Inside ToteSavvy

Liz Libré and Lizzy Ott first met in high school, ended up at the same college in Maine then both landed in NYC post-college with careers in the creative field. It was in 2016 when the two got together to build their first collection of bedding specifically for children and their brand Lewis was born. Today, the co-founders have (almost) six children between to the two of them as well as an expanding business of beautifully designed bedding, accessories and apparel designed for children, yet elevated for the parent. We caught up with Liz and Lizzy to talk about entrepreneurship, experiencing nature in NYC and of their secrets to managing it all.  How did you make the decision to leave your respective jobs and embark on the path of entrepreneurship?  Liz: When I was pregnant with my first baby, I asked my dear friend Lizzy (in school for her masters in interior architecture at the time) for help setting up the nursery. Lizzy couldn’t find any printed crib sheets that she loved, and suggested I put my illustrations on fabric. It was then that the idea for Lewis was born. We sat with the idea over the years, and continued to be dissatisfied with what we saw in the market, until we finally decided it was time to give it a try. What has been the most rewarding part of owning your own brand? What has been the most challenging? Lizzy: The most rewarding part of owning our own brand are the emails we receive from customers with photos of their kid's bedrooms or their newborn all wrapped in one of our swaddles. They are so heart warming and mean so much to us! We are so grateful we get to make the impact one baby or kid at a time that we’ve always wanted to! The most challenging is what many working parents deal with-- the juggle of home, young children, work. And trying to make time for ourselves in there. Some days are more successful than others! There is a strong nature theme in many of your prints, yet you're both based in NYC. Where are your favorite places to draw inspiration from, both in and outside of the city? Liz: Yes! We believe strongly that nature produces what kids are most naturally drawn to before they’re influenced by culture and media. Not only this, but we believe it’s where most adults find the most beauty, so there is an overlap for imagery that children love as much as adults. Inside the city, my family spends a lot of time in Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Lizzy and her family spend a lot of time in Central Park and Stone Barns (right outside the city!). We’re so lucky to live in a city that prioritizes green space. Outside the city, we’re both drawn to the coast. My family and I spend as much time as possible at the Jersey Shore, and Lizzy and her family spend a lot of time on the Rhode Island coast and visits family in Wyoming as much as possible. We’re both nostalgic for our time in Maine--always! What's next for the brand? Can we look forward to an adult collection anytime soon? Lizzy: Adult is probably not in our near future - but never say never! We’re continually drilling down on what can improve the quality of our products and fit, and editing the best possible selection of nursery print + color. We have been playing with some new baby gift sets as well as a few articles of clothing--so those are both possibilities for the near future. How do you juggle your personal time, professional time and family time?  Liz + Lizzy: It’s something that’s not easy for anyone--whether you’re running your own business or working for someone else. It has become somewhat easy to make office hours sacred. They are limited in a week and we’re passionate about what we do, so real focus is natural. It’s of course hard to turn that off at home, but we both make a conscious effort to put our phones away once we step in the door so that our kids are the focus and nothing else. We can always return to things we need to after bedtime, but during the week it is only a few precious hours a day we have with our kids, so we make it intentional. Fridays are also the flex / balance day for us. We expect to be out of office with our studio manager taking the reins, but we have options for when work is unavoidable on Fridays. We really cherish the extra family day, even if it makes working hours more hectic. Personal time is hard at the moment!  Liz: After having our third baby, James (3yrs), I thought I’d never be alone again. In the past year, as he doesn’t physically need me as much, it’s been easier to carve time out for myself. I wake up before everyone else to work out, a luxury I didn’t have for so long because sleep was so unknown. And now that our kids will happily have a sitter put them to bed, we make sure to have regular date nights. I get together with friends every couple weeks, and last year I started taking weekly tennis lessons with a group of women. This year I want to take a creative class. I love learning new things--it’s crucial for my creative process and I’m finally not too exhausted to do it! Lizzy: Personal time is difficult with children my age. They are understandably demanding of my time and I’m usually exhausted. I make it a point every once in a while to sneak out of the house for a few hours of solo time, I wake up extra early for a couple of workouts a week, and every once in a while dinner with girlfriends. The truth is I know all of life is seasons. Before I had children I had all the personal time in the world and I craved being needed more. I have very little right now, but I know this will ebb and flow over the years. As long as I always take a pulse check and make time when I’m nearing the end of my rope, that’s okay for this season. Can you share some of your favorite tips, tools and advice to keeping it all together? Liz + Lizzy: We’re big believers in pre-packed bags and zip pouches so there is always the right thing to grab without too much rushing around in the chaos of trying to get out the door. We pack our zip pouches for car trips, overnights and daily strolls. And we always have one ready to go!  On any given day, what can we find packed inside your ToteSavvy Deluxe? Lizzy: Liz and I are both big canvas carries when it comes to keeping all of our kid's stuff in one place for schlepping around ! We love that even in white canvas the Totesavvy disappears into the interior, but helps organize so much! We might have a small tote like this for a quick outing, or a much bigger one for a day--with the totesavvy padded out by layers of clothes, blankets and burp cloths. In here you can see our bunny -- I never leave home without a few small toys to entertain a one year old, a spill-proof cup that my kids can share, my Loeffler Randall wallet (that both Liz and I have!), a small pouch from our set for keys and lip gloss, a swaddle, and of course diapers and wipes. Not seen tucked into Totesavvy sections are emergency snacks - never leave home without them, some extra clothes and emergency pacifiers for the baby. 

