Michelle Bellinaso

A realistic, no-fluff guide to the items that truly make pregnancy, postpartum, and those first newborn weeks easier. Curated from my experience as a mom of a 5-year-old and a 10-month-old. This list focuses on comfort, convenience, and sanity-saving essentials, plus a few “worth it” extras that I’ve used again and again. Whether you’re preparing for baby or back in the newborn stage, these are the things you’ll actually reach for every day.

Cleaning products that actually keep up with real life... kids, spills, and everyday chaos. These are the tools I reach for (or wish I had sooner) that make cleaning faster, easier, and way less overwhelming.

A collection of practical kid essentials that actually get used in real life, season after season. This list includes everyday gear, seasonal must-haves, and travel-friendly items that make outings, school days, and trips easier to manage. From splash pants and sun hats to small organizers and travel helpers, everything here has been chosen for function, durability, and making life with kids just a little smoother.

Travelling with kids is a mix of planning, packing, and a little bit of improvising and this list is all about what’s actually made it easier for us along the way. From snacks and organization tools to small lifesavers that keep kids comfortable and entertained, these are the items that have helped reduce stress and make travel smoother (especially on flights and long trips). Everything here has been tried, tested, and used in real travel situations while figuring things out as we go with 2 kids. If you’re navigating travel with kids too, I hope these finds help make your journeys a little easier!

Welcome to my “Crochet Corner” 🧶 I started crocheting in January 2025, and it’s been a journey full of trial and error, learning curves, and lots of progress along the way. This list is a collection of the tools, patterns, and supplies that have helped me grow (and kept me hooked...pun intended 🤭). I especially love making amigurumi and cozy blankets, while baby shoes are… still a work in progress. Granny squares are officially on my crochet bucket list for this year! Whether you’re just starting out or looking for tried-and-true finds, this is everything that’s been part of my crochet journey so far.

My “5 Star Books of 2025” is a collection of my absolute favourites from the 47 books I read in 2025. It’s been a mix of everything... books that made me laugh out loud, ones that had me tearing up, and others that kept me hooked with suspenseful twists and turns I didn’t see coming. These are the stories that stood out the most and earned a perfect rating for how much I enjoyed them. If you’re looking for tried-and-true great reads, these are the ones I’d recommend most.

My “Curly Hair Recommendations” is everything I wish I had found sooner. It took me over 30 years to finally figure out what actually works for my curls, through a lot of trial, error, and product experimentation along the way. This list is a collection of the products and tools that have made the biggest difference in helping my curls look and feel their best. If you’re on your own curly hair journey, hopefully this saves you some of the years I spent figuring it out!