SOLLY BABY - Wraps, Carriers, Onesies, Women's Loungewear + More!

I may not be a Mom yet......I'm still on the fence for a few reasons...but I'm an Auntie to three amazing kiddos, I've been a nanny, worked at a daycare & I have many dear parent friends that provide me with endless feedback about their favorite & not so favorite items. My friends know that I'm endlessly inquisitive & love to research so even when I'm gift giving, I always want the best.

When I research brands that I would like to collaborate with, it is the same thing. I want to collaborate with the best but more importantly above that brands & people that I respect and want to be associated with as well.

Elle Rowley originally from Texas, now lives on a 3 acre farm in Bonsall, California with her husband and partner, Jared, and their four little ones. Explaining how Solly came about...Elle says in her bio:

"I never thought I would be a CEO. I barely graduated high school and I couldn't have dreamt this whole thing up if I'd tried, but there's nowhere I'd rather be than right here, making wraps that literally bring families together, comfortably, confidently, and happily...."

"I had a tough transition into motherhood so I also love supporting mothers in any way I can through that first year."

Elle loved wearing her first baby (who had lots of colic and reflux) but Elle always ended each wearing with a headache and a backache so she was determined to make something better for her second.

Elle started Solly Baby with a pregnant belly and a $50 Craigslist serger back in 2010. She made one simple wrap for herself & a friend and, after having her son, Solomon (Solly for short), they both quickly fell in love with the experience.

Looking down at him that first time in the wrap and holding her toddler's hand for our first outing, Elle knew this was something she had to share with other parents. Elle got to work while her babies slept, experimenting with fabrics & sewing on her serger, tweaking the design until it was perfectly functional, beautiful, & reflected her personal style and aesthetic.

After lots of late nights, early mornings & caffeinated beverages, Elle's first batch of wraps were made. She started selling at pop-up shops & on her own Etsy shop. It went pretty poorly that first year but Elle knew failure & success lived in the same neighborhood so she kept at it. Three years in, everything changed. Social media took off and so did Solly Baby!

Elle and her husband moved out of her in-laws' house & almost a decade and two more babies later, Solly Baby is a global brand. Solly Baby was named “Best Wrap” by New York Time's Wirecutter Magazine, it was selected as the top gift pick for parents by Vogue & has been featured in Parents magazine, Martha Stewart & the Today show.

Solly Baby wraps have been worn by some of Hollywood's most beloved mamas including Anne Hathaway, Pink, Ayesha Curry, Olivia Wilde & Serena Williams.

Whether you are looking for must have items as a new parent, soon to be parent or shopping for a friend and love ones baby shower, I know you will love Solly Baby as much as my family, friends and I do! Check out all their products, styles, and gift ideas below!

Sleepers

These sleepers come in many more colors + designs!

Wraps + Carriers

These wraps + carriers come in many more colors + designs!

You can also watch a tutorial to learn how to wrap, loop + swaddle.

You can even book a

FREE

20 Minute Private Virtual

Solly Baby Consult!

What is that?

A certified babywearing educator, is here to support you with any Solly Baby related questions you may have. A 20 minute private virtual consult that includes a fit check, troubleshooting and discussion regarding questions you may have about using your Solly Baby wrap & wearing baby.

You can specify what connection works best for you (Facetime, Skype or WhatsApp) for you & what number or Skype name, email etc. to call at your scheduled time.

Solly Baby wraps have been put to the test every single day from the park to shopping at Target with three other kids in tow, from deep in the parenting trenches.

The wrap is sure to be your little ones' favorite place to be while being comfortable for you as well. You can have the confidence to travel the globe with them or survive the weekly grocery run, all while keeping your baby snuggled right on your chest.

The Solly Baby wrap is one of the greatest gifts for a parent. It is a product that helps one enjoy that confidence & closeness as a parent.

Sleep Gowns

These sleep gowns come in many more colors + designs!