Gabrielle Milford (@gabriellemilford), founder of the Gift of Gabs is a full-time consultant and mom to a very busy toddler. Gaby's life got a whole lot more organized when she discovered ToteSavvy, and she's been hooked ever since. Learn more about how this Las Vegas mom packs her tote for a very festive fall outing! As a full time working mom there's not a day that goes by that I don't use my ToteSavvy. From toddler essentials and must-haves for work to spontaneous family outings, I couldn't get through any of it without my ToteSavvy Deluxe. I'm constantly switching out my essentials as I go through my day. From drop offs, meetings and spontaneous family trips, I find it extremely important to have my ToteSavvy packed for any occasion. I'm sharing what I plan on packing for a day trip to the orchard to pick apples and how perfect the Deluxe fits into my bag. WHAT I'M PACKING: punkin butt chapstick antibacterial wet wipes 3 diapers wipes clutch 1 gogo squeeze 1 individual bag of goldfish 1 nature valley granola bar lotion lipstick hydro flask wallet sunglasses keys clutch with bandaids, Tylenol, hair ties + gum   The pockets keep everything organized! I don't have to spend time digging through my bag, which is helpful when I'm in a rush to grab a snack out of my bag for my cranky toddler who refused to eat lunch. Without a doubt, my Deluxe always has this mama's back!   I definitely recommend giving the ToteSavvy Deluxe a try if you're a mom who needs a little organization in your life or want to look like you have it ALL together. You can even use their original which I’m a huge fan of as well. Don’t forget to follow along on Instagram @gabriellemilford or visit TheGiftofGabs.com

As a working mama, I needed something to keep me organized while not losing my style. Then I discovered the ToteSavvy Deluxe, which I put inside my LV Neverfull MM and it's been a GAME CHANGER! By the way, it fits perfectly!!! When my needs change from work to home life, the ToteSavvy helps me quickly take things out. Even Baby A thinks so too!  WHAT IM PACKING:  FYI I have a 1 year old. So he requires a lot from me from diaper changes, to feedings, to entertainment, to clean ups, did I mention snacks and more snacks?  Here is a full detailed list of what I pack: 3-5 Diapers (depending on how long we are out for) Aquaphor Full-size Baby wipes (I use baby wipes for EVERYTHING!! Not only during diaper changes but it comes so handy during meals and clean-up of any kind) Teethers (I carry at least 2-3) Small toys Extra bibs + bibs when eating Disposable Placemats (this is a MUST when eating out, it makes it so much easier + sanitary) Food Shears (to cut up his food into bite size pieces when we go out) Extra baby clothes (onesie/shirt + shorts) Breastfeeding cover Hand sanitizer Sunglasses (both for Baby A and me) Small cardholder Extra wash cloths Water Bottle iPad/laptop (the Deluxe has a slot on the side that fits a MacBook Pro or iPad perfectly) Keys Chapstick Gum Baby Sunscreen Snacks, snacks, and snacks! (I carry around 3-4 different types of snacks) Boy, isn't that a lot?! What's even more exciting is that all of the items above fits PERFECTLY inside all the pockets! All sides have different sized pockets, so it's very convenient to easily grab things out. It's really designed perfectly for moms. BONUS FEATURE: It even has a large sized zipper pocket with an insulated cooler to keep snacks and bottles at the perfect temperature! ANOTHER BONUS FEATURE: The Luxe Red color matches PERFECTLY to the LV red inside!! I love how I don't have to lose my style while being a Super Mom. I love the ToteSavvy Deluxe SO much that I even got the ToteSavvy Mini for my Husband. He uses this and it fits inside his diaper backpack perfectly. I will be doing a full detail of the ToteSavvy Mini soon! Follow along on my adventures in motherhood on instagram at Jamiesyang.   

LA-based mama Gee from TheGeeLife rarely leaves home without her LV Neverfull and ToteSavvy Deluxe combo. We wanted to know, on any given day, what we might be able to find in her bag. Read on for her essentials!  If you’re a mom to a baby or young toddler you know leaving a house without at least 15 things in your bag is a reality since you never know what you’ll need. I don’t always like to wear a bulky diaper bag, which is why I love my tote bags especially my LV Neverfull. But, my biggest beef with was that I could never find stuff in it because all the little items would get buried under the big items. Thanks to ToteSavvy that’s the problem of the past.  I have my sanity back thanks to everything being organized by my ToteSavvy - it keeps everything in its place so you can find when you need easily. Here’s a sneak peek at my bag contents: Extra set of clothes 2 Diapers  Pack of wipes Baby face wipes  SPF Kleenex  Teething tabs Tylenol Snacks: 2 bars, apple sauce  hand sanitizer Deodorant  Lotion Aquaphor Comb Lipstick Baby Glasses  My glasses Coloring book Other reasons I love ToteSavvy: Ease of changing bags (simply put the packed insert into other tote without moving individual items one at a time.)  It keeps my totes nice and clean from any spills, scratches and marks. (I had a banana mess once because my son got his hands all over it in my bag but there was no damage to the bag) ToteSavvy is super easy to clean (simply use water and paper towel and it’s like new again) There are 3 different sizes to fit different bag sizes   I love being organized and ToteSavvy is a genius idea!  Be sure to follow @TheGeeLife for her mom journey!

We love seeing how our customers are using ToteSavvy to accompany them on their summer adventures - making it all a little more manageable. If you're not following these awesome women already, we suggest you start!   Brittany of @loverlygrey Taking her little lady on a lunch date with her ToteSavvy in tow//@loverlygrey   Lauren of @laurenkaysims Always traveling in style - this time to her sister's baby shower //@laurenkaysims    Gee of @thegeelife Our girl rarely goes anywhere without her LV Neverfull and ToteSavvy combo//@thegeelife   Thida of @thatgirlglick Looking glamorous while making those tough decisions on a vacation or staycation//@thatgirlgick    Jamie of @jamiesyang Feeling like the most stylish version of Mary Poppins with the amount she can fit in the bag//@jamiesyang Emerson of @classycleanchic We love the effortless this effortless summer style complete with the perfect summer tote//@classycleanchic Bianca of @biancacloxton We love how seamlessly our Deluxe fits inside the Fawn diaper bag//@biancacloxton Melanie of @musingsofamamabird Boat days are the best days, especially when spent with your family//@musingsofamambird

We find that our biggest inspiration comes from our ToteSavvy community, which is why we're launching our newest series, "What's in My ToteSavvy." We first peek inside the bag of Jeanyne Jakubowski, wife, mother and founder of The Blooming Jaks! During the summer, my purse magically fills with more "little people" items than anything. Since I tend to have more things to carry, I naturally gravitate toward larger bags. That creates a separate issue since most larger bags become "black holes." That was until I was introduced to ToteSavvy! I love how this organizer has multiple deep compartments of varies sizes, wipeable fabric, and three different sized organizers. See how I organized my ToteSavvy Deluxe for a water outing with my daughter. To avoid carrying multiple bags, I decided to pack her items and mine in the same bag. Here are the items I packed in my bag: Sunscreen Sippy cup (for her) Water (for me) Snack cup Sun shirt Chapstick and lip gloss 2 Books Toy Hand Sanitizer Diapers Diaper Cream Wallet Keys Stuffed animal Wet bag I had a jar of ice water that I zipped inside the insulated section to test how long my ice water stayed cold. Ice remained in my glass jar 3hrs later! I typically use this pocket to pack food/beverages that need to be kept cool.  I even had enough space for my personal items and for a (stuffed) friend! And I always attach my keys to the key ring to avoid endless digging. Summer adventures have become much more organized!        

