keeping organized while traveling is important to every mom. It eases the already inherent stresses of leaving your comfort zone, and the place that you’ve come to know better than the back of your hand. But a trustworthy product that’s been carefully scrutinized by a fellow mom? We’re really not sure it gets any better than that.   

Travel may look a little different these days but that doesn't mean it's any less chaotic––especially when it comes to packing for your little one. ToteSavvy was founded on the basis of simplifying parenthood with the philosophy that a little organization goes a very long way (our genius bag organizer is known for keeping madness-inducing messes to a minimum). And now, we’re expanding our organizational prowess to travel, making mindful packing easier and more effortless than ever before. Introducing, ToteSavvy Travel  Packing cubes are helpful--until they aren’t. Kids will, without fail, create messes. And despite thoughtfully folding and rolling each clothing item and packing them into their cubes, kids will find a way to turn a pristinely packed suitcase into complete and total chaos. Each of these moments became a building block for the Travel Organizer.  With each outfit stored inside its own pocket, your child can quickly and easily grab what they need without disturbing everything else. It also takes the pressure off of the parents to decide what to dress their child in. You just grab an outfit and go. Simple and easy.     Then there’s the cherry on top of it all. When an outfit is soiled, simply bunch it up and stick it back inside the same pocket. No need to carry a separate bag for dirty laundry or sift through your entire suitcase trying to find a clean pair of underwear.      Keep up to 6 outfits neatly packed inside ToteSavvy Travel, with room for little extras inside the 2 clear zip pockets. On the reverse side, you'll find a long garment bag perfect for storing dresses, light jackets, and sweaters.      ToteSavvy Travel includes a swivel hook to easily hang over a closet rod, bathroom door, or just about anything else. Each outfit stays in place until you need it making outfit changes a breeze.  When it's time to leave, simply roll the organizer (now packed with soiled clothing) back up and pop it in your suitcase. Traveling with kids has never before been this easy.      ToteSavvy Travel is, of course, a great option when traveling, but it also serves as a great tool to streamline your morning. With 6 mesh pockets, you can plan your child’s outfits for the week ahead of you. It’s compact enough to hang on a closet door or on a dresser knob so you won’t have to sacrifice space.      

Exploration is such a crucial piece of learning about the world and ourselves. Which is just one reason amid a growing list that has left us dismayed by the current state of the planet. Travel, though a luxury, is an opportunity we take at any given chance to learn, to see, to understand. And without it, we haven’t felt entirely whole.   Cooped up indoors and restricted from the greater world outside our doors has made us all the more eager to travel the way we used to. But hesitant to jump on a plane, we’ve decided to opt for new modes of exploration. Enter: the road trip, our chosen mode of travel in 2020. It’s the more cost-effective way we’re seeing the world, as safely as possible, and on our own terms. Here are the travel hacks we’ve learned thus far. They might inspire you to pack a few bags and jump behind the wheel, too.  Little Comforts   Use suction window shades to keep sun out of little eyes Grab a backseat air mattress for longer stops when someone wants to nap (adults included) Come prepared with a car sick kit (think multiple Tupperware containers and small trash bag liners to contain any potential messes) plus disinfectant wipes and paper towels for extra clean-up Essential Entertainment Use a backseat caddy for toys and snacks  Keep a travel binder filled with art supplies and paper, and put pages in plastic sheets for dry erase fun Use shower caddy cups that suction to window for toys and other fun little things Create a family scavenger hunt Bites and Beverages Pack cupcake liners, poke popsicle sticks through the middle and catch drips to keep little hands clean Bring dollar store mesh bins for easy eating in the backseat  For toddlers, tie a string to their sippy cup so they can reel it back in if dropped And, Adults   Keep a bag, like our Change Kit, ready for quick trips out of the car. There’s room for a mask, alcohol wipes, lip balm, a small wallet, keys, and your phone. Read more about how to pack here. Bring a pillow, eye mask, and earplugs for the non-driver to get some sleep between driving shifts Bring a mini, hand-held vacuum to help keep the car crumb-free  And just in case you’re looking for the perfect tool for organizing your little one’s outfits on the road, stay tuned for a brand new product launching next week! 

