The Family Groove | Must Have It List | Spring Loaded

BAG ON THE RUN
Girl, you’re gonna carry that weight—and we don’t mean in your midsection. We mean diaper bags. Diaper bags are damn heavy. Add one to a 10-pound baby seat and a squirming 15-pound baby seated in that seat and you’ve got one exhausting outing. Bag the bulk and get The Bundle by the büti-bäg company. This chic carryall’s got a place for everything Baby needs, plus the lightweight, sleek design means Mama’s mojo won’t be low-low on the go-go.
($59.99, The Bundle, www.butibag.com)

Skip the lug life
Click here to win The Bundle

POUND THE PAVEMENT
These shoes were made for toning and that’s just what they’ll do. Yes, we’re serious. The FitFlop challenges the support and balance of the foot and leg, which stimulates your muscles more. In fact, studies show that these wonder-walkers trigger an increased gluteal, hamstring, thigh and calf response. Oh, there are more scientific, independent studies from universities as well as Anatomy 101 mumbo jumbo that we could spout out, but the most important thing here is this: These shoes make your legs and butt look bangin’. Really now, is there anything left to be said?
(From $49.99, FitFlops, www.blissworld.com)

She’s got legs
Click here to win a pair of FitFlops

BEVERAGE BUDDY
Skip the juice boxes and plastic water bottles—trash is so uncool. This lightweight, durable and sustainable sipper is BPA-free, dishwasher safe and, often most important to little ones, cute. And if the High School Musical crew doesn’t float your boat (or you don’t want to admit it does), grab an Intak Hydration Bottle. Complete with a rotating meter that lets you monitor your daily water consumption, this easy-to-handle, easy-to-clean and very affordable bottle just might be Mom’s best friend.
($14.99, FUNtainer Bottle, and $10.99, Intak BPA Free Hydration Bottle, www.shopthermos.com)

Conspicuous consumption
Click here to win a FUNtainer or Hydration Bottle

THE GLASS IS ALWAYS GREENER
Baby bottles: Can you even believe that they were ever made with a plastic that could leech? Ditch the plastic and go for the glass. Munchkin’s modern spin on the classic bottle takes safety (read: no BPA) and design to new levels of function, helping parents (and their little ones) find their way to greener pastures without sacrificing style or substance.
($12.99, Munchkin Mighty Grip Glass Bottles 3-Pack, www.amazon.com)

Follow the green brick road
Click here to win a three-pack of Munchkin Mighty Grip Glass Bottles

REST FOR THE WEARY
Green your sleep with a Cloud Pillow by Natura. Stuffed with clump-resistant, organic, virgin sheep’s wool and covered in organic unbleached cotton, this head rester repels dust mites and bacteria buildup and regulates the temperature next to your skin (read: no more mid-night pillow flips) to ensure that your eight—well, it’s more like five nowadays, isn’t it?—hours of slumber are a dream.
(From $70, Cloud Pillow, www.naturaworld.com)

Don’t let the bedbugs bite
Click here to win a Natura Cloud Pillow

BAND OF MOTHERS
Got belly? Here’s a recession-friendly way to sport your bump in style: Get a BellaBand. This genius maternity staple allows growing gals to stay in their pre-preggers jeans and pants by wearing them unbuttoned—without being lewd, that is. Then postpartum, the band secures bigger bottoms that are now too loose, saving new moms from spending on fourth-trimester clothes.
($26, BellaBand, www.ingridandisabel.com)

Waist not
Click here to win a BellaBand