Kortni Jeane has been a boss way before she was a mom! Her namesake swimwear line launched in 2014, but she was making swimsuits for her family and friends since high school. We chatted with Kortni about how she stays inspired, the importance of inclusivity and how she keeps it all together.  Give us some background! How did you decide to create a swimwear line? What did you do before your own line?  In high school, I started sewing my own swimwear because I was tired of matching everyone else at the pool. I quickly had my sisters asking me to make them one, then friends, then friends of friends and all of a sudden I had strangers knocking on my parent's doorstep! Although I continued doing it as a side hustle for a few extra bucks through college, it wasn't until after I finished school that I decided to establish Kortni Jeane and manufacture my first collection! My goal from the beginning was to create a swimsuit that every body felt comfortable and confident in. Early on I noticed how many women were held back by the fact that they would have to wear a swimsuit and I hated that to be the issue for not joining on something they wanted to. I have a strong desire to change this mindset for women and make swimsuit shopping FUN. Where do you derive inspiration for all the different styles and prints for all of your suits? This is my most asked question and honestly the hardest to answer as I can't pinpoint it to a specific thing. Travel is one of the most inspirational things that I do. I love new experiences, seeing different cultures, observing how people live, what makes them happy and thrive. I am just inspired by everyday life and people. Not to sound creepy by people watching is one of my favorite, dare I say, hobbies. I am so fascinated by how different each of us are! We love how inclusive your brand feels. Being a swimwear line, how important is the message of body positivity to you? From the very start, it was so important to me to empower women to feel comfortable in their own skin. We often allow ourselves to miss out because we aren't feeling up to our own"standards" of how we feel we should look. But we were all created differently, so why try to be anything but ourselves? Only you can be you and that is so special. I want moms to do cannonballs with their kiddos, for teenagers to join in on beach day, and to play volleyball in the sand without having to worry about your swimsuit. I want people to look at themselves in the mirror when they're in Kortni Jeane and smile. How do balance work and motherhood? Can you share some tools/tricks/words of wisdom for what "balance" looks like for you? I have found that I just don't believe there is such a thing as "balance." Some days I am really focused on work and other days I just play with my babe. I don't think there is right or wrong when it comes to figuring out that "balance" for yourself. For me, it's just being present in what I am doing. So if I am working I don't sit feeling guilty about taking time away from my baby, and when I am sitting playing with my little guy I don't stress about what needs to get done at work. My time definitely isn't split evenly and is always changing, but allowing myself to focus on what I am doing in the moment has allowed me to feel less guilt and be more productive.  Let's chat organization! How do you organize your schedule, your inbox, and your bag? With my busy lifestyle, I need to be organized so that I can get the most out of my time. Just the other day my husband was in shock of my email and how many folders I have and how many subfolders my folders have. I have a place for everything so I don't waste too much time searching. As a working mom, my biggest thing is to have all the information I need with me at all times -  not overwhelming right? So where is that kept? On my phone. Through my cloud, I connect all my emails, folders, documents from each of my computers so if I need access to something while I am away from my computer it is easily accessed. A vendor or employee can call me up and I can answer any questions and easily make decisions. This allows me more freedom with my baby without having to skimp on the demand of my job. It's actually ironic we are talking organization as just the other day my sister asked to borrow my nursing cover and as she got into my diaper bag to pull it out she remarks, "I have never seen such an organized diaper bag." My initial thoughts, included,  "isn't everyone's diaper bag organized?" "Doesn't everyone use individual pockets to easily access their baby things? "And then I realized not all diaper bags have the zillion pockets. This is why I use a Totesavvy. There is enough chaos in my life, I don't want to stress about forgetting something at home or not being able to find it in the masses of "things" in my bag. Cause if mama gets hangry that nutter butter cookie better be in plain sight or ain't nobody happy. It's true, babies do grow up so fast. So in this stage of my life doing the small and simple things to stay organized allows me to spend more time with my baby and in the end that's all I could ask for.

Bring us up to speed...how did Moxxly come to be? Moxxly was founded in 2014 by three women with a passion for getting shit done. When Gabrielle Guthrie, while finishing her masters’ in design, first saw a breast pump, she was incredulous that this product category hadn’t been more thoughtfully updated and immediately began the redesign. Meanwhile, I had returned to my post-MBA corporate job with a breast pump slung over my shoulder. A few weeks of undressing awkwardly in small, cold rooms around the office, I found my new professional propose and quit my job to create a better pump solution. Around this time, Santhi Analytis was finishing her PhD in mechanical engineering, looking to apply her background in medical devices and robotics to women’s health. The first time she saw a breast pump, she knew she wanted to solve the problem before she had kids and got right to work.  Why do you think it's taken so long to re-envision the breast pump? I think there are complementary trends on both the supply and demand side that have led to recent breast pump innovation. On the demand side, over the past few years, we’ve seen almost a 100 percent demographic shift from gen x to millennial moms. With this change comes different consumer expectations; millennial moms came of age in the time of iPhones, Tesla, etc. They’re also returning to work while still breastfeeding in record highs. They expect and need an updated breast pump experience.  On the supply side, innovations like 3D printers, Kickstarter, the excitement about the Internet of Things have made it (slightly) easier to get started as a startup in the hardware space. The breast pump product itself is still a beast of a design, regulatory, and engineering challenge, however; innovation in this space is not for the faint of heart. What do you see for the future in breastfeeding technology and products? What role do you see Moxxly playing? I think the future of breastfeeding technology needs to include innovation on both the brand and the product experience. We need to change the conversation about how we support modern women integrating motherhood into their identity first and foremost. Then, she needs the right set of tools — including breast pumps and accessories — to support her in this transition. As for the role I see Moxxly playing —we want to lead it!  For your first born, you were an employee. For your second, you owned your own company. Can you explain a bit about the difference between the two experiences? When my son was born in 2013, I was an employee at a big tech firm and felt very well-supported in my maternity leave. I had a 3-month leave, a pumping room when I returned, and a manager who understood the challenges of working parenthood. I’d like to think my team missed me while I was out, but also knew that at a multi-thousand person company, they’d get along fine without me for a few months! It was a gift to ease into motherhood that way.   For my daughter, born around Moxxly’s 2nd birthday, I was signing deal docs on my phone in the hospital. Life didn’t stop when she arrived — in part because I already had a toddler at home and in part because Moxxly was also still getting off the ground. I took a few weeks off, mostly, but we were a tiny team and if I didn’t show up to do my part, it didn’t get done. I was in charge of fundraising and I’m proud to report that we closed our acquisition before my daughter learned to walk. That professional success was not without personal trade-offs, and I do have some sadness about the time I missed with my baby daughter when she was so little, but I’m incredibly proud of the work we did at Moxxly that year. That’s a sacrifice I was willing to accept as a startup founder that I wouldn’t have been so willing to make at a large company.  With the many roles you play in a day - how do you stay organized?  Life-hacks: when cooking noodles, always make the whole bag (and freeze what you don’t need); never leave the house without crayons and almonds; and reward yourself with little treats regularly. A new lipstick can go a long way on a bad day.