From the running errands to playing in the park, Tatiana Pujol of @weshopinheels is a busy mom who is constantly on the go. We wanted to know what essentials this mom of (almost) two packs in her ToteSavvy Change Kit.   I have been trying to keep my mom life as efficient and neat as possible to minimize the hassle. When it comes to carrying things in my bag, I’m a minimalist. I try to clean it to get rid of clutter at least once a week. For me, it’s necessary to have a practical and functional diaper bag that allows me to carry all of the essentials, both for baby and myself, without having to dig to find what I need.  Sometimes I just need to pack a few essentials for quick outings with my family, strolls around our neighborhood, quick supermarket errands, or a park trip with my toddler. The ToteSavvy Change Kit has been a life saver. It's a crossbody bag with an adjustable strap that features quick access to baby wipes for unexpected messes, a changing mat in case of a quick diaper change, and accessible pockets to keep all my woman essentials. This statement bag is versatile and has a sporty-chic look that can easily be transformed into a more dressy look.  < What’s currently in my ToteSavvy Change Kit: For my toddler: Baby wipes  Diaper cream  Changing mat Fruit Bars  For myself: Hands sanitizer  Sunglasses  Lipstick Credit card case Cellphone  Keys    Leaving home has never been easier with the convenience of the Change Kit. It’s been so practical for my crazy mom days, or just woman days to carry my essentials without missing out on any of our necessities. 

Ruth Gordon-Martin is a Postpartum Doula and founder of natural and organic postpartum care products CODDLE. She is on a mission to promote the importance of self-care for mothers post-delivery. We chatted with this mama of two about the importance of not only preparing for the birth of a baby, but also preparing for the birth of a mother.  Transitioning from doula to product developer is a big leap - how did you decide to launch your line of postpartum products? As I visited and talked to moms I found that most were clueless about their recovery and weren't aware of the products and tools that can help speed up their healing. Most of the women I spoke with during my doula visits transitioned from hospital to home and waited out their recovery until the pain subsided. For me, I had my aunt, mom and MIL waiting for me when I got home. They introduced me to remedies and recovery techniques that they used that are a part of our Jamaican postpartum tradition. My MIL constantly made sure I was drinking lots of broth, and as soon as I was able to take a bath (I had a c section) my aunt made a homemade sitz bath with healing herbs. From calendula flower to marshmallow root, CODDLE’s organic formulations are both soothing and healing for new moms. How did you discover the medicinal properties of some of these more esoteric ingredients? It started with my grandmother – all the credit goes to her. When I was growing up in Jamaica, my sisters and I came down with the measles. If you know anything about the measles, you know it leaves you itchy. To help us recover, my grandmother prepared soothing baths for my sisters and I using tamarind leaves boiled in water. After days of multiple steams and soaks, we were no longer itching and were healed. It was this specific experience, along with many others that led me to discover the power of plants and herbs. I also spoke openly with my mom and aunts about postpartum. We talked about traditional herbal remedies and their benefits, which ultimately led me to doing a lot of research on how to apply this today's line of products.  There is so much information about prenatal care, but very little information about postpartum recovery? Why do you think this is?  The entire industry is built around baby and newborn life. So, it’s natural for moms to gravitate toward and be totally overwhelmed with everything baby. Plus, pregnancy brings on so many body and hormonal changes - you’re more inclined to totally be absorbed with all these shifts. Another reason is the consumerism of the baby industry – it's a $1 billion dollar and it's focused on baby gear and the needs of the child. The only time you hear about mom is as it relates to the child, i.e. breastfeeding, because obviously your breasts only exist to feed the baby. Postpartum is an afterthought – it’s something that’s not seen. It’s in the shadows, so no one knows what’s happening or what to expect. And the celebrities add to that culture. What are 3 pieces of postpartum advice you would give to an expecting or new mom? 1. Prepare for postpartum – read a few books, follow a few accounts like CODDLE  and others focused on postpartum. She should mentally prepare and educate herself with books that give you a perspective on what postpartum life is like. 2. Prepare to breastfeed – most moms think about and want to breastfeed. It’s a natural thing but it doesn’t come naturally. Take a breastfeeding class, attend a La Leche meet-up. And in the age of social media – follow a few accounts to hear stories of moms. Talk with your mom, aunt, mother-in-law – what was their breastfeeding experience like? This sets the tone for your breastfeeding experience and expectation. 3. Get help - recruit people ahead of time. Society has led us to believe we can do it all on our own and that’s absolutely false. It can be a close female friend, a doula if they can afford one, your mom, mother-in-law, aunt or a cousin.  The first preference would be someone who has been through it before and knows what it entails. Help should not only just be there to ‘help’ but should be able to provide practical knowledge that’s not in any book. Gentle education, validation and reassurance that you’re doing it right, there’s no wrong way and that. like everything else, you will eventually get it. Pivoting to work/life balance - what are your go-to strategies for managing your business, your family while also finding some time for yourself? COVID has basically thrown the work/life balance out the window. Pre-COVID I tried to do as much as possible while my kids were in school and the rest after they are in bed. I try as much as possible to stick to a 8pm bedtime. The rest of the night is dedicated to CODDLE and time with my husband. Also, we try to go away for mini breaks as much as possible to unwind. The rest of the time is dinner with friends. After pregnancy I now have to manage sciatica pain, so a big plus is more massages – twice per month. On any given day - what can we find in your ToteSavvy?  In my ToteSavvy you can find most things from my make-up bag. There’s no need to have more than one bag so you’ll definitely find my make-up powder, lipstick if I’m wearing one that day and wipes. As a mom, you always need wipes and now with COVID even more so along with lots of hand sanitizer. I have a toddler who is obsessed with cars so you’ll find a few of those in there as well, along with my water bottle.

