I know that not everyone is traveling right now. Because my maternity leave starts soon, I’ll be staying at home for the next few months, myself! I’ve rounded up a few of the best things that I use at home. (Bonus points for all of the comfy and cozy goodies to help me brave another Northeast Ohio winter - especially with a newborn!)
I only recommend products that I use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
#1 - Wine Opener
I gifted this one to my parents last year, and immediately wished that I'd bought one for myself! It's sleek and practical, and looks great in any kitchen! My wine opener will be getting a lot of use after this baby is born! ;)  
#2 - Ring Doorbell
Something we use daily around here. With our Ring, I can see who's here (or which delivery I'm getting!) and can communicate with them if I need to. Bonus points for not ringing loudly through the house with a sleeping baby!  
#3 - Amazon Fire Stick
We cut cable years ago, and now exclusively use Amazon Fire Sticks on all of our TVs. My Fire Stick will be working overtime during my maternity leave!  
#4 - Loungewear
Between working from home, pregnancy, and my soon-to-be maternity leave, loungewear is basically my staple. While I love a good pair of Lululemon Aligns, I've also been a LONGTIME lover of these Under Armour leggings, which are more budget-friendly and available on Amazon. Also from Amazon are my favorite joggers (I have 4 pairs!) and I'm loving this loungewear set!
#5 - Speakers
We use Google smart speakers in our home. Did you know that my sister's name is Alexa? It's the sole reason that my family exclusively uses Google Home products! Amazon seems to have a major beef with Google, because they've pulled pretty much all of the Google Home devices off of their site! I also use a Beats Pill in my office, which I absolutely recommend to anyone who works from home.  
#6 - Yeti Rambler
We own a few of these and I use them every day. (My favorite is my Bimini Pink version!) I also own the straw lid in addition to the MagSlider lid that it comes with, and make my own iced coffee at home. Which leads me to number 7 on my list...
#7 - Ninja Coffee Bar
I don't know how I ever used a different coffee maker. I used to be a die-hard Keurig girl, but once I got this one, I never looked back. You can brew anything from 1 small cup to an entire carafe. Hot or iced coffee, extra rich or a classic brew. The combinations are endless! It also comes with a built-in milk frother. I can't recommend this enough!  
#8 - Home Workout Equipment
We recently expanded our home gym. We added this bench, these adjustable dumbbells, and resistance bands similar to these ones. Just don't forget my favorite home gym hack - attaching a stroller fan to your equipment to keep cool!
#9 - Cozy Blanket
While we all love a Barefoot Dreams blanket, those can cost a pretty penny. This Amazon dupe is fantastic!  
#10 - Water Bottles
I'm definitely one of those people who have water bottles in every single room. I've had my Hydroflask for years and am currently obsessed with the Disney prints on these Simple Modern bottles.
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If you’re traveling to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando anytime soon, grab these before you go! Many of these also make great stocking stuffers!
I only recommend products that I use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
#1 - Disney Luggage
You can't go wrong with luggage. This American Tourister set is the perfect way to kick of a magical vacation!  
#2 - Ponchos
Okay, so this one doesn't seem very glamorous, but it's a must-pack item! Any visitor to Central Florida knows that those Florida downpours are an almost daily occurance. Don't be caught in one of those infamous afternoon storms without a poncho. (They also come in handy on water rides!) Traveling with a little one? Don't forget a stroller rain cover!    
#3 - Portable Phone Charger
Do not leave for a trip without one of these! Your phone will be working overtime in the parks - joining virtual queues, mobile ordering food, checking wait times, and using Genie+ (on Disney trips!) Not to mention, your phone is still a phone, and you'll still need it for calling, texting, and taking photos/videos. I actually gifted this one to a few people last year!  
#4 - Hair Ties
Special shout out to all of the other long-haired park visitors out there! Do not forget to bring hair ties to keep hair off of your neck! That Florida heat and humidity is no joke! I'm a longtime advocate of the Teleties brand. Get 10% off your order with my code: PARTNER10 
#5 - Water Bottle Strap
Don't waste precious park bag space with a water bottle! I like to carry mine on a strap, like this one, to keep my water close by and remind me to stay hydrated. A caribiner attached to a stroller works well, too!  
#6 - Park Shoes
Keeping your feet comfortable can make or break your trip! You will be walking a lot. My holy grail park sandals are here, while my favorite tennis shoes are these ones. My husband only wears Brooks in the parks and recommends them to everyone!      
#7 - Hanging Toiletry Bag
This is the exact one that I use! It holds a ton, and folds up compactly in my suitcase. (Not to mention, I love the blush color!)  
#8 - Belt Bag
If a big park bag isn't for you, or you're visiting Universal, I highly recommend something small like a belt bag. I have a deep love for my Lululemon belt bags, but I also have this Adidas version and am loving this stunner from Pink Lily!