With 9 years and 10,000 prenatal clients, Sara Lyons knows a thing or two about providing women with birth support. In 2010 she founded Glow® Birth & Body in Oakland, CA and last year, she launched The Birth Deck by Glow®, bringing her years of knowledge into the labor room with families all over the world. She now lives with her husband and two young children in NYC. We caught up with Sara to chat about family, motherhood, being bi-coastal, of course, how she stays organized. Both Glow® Birth & Body and The Birth Deck are centered around supporting mothers, which we fully support! Can you share a bit about your journey? I started working with pregnant families straight out of college in 2004 as a massage therapist specializing in a prenatal massage while I was living in Australia. I had the opportunity to learn from the owners of Body Freedom Urban Retreat about everything from birth support to HR. The experience was invaluable is what inevitably helped me launch my own center in Oakland. I'm excited to announce that we'll be opening Glow® in Chicago later in 2019! The Birth Deck by Glow® is designed for those preparing to have their first baby. For those who haven't seen it, what can they expect? Thank you for the love! The Birth Deck by Glow® is a compilation of the 50 most useful childbirth comfort techniques in the Glow® arsenal. After working with thousands of clients at Glow®, there are some clear winners in the comfort game and they can be broken up into four categories: Movement, Massage, Mindfulness and General Support. Each card in the deck illustrates a different technique and cards can be pulled at random throughout labor. The cards can also be used to prep for labor as part of your birth education. We’ve found that even if you read books and took classes, come game-time, a lot of that knowledge goes out the window and reminders are necessary. You work with women in such a special stage of their lives - what is your favorite aspect of what you do? The bridge to parenthood is a shared journey, something that impacts all of us no matter where in the world we’re birthing or adopting. I love witnessing this transformation that can bring people to their knees and lift them higher than the sky from one breath to the next. It’s a raw process that nothing can fully prepare you for and education really only comes through community. The healthiest way to experience the transition is with the help and guidance of others. Even when it feels like all the advice is judgement, it’s really just people wanting to help you do it better than they did it, to give you the advice they wish they’d gotten the first time around. I love being an impartial sounding board and resource for families all over the world. With two different businesses (one based in Oakland while you're based in NY) and two little ones - how do you manage to keep it all together? My time is always stretched. Always. As a business owner with employees relying on me, I often feel like I have many more children than the ones living in my apartment. I rely heavily on my calendar (I use iCal), Trello (a project management app) and focused advanced planning. Anything that gets left to the last minute will undoubtedly be stressful. Every night I look through my calendar for the following day and then at the coming days. I make a list of must-do communications and tasks to work through first thing once my kids are out the door. Secondly, I make or tweak the longer term projects that I am going to work on throughout the day between meetings and calls. And INSTACART is everything.  My husband and I have a vast childcare network that spans from daycare teachers to babysitters to neighbors. While the flexibility of my professional role allows me to be fairly available for my kids generally, it also means that I’m signing online after their bedtime in NYC to catch up with what’s been happening in California. Opening Glow® in Chicago this coming Fall will add another layer of communications and travel but it’s worth it for the overall flexibility. You have the ToteSavvy Deluxe and we'd love to know how you pack it on any given day to help keep yourself organized. My ToteSavvy Deluxe makes everything in my life easier and therefore better. Part of my night-before planning includes the items that need to come along with me. Living in NYC means that my purse is my trunk. Everything I *may* need must be on my body.   My master list that gets tweaked by the day: Water bottle in the long pocket (duh) A hearty snack in the cooler zip (super duh) Kindle for the subway & Moleskines for notes on notes on notes in the medium wide pocket Lip stuff x 3 (another duh) in the little pocket Airpods in another little pocket Fave pens and a pencil in an inner long pocket Computer glasses in an inner long pocket Tape measure for planning the Chicago Glow® Birth & Body space in small pocket Laptop Phone Keys

 Keeping your family healthy while on the go is no easy task, but Jacqueline Linder created a solution. LunchBots is a line of eco-friendly food containers designed to reduce the use of plastic and inspire people to pack healthier meals. 2019 marks LunchBots' 10 year anniversary, so we chatted with Jacqueline about business, motherhood and how she stays organized. Since you started LunchBots 10 years ago (congrats!), have you seen a shift in the way people look at food? If so, why do you think this is? Yes, absolutely. As parents shift their eating habits, those habits and preferences filter down to their kids. There is a huge focus right now on protein-filled school lunches and foods with minimal amounts of sugar. Parents today are packing a variety of foods in all colors of the rainbow and balanced lunches that contain all food groups. We see a lot of colorful meals, snacks, and finger-style foods in the photos that our customers share.   image courtesy of the @thevegansix  Based on your line of work, you must get tons of healthy snack ideas! Do you have any "snack hacks" for busy parents? The LunchBots Instagram account is full of customer photos; we love seeing how parents use their LunchBots to display snacks and meals for their kids. Social media has allowed us to be in-the-know on what’s easy and healthy for busy parents to make. We love combos that are simple to pack, nourishing, and enjoyed by kids. A variety of dips and dippers is ideal (hummus with carrot sticks and wheat crackers, peanut butter with apple slices and pretzel sticks, guacamole with dried pineapple and tortilla chips) or a protein-packed Greek yogurt with toppings like granola and fresh fruit. What has been the most valuable piece of knowledge you've gained over the years as a business owner? Every year brings new lessons! When I started LunchBots, I had no experience designing, manufacturing, or selling consumer products and I was able to figure it out using a concept I call the next step. Instead of getting overwhelmed with things I don’t know, I just figure out a next step. It doesn’t have to even be the right next step - any next step works because that step always leads to the next one, and so on. I use this methodology for all our new projects. I’m currently writing a book on packing school lunches that will be released this summer and have been learning the book creation process one step at a time.   image courtesy of @tatachan On any given day, what can we find in your ToteSavvy? How does it help you in your everyday life? My Longchamp tote was a complete mess before I discovered ToteSavvy! You’ll find my business cards, LunchBots catalog, laptop, work lunch, and water bottle. I feel organized when I have a place for everything, and that’s the beauty of my ToteSavvy. I was ready to give up my tote for another work bag with lots of pockets and sections, but now I don’t have to make that change. As a business owner and mother, how do you keep everything organized? What are your go-to strategies? I do my best to simplify everything. With lots to juggle and very high standards, I learned that my life can get complicated quickly. My nature is to try to optimize too many variables at once. I’ve taught myself to simplify my home life and business by putting my energy into what is most important, which also saves me endless amounts of time!