Meet the versatile crossbody bag that doesn’t require a baby to wear.  If you’ve been around for a while, you know we love a good bag. A durable tote or a classic handbag are essential to how we function not just as mothers, but as women. When efficiently organized, bags keep our lives in perfect working order. It’s for this exact reason that ToteSavvy has been the perfect complement to our fast-paced lifestyles. And when we think of our inherently busy schedules, albeit much slower now, we always take into consideration the practicality and utility of our pieces. Enter: ToteSavvy’s iteration of the classic crossbody bag that’s as essential to motherhood as it is to womanhood on the whole.  Not all bags were created equal, and our ToteSavvy Change Kit goes a level above. You don’t need a baby to enjoy its intrinsic values, like easily accessible pockets and interiors, or the thoughtful window panel for always on-hand disinfectant wipes and masks, and the adjustable cross-body straps that has go-anywhere (and everywhere) vibes. Style shouldn’t have to be a carefully thought-through affair all the time, and the pieces that make it easy to balance fashion and function are the double-duty aesthetic powerhouses that always work overtime.  Conceiving this bag got us thinking about consciously-crafted design, and how the perfect bag had to live up to our every expectation. Here’s what our packing checklist currently looks like:  ✅  Mask - Your new daily essential.  ✅  Disinfectant wipes - Always on-hand, now more than ever before.  ✅  Lip gloss - No one can see your lips, but hydrated they remain.  ✅  Cell phone - Perfectly-sized for our back exterior slit pocket.  ✅  Wallet - Ready to pay for your iced latte, and slips right back inside our divided interior pockets.  ✅  Hair ties - For hot days and fly-aways, keep this tucked right inside your bag.  ✅  Keys - Stashed neatly inside our roomy interior pocket (without ever getting lost).  Wherever the day takes you, just remember The ToteSavvy Change Kit is a statement bag first. What you put in it? That’s up to you!     