Gift Ideas

Bringing Home Baby Bundle

Bringing Home Baby *Deluxe* Bundle

Mama + Baby Bundle

Robe for Mama

Wrap + Dolly Bundle

Digital Gift Card

Solly Dolly (for sibling)

Solly Dolly + Book Bundle (for sibling)

... and much more!

Swaddles

These swaddles come in many more colors + designs!

Knotted Hats

These knotted hats come in many more colors + designs!

Mom + Baby

Women's Pajamas

Crib Sheets

These crib sheets come in many more colors + designs!

To Shop All Things

SOLLY BABY

Tap

HERE

And...if you're looking for more items for mama + baby, check out my BABY ESSENTIALS here.

Please message me if you have any questions or comments! Peace, Love & Blessings Nicole

5 MONDAY MORNING PROMPTS To Start Your Day + Week Fresh + Focused!

Lauryn Evarts Bosstick aka The Skinny Confidential (seen below with her adorable mini me, Zaza) inspired me with her 5 MONDAY MORNING PROMPTS to help start the day / week off FRESH + FOCUSED!

I needed a different system to make my days more focused & harmonious. I haven't been posting as consistently or writing enough as much as I would like. I also want to launch my PODCAST sooner than later. These 5 prompts have started helping me feel more balanced.

Here's what Lauryn suggests:

Grab paper & write the date on the top.

1) List out the PODCAST, BOOK, WORKOUT + MUSIC for your day.

Here are mine:

MUSIC: Kelly Oxford's “A Hard No-Know” playlist on Spotify is filled with dreamy songs from bands that I have & have not heard of before like: Ethel Cain, Squirrel Flower, Joji, Briston Maroney, AJIMAL, TORRES, Lana Del Rey, LCD Soundsystem, Phantogram, FKA twigs, Vancouver Sleep Clinic, SAULT, Julien Baker, Mansionair, Sufjan Stevens, Rostam, Montell Fish and Sophie Cates.

Listen to Kelly's playlist HERE.

WORKOUT: Melissa Wood Health is one of my go-to workouts! Melissa is a mom to two beautiful kiddos, a wife, digital entrepreneur, founder of Melissa Wood Health, creator of The MWH Method, meditator and certified in yoga and Pilates.

Enjoy some of my favorite workouts of Melissa's HERE!

PODCAST: Not Skinny But Not Fat (also known as Amanda Hirsch) is fookin’ hilarious as she talk about all things pop culture and more! I will listen to the latest podcast of Not Skinny But Not Fat while I have my lunch. Check out her podcast available on Spotify courtesy of Dear Media HERE.

BOOK: I'm about to start Demi Moore's "Inside Out" audiobook. I've been really into audiobooks right now so that I can give my eyes a break after being on the computer & phone most days. I save book time close to my bedtime.

I absolutely LOVE the Hoopla Digital app - A FREE web + mobile streaming platform offered by your local library where you can borrow MOVIES, MUSIC, AUDIOBOOKS, & EBOOKS. Ask your local library if they have a free digital app. All you need is a library card! Other digital library apps include: Libby and OverDrive. I believe there is also Google Play Books (but I haven't tried that one yet).

Goodbye late fees!

2) Write down 3-4 things you're grateful for (it can be anything from simple to complex).

I'm GRATEFUL FOR ...

* Catching up with my my brother, Anthony and my nephews, Declan and Luca!

All three of these handsome guys make me laugh no like other!

This past week Declan taught me how to code using a website called Scratch. Declan recently built some incredible games & animation programs. I'm beyond impressed with how he teaches himself such complicated things & yet he explains & teaches them to me in an uncomplicated and simple way. Declan is so amazing!

Luca will be playing baseball in the spring so he was telling me about how excited he is to start playing when the weather warms up. Luca also loves to sing Justin Bieber songs to me. He has such a sweet lil' voice!!! His favorites songs to sing to me are "Ghost" and "Stay". Luca makes my heart so happy!

* Seeing pictures of my beautiful niece, Lilly playing in the snow! She lights up my entire world with her smile! Lilly recently has been learning sign language as she is on the autism spectrum. My parents and I are now learning sign language so that we can converse better with our lovely Lilly when we Facetime & when we see her soon! Lilly rocks our world and I can't wait to see her & give her the biggest hug ever!