  Entrepreneur, broadcaster, former professional athlete, and mom are just a handful of titles Leslie Osborne identifies with. After retiring from her professional soccer career she, alongside four other female athletes, developed Sweat Cosmetics – a high-performance make-up line designed to protect and enhance beauty for women’s on-the-go lifestyles. We spent a gorgeous afternoon with Leslie and her girls near their home in the South Bay learning more about Sweat and how she manages to juggle it all - and stay organized while doing it! We’re huge fans of Sweat Cosmetics - Can you tell us a bit about how the company got started? The company has 5 founders, including myself. Two of my co-founders (Emily and Taryn) had the idea 10 years ago while playing on their college soccer team, but the iteration of Sweat as we know it today fully crystalized a few years later when we were ALL playing soccer together professionally. It took us about 3 years to develop our business plan, fundraise, find our chemist and perform product testing and we finally launched the summer of 2015! High-performance cosmetics is such a smart concept. When developing the line, what were the non-negotiables? As athletes who were outside most days, we struggled with finding products that would give us coverage but also protect us from the sun. You know- look good, feel good, play good! On top of that, we wanted products that were actually good for our skin. It was always a battle choosing between sunscreen OR makeup! Whenever we wore liquid sunscreen, it would run into our eyes and burn as well as make us break out. When we wore make-up, it would clog our pores and get orange stuff all over our tops. We were determined to find a solution for women who lived an active lifestyle and were always on the go. That's how SWEAT was born.     What can we look forward to seeing from Sweat in the next year? We can’t give too much away, but we do have plans for some new product launches in 2019. We always focus on the essentials, so don't be surprised if there are some more skin care items in the mix.  As a business owner, sports broadcaster and mom of two, you’re juggling a lot. How do you stay organized? My ToteSavvy for one! It’s seriously a game-changer for my life on-the-go. However, I also learned how to juggle a lot from a young age. I have been playing sports my entire life which taught me excellent time management skills. My parents laid down a solid foundation that taught me organizational skills and how to recognize priorities. I’ve since applied these tools to every aspect of my life. When I transitioned from athlete to entrepreneur and then transitioned to mother, it just carried over. I wake up early (before the babies) to get work done and check my journal/schedule every morning to make sure I am on track and ready to tackle the day. Sundays are the most important day of the week for me to get a fresh and organized start to the week on Monday! What do you pack in your ToteSavvy? Haha! What don't I pack? Diapers (few of each size), baby wipes, diaper cream, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, sunglasses, business cards, (Sweat Cosmetics) twist brushes + our skin cleansing towelette wipes, Chanel lip gloss (166), my Dagne Dover essential clutch wallet, hair ties, my Suunto fitness watch and my Lululemon water bottle, and my GoMacro Bars for a quick snack for me and my toddler!     What is your favorite ToteSavvy pairing? My white Louis Vuitton bag that I can fit my life in! If you had to pick one item that’s currently in your ToteSavvy that you couldn't live without, what would it be? That's tough- I would have to say my Sweat brushes- literally. I wear them all day, every day. It's my daily on-the-go beauty and SPF routine plus I am constantly reapplying the translucent SPF twist brush on both my babies all day since we are always on the move!