2020 didn’t come with a manual, but these bags will help you feel like your life is in perfect working order.  We’re not sure about you guys, but our social agendas have enough white space to make us wonder why we ever bought a 2020 calendar in the first place. And yet, somehow, despite having fewer places to go, the desire to keep organized is more profound than ever before. Our schedules, our surroundings, our house, our life--it’s all in disarray. If we’re counting, that’s pretty much our entire world. That is, with one exception: our bags.  At ToteSavvy, our bags are always the most organized. It’s not just our job, it’s our passion. But now, they’re more organized than ever before. Yes, at some point in quarantine, we cleaned out the muck. And free of gum wrappers, receipts, wipes that were used to clean who knows what, we realized we had a cleaner conscious, too. And that new, clearer outlook? Well, it got us thinking… it might be time for a new bag.  That was spring, and that was our version of spring cleaning. Fast forward to mid-summer, and we’re already thinking about Fall. A new season, a new prospect for impactful change, and a glimmer of hope for a future that is safe, healthy, and clean. With hygiene now more in focus than ever before, we realized there was something to our thought process. Finding a new bag wasn’t just a way to cleanse our spirits, but it was also another way of hitting the reset button. And hell, one other thing: we deserve it. (Read: we could not deserve it more.)  The perfect bag is out there waiting, nay, calling your name. And in the interest of, say, your sanity, we encourage you to chase your tote bag dreams. And when you find it, we’ve got a ToteSavvy ready to call it home. Here are a few of our favorite bag styles and silhouettes for Fall.  TREND: CHAINS The classic tote bag by Coach that's always in style, especially for the season where we're more in love with chains than ever.   TREND: OVERSIZED The best way to weave a little organization into your every day is the oversized bag that’s as ready to move as you are.  TREND: SOPHISTICATED  Craving structure? This sophisticated tote bag has go-everywhere vibes and enough room for everything you need.  ToteSavvy helps maintain organization and keep it at an all-time high, no matter the day, the mood, or the bag you choose to wear. Through all the chaos, we came to realize that sometimes a little structure goes a long way.    Shop ToteSavvy inserts

With the launch of our new Change Kit, we're eager to show you just how versatile and helpful it can be. It's lightweight and compact, making it easy to stash inside your favorite tote, wear as a crossbody bag, or both!  If you plan to pack it in your tote to use solely as a changing kit, we suggest pairing with ToteSavvy Mini for the ultimate diaper bag combo. Continue reading to discover how we use the MZ Wallace Metro tote (medium size) to create a lightweight, sleek, and functional diaper bag.  Both ToteSavvy Mini and the Change Kit are compact organizers that work well on their own, but depending on your needs, work even better together. When paired together, you gain more space in your tote in addition to a hands-free option for diaper changes.  How to Pack Your Organizer and Change Kit Start by packing the Change Kit with all of your diaper change essentials. Diapers (3-4) Wet wipes Diaper cream Changing mat (included with Change Kit) Your Change Kit will serve as your hands-free way to change a diaper when out and about with baby. Wear the kit crossbody so both hands are free to hold your little one close and safely change their diaper. Never worry about placing your bag on the floor of a public restroom or at the end of the changing table only to be kicked off by strong little legs. The cherry on top is quick access to wet wipes without taking them out of your kit.    Once your Change Kit is packed, move on to ToteSavvy Mini. This is where you'll want to pack the rest of your mom and baby essentials. We like to pack: Bottle and formula (if using) Bibs or burp cloth Pacifier Outfit change Toy or teether Hand cream Aquafor Lip balm Nose Frida (the best nasal aspirator) ToteSavvy Mini will stay inside your bag, organizing every other essential for baby. When it's time for a diaper change simply grab the Change Kit and head off without disturbing everything else inside your bag.  ToteSavvy Mini and the Change Kit work flawlessly together to give you the ultimate diaper bag. Easily swap bags or keep them inside your go-to tote to confidently take on your day with your sweet little one.       