* Social media - I have a love/hate relationship with social media however, my faith has been renewed seeing so many people share resources to help Ukraine & others in need.

* Instagram - I was able to help find my friend Anne's friends child who is undergoing treatment at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) a donor with the rare B+ blood type. My amazing friend Katrina reached out first as she had shared my post on Instagram and one of her followers from Georgia responded that he was B+. Unfortunately, we later learned that the donor must live in Los Angeles. A few minutes after I re-shared the post indicating L.A. based B+ donors only, my awesome friend Crystal, one of my old dragon boat racing buddies responded within minutes saying she was B+ and I quickly got her in touch with the family.

With everything going on in the world, I've been feeling so helpless, sad & depressed. This reminded me that doing something, anything really for others, even as simple as using your own platform & resources can make a huge difference in someone's life.

"Must Get Done" LIST

Next, there is your MUST GET DONE LIST. This list is different from your general To Do List. Your MUST GET DONE LIST is your NON-NEGOTIABLES that need to get checked off TODAY.

3) Write down how you want to feel.

I Want To FEEL ...

Calm, Intentional and Focused

4) Write down 3 people you are sending good thoughts, health & happiness to.

I'm Sending GOOD THOUGHTS, GOOD HEALTH & HAPPINESS TO ...

Mama Joyce , Papa Ed and my brother, Anthony

To Do LIST

5) Your TO DO LIST. Write down 6 things in order of importance. Whatever doesn't get done, gets moved to the TO DO LIST for the next day. This exercise will help you gain CLARITY for a PRODUCTIVE day / week!

Let me know your suggestions for

PODCASTS,

BOOKS,

WORKOUTS +

MUSIC PLAYLISTS

in the comments below!

CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE Diet: What to Eat, What to Skip

I've taken an interest in this topic as it hits close to home. My Dad has Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) + I wanted to learn more to empower my family to know more about it + how to shop + meal plan. The only person that is truly in control however, is my Dad aka Papa Ed, so I hope this post helps him as well as others with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

They're small, but your kidneys have a mighty job—filtering out waste from the blood. If they aren’t working well things can go wrong, like unhealthy blood pressure + electrolyte levels. That's why if you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), your diet can help determine your destiny. Still, “it’s not one-size-fits-all,” warns Mohamed Atta, M.D., professor of medicine in the division of nephrology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

“Nutritional support is important, but you have to tailor that support based on the cause of the kidney disease.”

The VICIOUS Circle of CKD + Other HEALTH Conditions

Chronic kidney disease is always caused by another condition, most often diabetes or high blood pressure (HBP), which both can damage the kidneys’ blood vessels. What's more, as CKD progresses it often leads to HBP (or makes it worse), increasing your risk for cardiovascular issues like heart attack + stroke.

This is why it’s super important to eat foods that support your kidney function and lower your risk for heart problems.

Here, I’ll walk you through a CKD-friendly diet. (Remember, always consult with your doctor and/or nutritionist about your own individual needs before embarking on a new eating plan.)

Try This "HEART SMART" Dietary Approach For CKD

Unless you’re already on dialysis, start with a balanced diet, says Krista Maruschak, R.D., a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition in Ohio. Since CKD + heart problems often go hand-in-hand, heart-smart eating helps reduce fats that build up in your kidneys, heart + blood vessels. The general approach as you cruise your grocery store aisles? Maruschak suggests picking up lots of fruits + vegetables, whole grains, low- or no-fat dairy, lean proteins + healthy fats such as olive + flaxseed oils. Limit saturated fats to 5% to 6% of your total daily calories + avoid trans-fats.

SKIP The SALT

Now, for some specifics. “I tell my patients salt is their number-one enemy, the number-one cause of problems,” says Dr. Atta. Reducing the amount of sodium you eat can help control HBP and diabetes + lower your risk of heart problems, he adds. Keep your intake to under about

1 tsp. a day, advises Maruschak.