Erica Elizarraraz, @simplechicbrunnette How do you stay organized with two little ones?As a full-time working twin mom, this is probably one of the hardest things to do is keep organized. For me, the key is being prepared ahead of time. Making sure I have everything in order and packed the day before. The diaper bag must stay organized and stocked using our ToteSavvy. Making sure I’ve got their fav snacks, wipes, sippy cups, hand sanitizer and a change of clothes. It’s not easy to stay organized but I try my best to keep things in order or I’ll go crazy ️What is the one thing you love most about ToteSavvy?All the compartments. I'm big on keeping everything separate b/c things are so much easier for me to find when the twins need something. I’ve also gotta add I love that I can use the ToteSavvy in any one of my tote bags I'm not stuck using the same bag. What are your favorite products for twins?Our double stroller hands down. We use the Baby Jogger City Select and City Mini. They’ve been great. Both strollers have decent size undercarriage to store our ToteSavvy which has been great. All other products we use are basically the same products used that any singleton mom would use we just have to have double of everything.  What advice do you have for twin mamas (especially new ones)?I would never tell a new twin mom “it gets easier” because every stage is different and unique and every child is different. I would say embrace every stage even if it’s hard because, in the end, they won’t ever be that small again. By no means am I saying that I am calm and that I don’t have breakdowns here and there but I do try my best to take steps back and take in each moment.  Laine Coopsie, @wildlittles How do you stay organized with two little ones?I take 15 mins at the end of each day and do a general clean up! That being said I have cheated a bit and hired a clearer to come once every 2 weeks. I also keep it simple. When we are out - I pack light + only bring the bare necessities. I am a minimalist by nature.      What is the one thing you love most about ToteSavvy? I am a big fan of slow fashion, thrift store finds + vegan handbags. There isn’t a vegan diaper bag on the market that would work for twins. With my Tote Savvy, I was able to modify my beloved Matt + Natt bags into the most stylish diaper bag! win-win! What are your favorite products for twins?TwinZ pillow is a must! Loads of receiving blankets, an excellent hospital grade pump + liters of really great coffee! What advice do you have for twin mamas (especially new ones)?It takes a village so accept all the help you can get!  Noelle Bryant, @ohhappyplay How do you stay organized with two little ones? Organization is everything! Having the boys on a schedule helps me know exactly what we need when we are out and about so I can pack accordingly. What is the one thing you love most about ToteSavvy? I love that I can use ToteSavvy in any of my bags and can come with me everywhere I go! What are your favorite products for twins? I love products that make my life easier like ToteSavvy, twin related products like double strollers are helpful but also items that help to manage them both like Fisher price sit me up seats, skip hop bouncers etc all help me so I can be present with boy boys at once! What advice do you have for twin mamas (especially new ones)?My biggest piece of advice is to get your babies on a schedule as early as possible! The whole never wake a sleeping baby doesn’t apply when you have twins. When one wakes up at night you wake the other. You keep them on the exact same schedule until they both just naturally adapt to it. I owe all my sanity to our schedule!  Michelle Joyner, @twinsidescoop How do you stay organized with two little ones? The million dollar question! I'll just say it upfront: it REALLY does take a village to raise twins. That said, when people offer help, I usually take it. Although I am a person that historically thrives off of chaos and is an I'll-Do-It-Myself kind of woman, this has been an entirely different level of pandemonium. You can't be afraid to ask for help! Whenever grandmas come over, it's those days that I am able to get my house back in order, run errands, and just breathe. In addition to recruiting extra hands to help as needed, I stick with a routine for the kids. Each day we keep to the same feeding times, same nap times, and same bedtime routines. Consistency goes a LONG way with babies!  Also, I function best with checklists. When we recently took the twins on their first vacation, we had a 14 hour drive each way to Florida. During the packing process, I was ALL about making lists and checking boxes. I'm happy to report this helped me avoid forgetting to bring anything! Most importantly, though, I keep all of the babies' things in designated spaces. For example, each twin has their own side of the closet, they have individual drawers and containers for clothes, and their own cabinets in the kitchen with pink bottles for my daughter and blue for my son. It goes without saying that diaper bags and ToteSavvy organizers fall into this same category! Bottom line: any source of organization provides me sanity and regularity when I have twins wreaking havoc nearby. What is your favorite thing about ToteSavvy?  It's hard to pick just one thing! I think my favorite part about the Tote Savvy organizer would have to be that it allows me to neatly pack my chaotic twin life into an abundance of pockets without having to sacrifice fashion. Since becoming a mother, I have some nicer totes that often go unused these days because I’m busy lugging around diaper bags. Now, I have a solution that affords me the best of both worlds! :) What are your favorite products for twins? Two of the best purchases that we ever made for our twins were 1) Boppy Newborn Loungers (because comfortable babies are happy babies) and 2) Baby Einstein Jumpers (because tired babies result in happy parents ;)). What advice do you have for twin mamas (especially new ones)?  If I could offer only one piece of advice to a new twin mom it would be to simply to ask for help when you need it. You won't be able to do it all and that's OK. It doesn't make you any less of a Super Mom. Along those same lines, one of the best sources of help I ever got was that of a night nanny. We had one a few nights a week for the first few months and it was a complete lifesaver. If it's something you're considering, I say go for it! A well-rested mama is a happy mama! Jennifer Hawkins, @jenkhawkins How do you stay organized with two little ones?  It’s all about a system and a schedule! We have specific places where things go and systems that we stick to. It sounds silly, but knowing exactly how many bottles are clean at any given time or sorting the dirty laundry into different hampers makes the biggest difference. When we brought the babies home, we slowly put these systems in place and it’s helped my husband and me so much!What is the one thing you love most about ToteSavvy?  I love that ToteSavvy helps me keep my diaper bag organized, and most importantly I can easily see if I’m out of something (like diapers or wipes) before I leave the house! I have a special pocket for diapers, so I know if that pocket is empty I need to restock :) What are your favorite products for twins?  We rave about our Snoo bassinets to anyone who asks, we love those things! We love our double stroller (we have the Bugaboo Donkey) and it’s so easy to click our car seats in and out of. I also love my Solly wrap for when I need to wear one baby and hold the other. We also love our portable white noise machines, the babies’ loveys from JellyCat, and the Sophia teething toy. What advice would you give to twin mamas (especially new ones)?Enjoy every single moment, because the days AND the years are short when you have twins ;). Try to have a schedule, but if one baby wakes up, enjoy that one-on-one time with that baby. Of course, take photos and videos of your babies together, but also take lots of them on their own because they are going to want those when they’re older! Lauren Kutting, Founder of ToteSavvy How do you stay organized with two little ones?I wouldn't be a good CEO if I didn't say ToteSavvy is a big help in staying organized! One of the reasons I developed ToteSavvy (prior to having twins) is I love being prepared and keeping everything I need together and within reach. After having my twins I realized just how much my need for organization was crucial to raising twins. Aside from my ToteSavvy and handbag, we keep our home organized by using cubbies, little caddies, and lots of dividers. Just about every item in our home has a place to be put away to keep the clutter to a minimum.  Now that my twins are 3 and their older sister is 5, we insist they help in the weekly tidying process. This can be a struggle sometimes (the threenager stage in duplicate is no joke 🙄) but we've learned to be patient and keep instilling the value of a tidy home. What is the one thing you love most about ToteSavvy?I've been carrying ToteSavvy in my handbag since the initial prototype I hand-sewed back in 2013. I love how it's grown with me and my family over the past 5 years. No matter what stage my kids are in or even when I'm using it solo for a business trip, it always has the pockets I need to organize every essential flawlessly. What are your favorite products for twins?Definitely an oversized tote! I have a black and white striped Kate Spade weekender tote that was my go-to tote when my twins were newborns. It held absolutely everything we needed on our outings, with room to spare! We also loved the Rock 'n Play sleeper by Fisher-Price. This is the only thing my son would nap in when he was a newborn. It saved our sanity! Another great twin product we used daily was the Twin Z Nursing pillow. While breastfeeding didn't last long for me, this pillow was great as a place for them to hang out and even learn to sit up. I love how it grew with us through the infant stages! What advice do you have for twin mamas (especially new ones)?Take it day by day and don't be afraid to ask for help. I'm not the type of person who can easily admit when I need help, and I rarely accept it. When you have newborn twins you need help no matter how much you think you don't. When you get that time for yourself don't do chores. Be super "selfish" (in quotes because it's not selfish AT ALL!) and take a nap, shower, or anything else you've been longing to do. It's so important to take time for yourself and stay in tune with your mental health as a twin mama. 

