Thank you, Little Mama Bee, for sponsoring this post, part of the 2017 Shop Small Spring series. I was selected for this opportunity by Little Mama Bee; the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
I have said this before, but dang, breastfeeding is hard work. It takes determination and persistence. Willingness and courage. Strength to withstand judgement from many. The women who don't breastfed. The women who do. Men that are uncomfortable with it. The men that are far too comfortable with it. Words of advice. Words of discouragement. Just words. Ha!
One thing that is for sure, breastfeeding takes a lot of water! It is such a direct reflection for me to see how much milk I produce with how much water intake I have for the day. I had a friend once tell me when I first had Ollie, "If you do not consistently have to pee, you are not drinking enough water." I am a terrible water drinker and I always have been. I will pick an RC Cola over anything, and we do not keep much soda around the house for that reason.
I have discovered over the years that when there is a straw, I drink more water. Weird, I know, but it totally works. My new friend, Rachel, at Little Mama Bee knows that too. She makes this perfect tumbler for anyone who plans to breastfeed, is nursing their little one, or a mama who is pumping! It makes a fun gift for baby showers or any new mama! Water is key for making that milk so you can give this cute cup to a new mama and help her stay hydrated!
The acrylic tumbler cup comes with a lid and a straw. It is insulated (so no drips on the outside), BPA free, and holds 16 oz of liquid. I personally try to make sure I drink 100 oz. a day and this tumbler helps out so much! I have been carrying it around everywhere I go lately! I am so excited to share her with you and you should totally go check out her shop over on Etsy and use the code "BAHORICH15"; it will get you 15% off any purchase!
Here is a little bit more about Rachel, the owner of Little Mama Bee:
How did you get your shop started?
The summer I got married was the first summer I did not have a full-time summer job. I was itching for something to do and needed a creative outlet. Etsy to the rescue! I ran that shop for about 2 years before I realized that my creative outlet was demanding too much time. I didn’t like having to choose between completing orders, lesson planning, and sleeping. So I closed the shop, knowing that I might be able to come back to it in the future. Fast forward 4 years. I quit my teaching job to be a full-time mom and once again found myself needing a creative outlet. Using everything I had learned the first time around, I made some tweaks and launched back into the small shop world again.
What is the hardest part of owning a shop?
The hardest part of owning a shop, for an introvert like me, is talking about it. When I meet people for the first time I often neglect to include that I run an Etsy shop in addition to my mom duties.
What is one thing unique about you?
I’m a certified Alpine Tower climbing instructor and a certified archery instructor! I worked at a summer camp for many years and have lots of outdoor skills! Working at our camp’s climbing facility was easily one of my favorite jobs.
What is the best part of owning a shop?
The best part of owning a shop is getting to make people happy with something I made! I love hearing from customers and seeing pictures of my products “in real life”.
How did you get your shop name?
*Sigh* Picking a shop name is so hard. I wanted something that was not too specific to one product and something that represented that I was doing this as a mom. Some of my students had called me “Mama Blackmon” or “Mama B” so I used that as my inspiration.
What is one way that you keep organized?
I find a system that works and stick with it. I have a hard time working in a messy environment so I make sure to put things away as I am working. It also helps that I currently have an entire room in our house dedicated to the shop and crafting. Having enough space makes it easier to keep everything in their spot.
How do you balance family life and work life?
Currently, I have a little one that sleeps like a champ. At 15 months, he still takes two naps a day and sleeps 11+ hours at night. This gives me substantial time during the day to get work done on the shop. My mom also comes over most afternoons, so if I need to work extra, I can. Also, family ALWAYS comes first. The shop can close if I really need the extra time.
I have found that Little Mama Bee's tumbler is going everywhere I'm going these days and I am loving it! It is so cute and such a great way to make sure I am staying hydrated!
