REVIEW: Nona Imagine Blue Ice

Baby: 13 mos old, 8.4 kgs

Wearer: Petite mommy

Type of carrier: Imagine Blue Ice woven wrap

Brand: Nona Woven Wrap

Website: https://www.facebook.com/nonawovenwraps

Authorized local retailer: Coming soon

Size: 5 

Fabric content: 100% cotton

Type of weave: Jacquard

Surface weight: 246 gr/m2

Width: 28 inches

Suitable for: Newborn to toddler

Hand and machine washable

Type of carries done: FWCC, Short FWCC, FCC, Kangaroo, back carry with knotless tibetan finnish

Review:

I felt lucky to be chosen as one of the tester for this masterpiece as this was so beautiful in the photos and now that I saw it personally, I felt even more lucky.

The design is beautiful and elegant. I can imagine wearing it just at home and on special occassions. It is gender neutral- you and your husband/wife can use it to your baby girl or baby boy.

It was partly broken in when I received it (as I am the 5th tester). It feels not too rough and not too soft. It has the right grip that I want since I love kangaroo carry. I can easily pull the rails which helped me achieve a good wrap job.

I love the support of this wrap. It has the support that I have been looking for. My baby is almost weightless. It is also forgiving, even someone with noob wrapping skills will feel its support. 

I thought that the tester wrap is size 6 because it gave me nice tails but when I checked it, it was a size 5. So I can't really say it's 4.2 meters. They have longer allowance to shrinkage than other brands.

The wrap is affordable, as far as I can remember, the size 5 costs about 3,500 in peso (excluding international shipping fee and tax). 

I'm gonna rate this wrap as 8/10. I love the performance of this wrap but I hope they will make their middle markers larger. I would recommend this wrap to newbie and expert wrappers, to parents who have limited budget but would love to own an international made wrap, to those who are tired of destashing and restashing and to those who are looking for their one and only wrap.

I would love to hear and answer your questions. Comment them below. ☺️

Hazel 💋

Things I Desperately Wanna Do Right Now

 

1. Blog about the things I desperately wanna do. To express myself. To keep my sanity. Everytime I can't do the things I want makes me think of writing this one.

2. I want to bottlefeed my child. God knows how hard I struggled with breastfeeding my baby. Now that he's bigger he is very active-sitting, rolling, playing, bouncing and he's hard to feed. When I breastfeed him in public he would  look around and latch and the look around and my boobs will be exposed since I'm not a fan of breastfeeding covers. He also got his 5 teeth now and he bites my nipples whenever he feels it. Imagine me screaming.

3. I don't want to bring my son when going out or attending a party. It hinders my social life. I would be there persistently making him calm. He's always irritated whenever we go out especially when we will eat, he would scream and bounce and I will be irritated too. (I tell you, he's like a toddler.)

4. I want to go back to work. Babysitting is tiring. I want to work to pay for a nanny and help my husband with our finances. And honestly, I wanna wear make up again. (I sound so mean but it's a big thing to me.)

5. I wanna have a good sleep. Since I became pregnant I had disturbed sleeping pattern, worst than studying an exam in college (because I really sleep whenever I want). I hate waking up next to a screaming baby who wants to be cuddled while I was still dreaming about James Reid (LOL. I never dreamt of him ever but he's cute so I'm gonna put him here).

Don't get me wrong. I love my son so much. There's just sometimes I want to break free but I can't do it so I'll just express them in here and maybe dream of what I wanna do. 

There are things that holds me back. Things that I wouldn't desperately do just for my own's convinience. I remembered I'm a mom now. All I want is the best for him. And I know it's me who needs to accept this changes. 

My Frustrations Over Soft Structured Carriers (SSCs)

This post can't be biased. We have one SSC that was given to us (Thanks doc Pauline). I love how convinient it is especially if we are in a hurry and going for long walks. My baby outgrown the Pognae SSC at 10 months so I looked for another SSC.