As you know when traveling with a baby, you must be ready for anything: blowouts, delayed flights, sickness, etc. Before I give you my lengthy list of items, my number 1 item to start with is the TOTESAVVY insert.

I have so many mixed feelings about potty training. I’m excited to no longer deal with diapers, but potty training itself just seems so intimidating. While potty training is a very individual process (what works for one kid may not for another), we can help you arm your ToteSavvy with everything you’ll need to get through this challenging time. A change of clothes: I have not carried a change of clothes with my since my daughter was an infant. However, during the potty training process, you’ll want an extra outfit on you at all times. You may even need to pack extra socks or shoes, depending on the severity of the “situation.” Don’t forget extra pull-ups or underwear! A wet bag: You don’t want to be stuck without something to contain soiled clothing! A seat reducer: We have this one. There are so many out there, but I liked how this one folded up and included a storage bag to keep the gross factor down. I know my daughter will feel more relaxed knowing that she’s sitting on something made for her tiny tush. Wipes: You never want to be caught without them, especially in poo-mergency. Oh, the horror! Reward: While not everyone agrees with using a reward, some kids do need extra encouragement, especially in a public restroom. Those automatic flushing toilets can be scary! A little tube of mini M&Ms is small but will last you a long time. Plus, it already comes in a perfect container! Hand sanitizer: The other day I was in a restaurant bathroom and I could hear a mom telling her child, “Stand still! Don’t touch anything!” I had to stifle my laughter because it’s so true! Your little one is so curious and wants to explore everything. Yuck! Sticky notes: We know it takes some time to get your kiddo situated on a public toilet. And that doesn’t even account for them even using it! It’s scary when the toilet auto-flushes while they’re still actually on the toilet. Buy some small sticky notes to put over the sensor to help prevent this from happening. What are your potty training must haves (other than a glass of wine at the end of the day)? You got this, mamas! We can do it!

This guest post is written by Rebecca Cafiero––Healthy Lifestyle Expert, TEDx Speaker, and Certified Holistic Nutritionist. Learn more about Rebecca and her lifestyle tips at www.rebeccacafiero.com.   Are you tired of the New Year, New You theme that seems to pop up every January 1st? Or even more wary of rinse and repeat resolutions that never seem to gain traction? Or perhaps you’re rebelling against missed expectations by NOT setting goals this year. A while back, I found an old journal with my New Year’s resolutions from when I was 22 . . . More than a decade ago! And scarily, my resolutions haven’t changed much over time. Lose 10 lbs. Work out more. Eat healthier. Do a cleanse. Drop a jean size. Despite my best intentions and efforts over the years, and regardless of the small fortune spent on too-small workout clothes bought to reward dropping a size or trainers meant to motivate me, I found myself continually failing to create sustainable habits. So the cycle of restarting my goals at the beginning of the year, or month, or next Monday, became endless . . . Until I made a few tweaks that have completely changed how I approach goals AND have helped me begin achieving them. I like to think of New Year’s goals as just minor recalibrations. First, I take time to review my progress over the past year, and then I decide the areas I’d like to improve in, or where I want to shift focus or energy to. Challenge yourself to do away with the idea that you need to recreate yourself in the new year. Leave thoughts like it behind in 2017! You are already great, and are just ready for a new year optimization!   Be A Goal Digger Create simply written and clearly defined goals. Be sure they are measurable, but not so specific that you’re setting yourself up to fail by mid-January! Life happens! Also, beware of making TOO many goals! You don’t need a whole list. Just a few goals with actionable steps. AVOID goals like: Work out more (too vague) Hit the gym 5x per week (not realistic) DO make goals like: -Move my body for 30 minutes at least 3x per week. This could be a long walk or hike, hitting the gym or yoga studio, or doing an at-home workout. -Sweat daily Little actions like taking the stairs at work or parking at the far corner of the parking lot add up over time!   Get Accountability Studies show that having an accountability partner can increase your chances of completing your goals by 65%. And while one buddy is better than none, if that person loses steam or focus, you’re left tackling your goals solo. Instead, find 3 to 4  friends and start a group text. Cheer each other on when you hit the gym, share photos of your healthy and delicious food finds, and encourage each other to push through when life happens. Not only will the daily check-ins from others keep you motivated, but constant contact with a group of positive, action-oriented friends with similar goals is an added bonus! Develop a mindfulness practice Start your day off right by dedicating 5-15 minutes of time to self-care. In just 10 minutes each morning, you can give yourself a solid foundation mentally, physically, and emotionally for the rest of the day! 1 Min Exercise: 60-second plank hold to activate the body and get the blood flowing! 3 Min Meditation: Use the SOS feature on the Headspace app! 1 Min Gratitudes: Write down 3 things you’re grateful for. 1 Min Intentions/Goals: Identify your #1 priority for the day, and write out the action steps needed to tackle the task. 1 Min Affirmations: I love the phrases, “I am happier, healthier, and more abundant today than I was yesterday,“ and, “Life is happening FOR me, not to me.”   Balance Your Body Instead of Weighing It It’s not about being a certain weight or jean size, it’s about FEELING your best! That means abundant energy, mental clarity, creating sexy lean muscle, and nourishing your cells so they don’t only look great but feel great. Skip the dieting! Learn to listen to what your body needs. And no, that doesn’t mean diving face first into a pile of donuts. Learn to identify what you want, why you want it, and how you’ll feel after you eat it. Say yes to cleansing for happy cells, and no to diets and deprivation! Say No To Juice Cleanses! Hello, sugar overload! Instead, consider doing a cellular cleanse utilizing intermittent fasting WITH nutritional support. It’s been around (and positively studied) for centuries. And it’s gaining popularity not just amongst celebrities and athletes, but also amongst us certifiable nutrition nerds, naturopaths, and vegans! It’s all about balance and sustainability (and of course, activating those anti-aging benefits). Reach out to me if you’d like a recommendation for your lifestyle! Stop Counting Calories! Instead, make your calories count. Meaning, don’t load up with a 400 calorie caramel latte full of sugar and chemicals when you can make homemade, delicious guacamole instead! Embrace (Healthy) Fat! Fat doesn’t make you fat. Sugar does! Load up on healthy fats like avocados, nuts, and olive oil. When you have a craving for sugar, it’s often really because your body needs the right fat! Hydrate! If you’re feeling tired, drink water. If you’re craving something, drink water! If you have mental fog, drink water!! The number one thing that hinders weight loss and is the reason behind lack of energy or mental clarity is not drinking enough water. Aim to drink 75% of your body weight a day in plain water (not coffee, juice, or teas)! Start off the day with a BIG glass of water as soon as you wake up. Ideally, with fresh-squeezed lemon for a big dose of energy-creating, immune-boosting vitamin C!   Don’t Forget to Have Fun!! As human beings, we naturally move towards pleasure and away from pain. When you’re dreading your next workout, it’s easy to come up with a dozen reasons why you should skip. So do something that excites you! Try a SoulCycle class with an instructor that inspires you! Or meet girlfriends for a salsa dance class! Nearly a year ago, I started a weekly girls workout group. We meet every Tuesday evening for an hour of sweaty fun! We do a 30-minute workout, followed by 30+ minutes “healthy happy hour,” where we experiment with fun protein shake combinations and catch up each other’s lives. I could do the workout on my own anytime, but the companionship of positive women holding me accountable is priceless! Reward Yourself! Don’t buy too-small workout clothes as an incentive to get smaller. Instead, focus on the behavior you want, and reward that. Splurge on that Sweaty Betty sports bra you’ve been eying once you’ve hit your 3x a week movement goal for two weeks. Treat yourself to a reflexology session as a welcome reward after completing your weekly goal. Or plan a yoga/surf retreat with your accountability partners for next holiday season! Create ways to associate a great feeling with achieving your goals, instead of beating yourself up for not being perfect.   Most importantly, remember that a healthy body you love is the vehicle to achieve all of your goals. You need the energy to kill it at work and to grow your side hustles. You need clarity to be your best in your relationships, including with yourself!   Learn more about Rebecca and her healthy lifestyle tips at www.rebeccacafiero.com.

