best new apps for moms

For the past few years I've been so fortunate to be a part of a wonderful new and expectant moms community through Bump Club and Beyond. I went from being a pregnant expecting mother who attended the workout classes to an active participant at their new moms brunch. This past weekend I sat on a panel with other fabulously resourceful moms to share some of my favorite new apps and services that make motherhood a little less stressful. While what I shared is great for new moms, they're awesome for veteran parents as well. So listen up because if you're in need of a little bit more time in your life, these apps might just be able to help you.

 

mom crush ~ caitlin murray giles

Name:  Caitlin Murray Giles

Stats:  Wife, mom of three, blogger at Wee Windy City and PR/marketing maven who is the co-founder of 2 Moms Media - an integrated marketing company that specializes in creating authentic connections with consumers, specifically women and moms.

Why she's crush worthy:  Caitlin is a mom and a darn good one at that, so it makes sense that as a career she helps her clients speak to moms in a way that makes them listen.  She gets to work with great companies like Red Tricycle, Bump Club and much more, so much that you wonder when she has time to balance being a mom, wife and well-known Chicago blogger - but she does it while making it look so effortless.  

Meet Caitlin and learn how she juggles it all with her thoughts on....

5 things to know before monday ~ 2.9.14

Happy Peter Pilotto for Target release day!  While it has been an exciting week with Olympics kick-off, there are few things that did come up in my social media feeds that should be as buzz worthy: An exciting movie sequel, a NY celebration of Fall collections, and much more.  Enjoy!

life (lahyf) | bump club brunch

You've heard me rave about my experience with Bump Club and Beyond and now that I'm a mom I'm even more excited to be involved with the group in a completely different way.   Every month Bump Club hosts a brunch series for new and expecting moms that cover a wide variety of topics to get through pregnancy and parenting.  Next Sunday (January 13th), is the next brunch for moms and the topic is Chicago City Mom Secrets Revealed featuring a panel of city bloggers that will share ways to survive the winter months with your little one.  I'm so extremely excited to be one of the bloggers who will be participating in this panel and I'm looking forward to sharing my favorite things to do in the city.  If you live in the Chicago area and are interested in attending this event, click here for more information.  There will be brunch, an opportunity to meet new friends, a chance for your little ones to play with others, gift bags and of course tons of giveaways!  It's definitely an event you won't want to miss.

If you're interested in more information or upcoming events visit Bump Club and Beyond for more details.

life (layhf) | bump club & beyond

My worst fear is coming true...I'm becoming one of those people who only talks about being pregnant.  I swore P.P. (pre-pregnancy) that I would never become this person.  Don't get me wrong, there's nothing bad about always talking about pregnancy.  However, my friends here in Chicago are in different life stages and I respect the fact that some of my friends don't want to have kids, so I've been trying to be more aware of how much I talk about the nursery, overcoming morning sickness or my choice of childcare. 

Since none of my close friends in Chicago have kids or are anywhere close to being pregnant, I started feeling like I needed a closer support group full of women who know exactly what I'm going through.  Luckily I have my best friends back home in Seattle who have been so kind in sharing their experience about motherhood with me, but here in Chicago I sometimes feel like I'm on my own island. I will fully admit that this is one of the happiest times of my life, but there are times when it's lonely too.  That's why I'm so thankful to have found Bump Club & Beyond.

Bump Club and Beyond is an extremely welcoming group that gives soon-to-be and new moms an opportunity to connect with one another.  Through many events like monthly workout classes, educational dinners, shopping events and much more, Bump Club and Beyond offers the perfect platform for women like me to make friends with others who are also pregnant.  Much like meeting other blogger friends for the first time, you already have one major thing in common which makes "breaking the ice" so much easier.

I've only been to 2 events in the last month, but can't stop telling people about how much I'm in love with Bump Club and Beyond.  My initial intention for going to the events was to make new soon-to-be mommy friends, but I'm benefiting from it way more than expected.  In just 2 events, I not only have been learning about what I should be doing now to take care of myself and the little one growing in me, but about what to expect once he/she gets here.  Even though in my mind I have a lot of time to read books and educate myself about having a child, realistically I'm realizing I don't have enough time.  Bump Club is really helping me prepare for this huge change and it just so happens that along the way I'm meeting some great friends.  It's also not too shabby that at most events attendees walk away with great gift bags and that a few lucky ones also win great raffle prizes (like yours truly). :)

photos | © 2012 Thomas M. Kubik

Whether you yourself, or someone you know, is a soon-to-be or new mom, I highly recommend checking out Bump Club and Beyond. I have to give a fair warning though - these events are addicting so don't be surprised if you leave your first event wanting to participate in many more.