#9 - Park Bags
I'm a sucker for my Loungefly bags. You can find tons of these on Shop Disney, Boxlunch, Amazon, and more! For more park bag recommendations, click here! For a FREE park bag packing checklist, click here!  
#10 - Printable Disney Planner
A printable Disney planning binder is the perfect gift! Not only is this one printable, but I also offer a digitally editable version in my Etsy shop! Both have 20+ pages of Disney planning printables to customize to your own preferences! 
Whether you’re an expecting parent or traveling with a little one, I’m rounding up the top 10 things to register for or use for baby travel!
I only recommend products that I use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
#1 - YogaSleep Hushh Portable Sound Machine
I love this one because it's small and portable, but is a surprisingly effective sound machine! This was one of the first adds to my baby registry. I'll not only be using this in the car and when we're traveling, but this is actually in my hospital bag! It's for both me and the baby to help drown out hospital noise! 
#2 - Stroller Fan
Okay, so this one is also in my hospital bag! In addition to cooling off little ones, this fan is also great for attaching to workout equipment and for attaching to a hospital bed during labor!  
#3 - Stroller Rain Cover
I can't tell you how many times I've seen this in the parks: during a Florida downpour, a family is sprinting across the park in ponchos, and the poor little ones in the stroller are getting soaked! Enter the stroller rain cover. This keeps your little ones, and your belongings, dry! This is the one that I use, which fits most stroller types!
#4 - Travel Stroller
You probably don't want to travel with your big, bulky stroller. A lightweight stroller like this one is perfect! 
#5 - Petunia Pickle Bottom Bag
It's no secret that I love Petunia Pickle Bottom for the brand's functionality and adorable Disney prints. You really can't go wrong with anything from this collection! It features diaper bags, stroller caddies, overnight bags, packing cubes, and more! 
#6 - Baby Carrier
Baby-wearing can be a lifesaver in the parks. This Babybjorn carrier is one of the best ones I've seen! Grab it from Modern Nursery! Another great budget-friendly option is this one from Infantino.   
#7 - Car Mirror
Driving to your destination? This car mirror helps you keep an eye on your little one in the backseat! This is the exact one that I have, too!  
#8 - Portable Changing Pad
This one's great for traveling any distance, whether you're heading on a trip to the mall or traveling across the country. This is also the exact one that I have!  
#9 - Kids Travel Tray
Keep little ones occupied in the car seat and on planes. It's got a secure tablet holder, plenty of pockets for snacks, drinks, and toys, and the top is even a whiteboard surface! It comes in several colors and prints.  
#10 - Portable High Chair
This one's perfect for heading to the beach, grandma's house, or even for a little outdoor barbecue at home! We have this one, and actually store it at my parents' house for when our little one is a bit older! Please note: I wouldn't take this one to Disney or Universal, but it's great for more local travel!   
One of the questions that I’ve gotten the most is “How will you handle maternity leave?”
Since I work from home, and have a "non-traditional" job, I'll also have a "non-traditional" maternity leave. Keep reading to learn more! I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. 
I’ll start with the fact that I am so very grateful that this is my job! Some things that help make this maternity leave a little easier:
Getting everything prepped ahead of time means a lot of extra work on the front end, but it will help me immensely once our little guy comes! This means designing and sending client packages earlier than I typically would. I also have pre-scheduled social media content that will go out on certain dates.
FAQs
Will you still be booking travel? Everything that can be completed in advance is out of the way. (Pre-scheduled client emails, etc.) Upon my return to the office after maternity leave, I will be focusing only on currently booked clients. After that, I will be slowly opening my books again for new clients. I will be limiting the number of clients I take on in the first few months back. Will you still answer emails or messages while on maternity leave? With a newborn, I simply will not have the time to personally answer the sheer number of messages and emails that I get weekly. Because of that, my auto-responder will go on as soon as I go into labor. Anyone with travel inquiries will have a form to complete, and those folks will then be wait-listed until I return to the office. Do you have anyone helping you? Of course! THE biggest reason that I chose Wave of a Wand Travel is the stellar team that I get to work with every day. Currently booked clients have a direct contact to one of our agency’s co-owners. (It bears repeating - I love this team!!) While I do have pre-scheduled social media content going out while I’m away, I’ll also be leaning on some of my team to help me with any Disney or Universal news that will need to be shared on social media or my website. Here at home, my husband works for a fantastic company that allows him to take a great paternity leave, so we’ll be together to tackle the newborn phase!
Any work that I can do in advance is just about done! Hopefully this allows me to be ready just in case he comes early, and we can enjoy some of this holiday season relaxing, too!
We can’t wait to soak up everything about this baby and our new life as a family of three! |
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