See what’s always in our ToteSavvy Change Kit for every stage and age.  We didn’t just make a changing kit to make your time on-the-go doable, we made a changing kit to make every step of the way effortless. Packing efficiently is the best way to start any adventure off on the right foot. It’s a way of managing expectations, of ensuring preparedness, and about creating a framework around your agenda. Because when you’re well-prepared, you’re less inclined to sweat the small stuff--even the unexpected, including everything from spit-up to spilt milk. So no matter your family’s age range, we’ve got you covered. See all the ways we pack our changing kit for newborns, infants, and toddlers too.  NEWBORNS + INFANTS This stage is when having the essentials close at all times is paramount. And to have the parenting system down, you’ll want to pack properly. That means keeping about 2-3 diapers packed snuggly inside the kit, alongside wet wipes, the diaper cream of your choice, plus a small rolled onesie or a few pacifiers. Stash your Change Kit inside any bag to use as a full service changing kit (featuring easy access to diapering essentials while wearing it crossbody), or wear on its own as the most compact and minimalist diaper bag you've ever used.      TODDLERS + SCHOOL AGE KIDS By the time you reach the toddler stage with your child, you’ve pretty much got a handle on things. And though your Change Kit packing rituals won’t change that much, you still want to be mindful of the must-haves. To that end, we like to pack our kits up with the toddler necessities, like one Pull-Up, wet wipes (think disinfectant or antimicrobial hand wipes), snack bars, and any small, easy-to-grab toys that you can toss their way in the blink of an eye.  Once the essentials are taken care of, there's still some room for your keys, wallet, and cell phone. We recommend removing the changing mat and using the outer pocket as a quick spot to stash your phone.  The beauty of the ToteSavvy Change Kit is that it’s an easy, compact solution for holding everything you need, when you need it, wherever you are. And we love it even more because it grows with your family.   

  As a parent, you're constantly juggling more than you can carry (literally and figuratively). Having your hands free to carry your baby, chase your toddler, or hold them with one hand while you quickly change a diaper with the other, is all too familiar.  We're passionate about making parents' lives easier, and of course, more organized. For this reason, we created the ToteSavvy Change Kit. It's part changing kit and part crossbody bag––a hybrid design helping you keep your hands free so you can easily access a diaper, a wet wipe, or anything else you need at that moment.     

To usher in the release of our new launch, we asked the moms in our life about the most unconventional places they’ve ever changed a diaper. As a parent, there’s nothing that pushes us to our limits quite like the unexpected bathroom break our diaper-clad baby always seems to drop on us at the most inopportune time. (They know, right? Like, they must know...) An ill-timed poo can really stop us in our tracks, especially if we have no well-equipped area to change a messy nappy. Luckily, as moms, we have fast become accustomed to thinking on our feet. And things are about to get a whole lot easier for you with our latest launch; it’s so good, you’ll actually be excited to change a diaper. In the meantime, let’s all take a moment of silence to remember the most absurd and literally off-the-wall places these moms have ever changed a diaper. Like we said, pure insanity…    “On a deep freezer in the kitchen of a restaurant!” --Lisa K., @addictedtohairlockport    “When my son was four months old I had to change him on the bathroom floor of a very busy McDonalds during a Chicago Cubs baseball game.” --Tiffanie S., @energeewhizz    “The craziest place was in a cab!! Visiting my family back in Argentina, in Buenos Aires, big city, and [moving] around either in public transportation or cabs, so we had a long drive to the place we were going and well... duty calls! Poor cab driver.” --Flor, @kabana_community     “On a 6" deep windowsill, above/behind a toilet, in a restaurant. Poor kid. [AND], on a dining table at a brewery (so grossed out now in retrospect that I did this... but I was a new parent and totally brain dead at the time... and they didn't have a bathroom I could do it in, and I saw others doing it too sooooooo.)” --Kelsey S., @ShopMiliMili    “On the ground in front of a church in Lake Como.” --Michelle Piccolo, @feedingourtoddlers    “My hubby and I have done several hiking trips with our daughter so two crazy spots come to mind because we always hike far enough that a diaper change was necessary: 1.) Outside the Lake Agnes Teahouse (which takes 2 hours to hike to) in Banff National Park in Canada, and  2.) At the Kallur lighthouse on the island of Kalsoy in the Faroe Islands.” --Hannah J., @habejo    “Seat of an airplane.” --Petria B., @petriaboutin     “The craziest place I've changed a diaper (so many!). My favorite is on a bar in Lloret de Mar, a coastal town near Barcelona. We took a trip there when our first baby was 4 months and I was on maternity leave. We frequently found ourselves in fairly inconvenient places for diaper changes. One night we were having dinner with friends at their favorite local spot and found out mid-meal there was no room or changing table in the restroom. We asked the restaurant if we could clear off the bar counter and they were more than happy to accommodate!  That memory will go down as one of the funniest.” --Severina O., @gabriisle    “On the side of the road, on a backstreet, in the middle of nowhere Staten Island. It. Was. Weird. AND it was a blowout.” ---Charlotte B.K., @charlotteblakekaplan    “In the bathroom on the train from Rye, NY to Manhattan.  No changing tables, so [I] had to do it standing up.  Best part? I didn't realize until after the [poopy] diaper change that they don't have trash cans on the train and I didn't have a plastic bag. #success” --Jessica G., @taavi_village    “Well I have definitely changed diapers in many great locations but the best has to be in the middle of gay pride parade I was walking home from yoga and Laszlo had an up the back poop and I had to change him on a park bench while a dance party was in full action.” --Tara C., @thismamasoul     