My choices are only limited to Tula, Lenny Lamb and Kokadi. I research the three carriers before deciding and this made me very frustrated:

1. They are expensive. I knew this from the start. It may somehow break the bank. Safety tested carriers are expensive. My choices of SSCs would range 7,000 php to 10,000php+ depending if its only canvass or wrap conversion. Imagine what can you buy with that. But somehow, I saved money for that so I go on with my research and got frustrated again.

2. They come with sizes. Baby size, toddler size, preschool size.. I don't know what size should I get. Since my baby is almost a year old, he would outgrown the Lenny Lamb baby size and the toddler is too big for him because he's petite. Tula baby size is okay but I'm afraid he will outgrown it again. Kokadi Flip would be awesome since it is adjustable but it leads me to my next frustration.

3. They have weight limit. I almost ordered Kokadi Flip at Little Yeoh Trading FB page but I was so sad that the weight limit is 15kgs only. And my son is a heavy baby. We might not use it when he reaches the limit, and I'm so tired of destashing carriers which explains why I'm desperate of finding the one carrier for us. 

4. It's bulky. I have seen a toddler size and it's too big for me. You know, I'm a petite momma. I can't imagine myself wearing toddler size SSC (but hey! I would love to try). 

5. So many terms like PFA, waistband, buckles etc. that I don't understand and I would rather search for a new wrap carry than find a dictionary of the terms.

6. Since I destashed my other wraps, I would miss wrapping when we will have SSC and I think I had a God-given talent for wrapping, so this is very frustrating for me. 

Got a headache after that research. I swear it's true. Unlike wraps I only got headaches when there's a new release because the designs are just so lovely. I would love to have another SSC but I think its not for me. 

I predicted the ending would be purchasing another wrap again. I'm thankful that eventhough Claud Yeoh (Little Yeoh Trading owner) provided me all infos about the SSCs she understood my love for wraps. I preordered my super DISO Kokadi Erna in Wonderland from her and I'm very much excited!

This is a biased conclusion but it's the reality.. If you're on a tight budget and you want to have a carrier that can be used from newborn to toddler or whatever age your baby is, go for wraps. It has weight limit but usually up to 45kgs. Very good for any ages. Enjoy a two shoulder support without hurting your back. Easy to use. 

What are your thoughts about SSCs? 😄

The Modern Fairy

She is beautiful.

She gives only the best.

She hugs him when he feels cold.

She's hurt  when he's hurt.

She kisses all the tears away.

She droves all the bad dreams.

She knows his wish.

She will do everything to grant his wishes.

She's happy when he's happy.

She loves unconditionally.

She disguised.

She's what we call "Mom".

Dearest Husband..

Photo by Welfred's Photography

Supposedly, I should give you a paper on our 1st anniversary but I'm not a traditional kind of girl..

It's been a year that I said "I do" in front of God and to our loved ones and until today and forever, I still do.

It's been a year since you started waking up next to me, saw me in my messy hair and my "no filter" face, you saw me fat and thin but til now you still look at me like I'm the most beautiful woman you've ever seen.

Taken from one of our trips together.

It's been a year since you supported me with my passions or should I say my addictions (cloth diapers, carriers, breastfeeding) and your always on my side whenever someone criticizes my parenting style. You believe that what I'm doing is the best for our baby. (It really is.) I want to say thank you for all the funds.

It's been a year since you always, always cheer me up when I'm frustrated. I always tell you my sob stories and I ended up laughing and feeling stupid after I realized that its just a petty thing.

It's been a year that I became your wife... and I'm proud of it! I'm now Mrs. Hazel Ruth E. Oclarit-Cabrera, RN (murag artista hahaha!).

Thank you for never breaking my heart. I'm sorry if sometimes I'm so into being a mom that I forgot to be your wife but I know you'll understand because we both love Brett Lucas (and our children to come hahaha) very much. I love you and Happy 1st Anniversary!