To lower your intake, buy fresh food (packaged + prepared food tends to be high in sodium); cook with herbs + spices instead of salt; rinse canned meat, beans + veggies before eating; + check food labels—the sodium Daily Value should be under 20%.

Choose LEAN PROTEINS + Cut Down on Red Meat

Protein creates waste that your kidneys must filter out. Eating too much of it forces damaged kidneys to work even harder, making CKD worse. Limiting protein to 0.6–0.8 g/kg of body weight is especially important in Stages 3 to 5 of CKD because such restrictions can help slow down disease progression, Maruschak says. Red meat is “a stress test to the kidney,” adds Dr. Atta. It has a surplus of saturated fat, cholesterol + salt + it delivers high levels of acid that your kidneys can’t remove.

Choose fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, beans + grains for your protein needs instead.

WATCH Your POTASSIUM Intake

In Stages 3 to 5 of CKD, your lab tests may start showing higher levels of potassium because your kidneys can’t filter it out, says Maruschak. High potassium can cause serious heart problems, including sudden death from your heart stopping, says Dr. Atta. Symptoms of life-threatening levels include leg weakness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, abnormal heartbeat, nausea, or vomiting.

If your potassium level is too high, you’ll need to limit high-potassium foods like oranges, bananas, dairy, nuts, potatoes, beans + whole-wheat. This can be tricky, especially on a heart-healthy diet, so you’ll probably need a dietitian’s help.

LIMIT Foods With PHOSPHORUS

Like potassium, your phosphorus levels may begin to rise as your kidney function decreases. Too much phosphorus can weaken your bones, cause calcification of your arteries + lead to heart disease. Dr. Atta says he has patients limit phosphorus once their kidney function is at 50%.

Foods + drinks higher in phosphorus include dark sodas, canned + processed food, chocolate, dairy, meat, bran + oats. These restricted low-potassium + low-phosphorus diets are “why we have patients meet with a nutritionist to make sure they know what to avoid,” Dr. Atta added.

Bite Into APPLES + BERRIES

One of the biggest benefits of apples + berries like strawberries + blueberries for people with CKD is that they’re extremely low in potassium, says Dr. Atta. All three—especially blueberries—also have antioxidants called anthocyanins, which, according to recent study published in Food and Nutrition Research, may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, cancer, inflammation + obesity.

They all contain fiber + vitamin C, too. Keep in mind that eating a bunch of low-potassium foods in one day can add up, so enjoy these fruits in moderation, Dr. Atta says.

Try More OMEGA-3 Rich FISH

Omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of a healthy diet because research has found that they can boost your heart health, lowering your risk of heart disease, blood clots + arrhythmias. They help keep plaque out of your arteries + curb inflammation, too.

Omega-3s may also lower blood pressure, a potentially big benefit when you have CKD. You have to get Omega-3 fatty acids through your food since your body doesn’t make them.

The best sources are fish like salmon, herring, mackerel, lake trout, bluefin tuna, anchovies + albacore tuna. Aim for 2+ servings a week.

Eat Right With END-STAGE Kidney Disease

If you’re on kidney replacement therapy (dialysis or kidney transplant), Maruschak says you’ll need an individualized diet plan that reflects your lab work + the type of therapy you’re currently getting. In general, she says you’ll need to limit foods that are high in potassium + you may need to limit your phosphorus intake, too. You may also need to restrict your fluids + limit your sodium intake if you’re on dialysis to prevent water retention in between treatments. One small upside is that you’ll need to eat extra protein when you’re on dialysis, typically 1.2–1.5 g/kg of your body weight, she adds.

Don't know where to start?

I've made it super easy to help you swap out the junk for healthier options from brands like:

Ora Organic, Purity Coffee, Olipop,

Primal Kitchen, Recess, Sakara, Date Lady

and more in my shop

HERE

Need help with recipes?

Check out my delicious + nutritious ideas HERE!

Sources: Health Central + Sarah Ludwig Rausch