Remember those quizzes we used to take in old-school, authentic, glossy paper magazines that would tell us what kind of guy we were meant to be with, or what kind of career woman we would be? This post is a little bit like that--without the cheesy questions.  We all have a type--a mode of cooking, a ritual for bathing, a driving style. But what kind of mom are we? Each of us gravitates towards a certain type of style of parenting. In a way, it’s an extension of our past life, and the way we bring our interests that preceded having children into motherhood. And the best way to accommodate our lifestyle lies in finding the perfect bag--and bag organizer--that keeps it all together. Find your perfect fit for your lifestyle with the bags and organizers that seamlessly align with your parenting style. Full breakdown below!    photo credit @thatgirlgick Designer handbags are an investment, and one you likely don't want to shelve just because you're a mom. Your beautiful bag also deserves to be beautifully organized.  Pair ToteSavvy Deluxe or Original with the luxury handbag or your choosing. A few favorites include Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Dior.  (Designer tip: not only are they the perfect fit, they keep your bag lining looking untouched and totally pristine.)     photo credit: @jeneaeng From the beach to the park, and everywhere in between, we have the active mom covered. Adventure bags require max organization for the nuts, snack bars, and water bottles that need quick and easy grabbing. Fun fact: our mini organizer fits seamlessly into smaller bags and backpacks, too.  Pair a sporty backpack with ToteSavvy Mini. We love the Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack in size small or medium.      City dwelling requires major inventiveness and creativity when it comes to motherhood. Life is not just almost always on-the-go, it's almost always exclusively on foot. This lifestyle demands a special type of organization, and the ability to grab whatever you need in a New York minute. Our Original Organizer fits perfectly into an oversized tote so that whether over your shoulder or riding in your stroller, you can really grab-and-go.  Pair ToteSavvy Original with the MZ Wallace Metro Deluxe large tote. It's the perfect lightweight on-the-go bag for city dwellers.     The working mom needs a bag that does double-duty--something that works overtime to accommodate office life and mom life in equal balance. And though the juggle is real, the things in your bag don't need to be up in the air. Keep your life in perfect working order with the Deluxe Organizer, our interpretation of max organization that gives structure to even the craziest of days.  Pair ToteSavvy Deluxe with a sleek and stylish boss bag like the Rebecca Minkoff ‘Megan’ tote.