A lot changes when you have a newborn. One of the first things you will notice is how many gifts come to your home. Whether they are hand-me-downs from family or boxes from Amazon, your house is sure to start to look a lot different. Move over sharp sided designer table, hello boxy play yard with musical lights and sounds. Your wardrobe will start to look a lot different, too. Your strappy heels? Say bye-bye until your feet stop being swollen from pregnancy and even then, the running around after your little one really deters you from throwing on your Louboutins for the rare postpartum girls night out. The question starts to loom in everyone’s mind (Mom and Dad), “where did my life go?”. Obviously, your life has only gotten better! You are in love with your little one and couldn’t be more proud of your growing family. But so much has happened to you physically and emotionally, that you can’t help but try to reconcile your pre-baby identity with the current happy mayhem. Look no further than your purses. You know, the one you pinned over until you managed to find it on sale? Or, if you’re like me, your purse collection. Purses are like family to me. I simply can’t say goodbye to them, as long as they are in working order. Naturally, it pained me to watch them on my shelf for the first couple months of postpartum life. I couldn’t help but over-pack when we were going down the street to the park. One thing’s for sure, if we were ever stuck on a deserted island, I would be ready! Well, my baby would be, anyway. It was only after seeing how ToteSavvy worked within my purses, did I decide that I could have the best of both worlds. I was able to fit anything baby would need at the park and streamline my new life into any of my beautiful purses. It was like the perfect merging of my two identities. You can’t help but end up with a lot of trinkets and baby gear in that first year, but with ToteSavvy, you still have the freedom to choose your style. Viva La Glam!!!

  Not everyone wants to or has the means to spend a bunch of money on a Halloween costume that your kid will wear for a few hours. I got a Pottery Barn Kids catalog in the mail last week, and while their stuff is adorable, I won’t be ordering a $60 costume for my two-year-old. DIYing a costume is a great way to bond with your little one while creating something they can be proud of! If you play your cards right, it can be cheaper than buying a costume. Here are three costumes that we DIYed - I can’t wait to show you! We’ll be sure to share the cost breakdown, as well as the DIY experience. What’s great about these costumes is that there is some flexibility to each of them so you can make them your own (and use what you already have).   Superhero Costume What child doesn’t want to be a superhero? It’s so fun to pretend that you have magical powers and can save the world (who knows, maybe they will)! My daughter is not quite two, and she’s already saying, “Super _____!” thanks to a Daniel Tiger episode she saw. My favorite, naturally, is when she says “Superrrrrr Mamaaa!” because I 100% agree with her if I do say so myself. Anyway, what’s great about this costume is that you likely already have some basics at home, like a plain t-shirt or brightly colored pants. Your child can choose what colors they want for their costume, and it’s simple for them to cut out wristbands, a headband, a mask, and a letter for their shirt. Just make sure you trace something on the felt and fabrics so that your little one has something to follow! If you want to get fancy, you can always hot glue some velcro pads onto the accessories to reuse for dress-up or pretending. Otherwise, you can use some duct tape and make things simple and more temporary. Lauren’s daughter, Jackie, loved this costume and wanted to wear it all day - I don’t blame her! Total Cost: $11.88, including the t-shirt (she had leggings already)   Jellybean Costume How adorable is this costume? Kids love balloons, so this will be fun for them to wear! It didn’t take much time to blow up the balloons since we needed them to be small. To have an easier time blowing them up, choose balloons that are thin. The balloons are going to be so cute bouncing around as your kiddo runs from house to house. Clear trash bags can be hard to find, so give yourself some time to find them! We couldn't find one, so we improvised and made a jellybean skirt.  What’s great is that you can wear any colored shirt and pants, since they’ll all go with the balloons...I mean, jellybeans.  Total cost: $10.69 (excluding shirt and pants, which she already had)       Jellyfish Costume This costume is my favorite out of the three, I have to admit. I’ve seen a couple of jellyfish costumes in real life, but they didn’t have the LED lights. The lights, in my opinion, totally make the costume, especially since trick or treating will be done at nighttime. The eyes are easy to cut out, and the rest of the costume involved mostly tape and a tiny bit of glue. Something worth mentioning is that nearly half of the cost of the costume was the ribbon alone! Jackie loved the costume and also wanted to use it as a fort! I love her imagination. I also appreciate how this costume can be suited for kids or adults - just keep in mind the length of the tentacles. Total cost: $45.90     Admittedly, the jellyfish costume is on the pricey side. However, with all of these costumes, it is possible to price out items and look for coupons to lower the cost. Joann Crafts and Michaels always have coupons, and some supplies may be cheaper online as well. Happy shopping!