What Did I Get From Breastfeeding?

They say "best things don't come cheap" but I say sometimes best things can't be bought by money. I can name you one. That thing was the one that nourished my baby. A liquid gold that flows out of my breast called  BREASTMILK. I don't have to spend our money because I just have to pull up my shirt when my baby gets hungry.

I have to admit that I almost gave up breastfeeding my child. My problem from day one was my nipples. They looked like a volcano that has a a crater, they are inverted. Brett is always confused where to suck and his cries break my heart. I was thankful that there was a way to make the nipple out. To the one who made the improvised syringe that let my nipples out, I owe so much to you!

Breastmilk is easily digested in a baby's tummy so they feed every 1-2 hours. Before I got to pee or sleep, Brett is already hungry. I lack of sleep and I can't do what I need to do. I remembered that I joined Breastfeeding Pinays as my BF advocate OB suggested. Since I was too busy stalking cloth diapers while pregnant, I took time to read everything in the groups files. The hardest part is when you put your baby down but gets awake because they startle. Then I learned that I can feed while lying down. I don't have to get up and put him down after feeding. I also don't have to worry burping him after because there's no air in my breast right?

Nights get better and then suddenly.. aww! I got sored nipples. I swear it was so painful that I wish my son don't get hungry. But when I visited my OB she told me I can used my own breastmilk to heal the sore and after a few days it was gone.

Sounds hard to breastfeed? I will now take you to the best part. So what else did I get from breastfeeding?

Compliments. People are all praises to me that I chose the best. They can also see that my baby is very healthy. I remembered a Pediatrician thanked me for breastfeeding my baby and told me I'm a good mom for doing it to my baby.

I also got my body back! I was so fat when I was pregnant and breastfeeding got me to back shape. I burn 500 calories everytime I'm breastfeedig so I can eat the whole pizza! I eat with no worries!

Though breastfed babies aren't bulletproof, my baby got sick but he gets well quickly. We didn't spend much for his medicine and we don't spend money on vitamins because my milk has everything. It also contains antibodies that protects our little ones from diseases.

We don't also have to spend on contraceptives. As long as baby is exclusively breastfed and menses did not returned yet I'm safe from conceiving about 98% for 6 months.

To moms and moms to be take this from me. Breastfeeding is 99% determination and 1% supply. Meaning, if you are very destermined to do it, you also can be successful with it. Make time to educate yourself. There are so many myths our there that could discourage you. Don't think you can't breastfeed because you have small boobs. Be patient. It would hurt like hell at the first month but it would get better. The relief feels like heaven. You will feel sorry for those who have to pay for their child's milk. Don't think that letting your child drink a very expensive formula milk is a luxury, you have to know that breastmilk under the microscope is a liquid gold. Save that money and reward yourself.

Why do we Need More than One Wrap

my very humble stash

Yes, I have more than one wrap and it doesn't mean that I am boasting it. *peace yow* It is actually a very humble stash. Though some people don't understand us wrapping mommas why we need more than one, here are my reasons..

1. We need different sizes for different types of carries.
You need a size 2 if you want a quick rebozo, a size 3 if you want to do a hassle free kangaroo carry, a size 4 if you want an abbreviated Front wrap cross carry, size 5 for a full FWCC and size 6 to do your fancy back carry finishes.

2. We need different blends for different seasons.
You may need a 100% cotton wrap for cold seasons since they are mostly medium thick and medium heavy, and jacquard or a linen for a hot summer season.

3. They wont hurt your back and your budget.
You can have a wrap for as low as 250 php if you are good at DIY (you need a lot of research though) or a local handwoven wrap at 1,000-2,000 php or a nice imported wrap at 3,000 php. My cheapest wrap cost 400 php. 😊

4. We can't resist gorgeous designs.
Self explanatory.

Having more than one wrap is not a sin. It is not a "luho" either. It is for our convenience in carrying our little one.