SLM has compiled a list of 5 ESSENTIALS for your baby bag, not an exhaustive list of EVERYTHING you MAY need when you leave the comfort of your home.

You can handle any situation with these five mummy must-haves tucked into your stroller bag!

1.         Nappies, nappy bags & wipes

Don’t leave home without these…and a spare!  This is the one thing you do not want to forget unless you want a wet car seat, pram or hip!

Wipes also double as cleaners for messy fingers, make up fixes, spills on fabric and freshening up you and bub after snacks!

Tip.  We tuck a nappy waste bag inside each nappy. That way you always have one ready at change time. Those little biodegradable bags are also great as little rubbish bags in the park or for dirty bibs & clothes.

2.         Change of clothes

Bibs, bottoms, tops, sweaters, hats and socks. You never know what your little one will step in, sit in or spill on!

If you’re near water, you don’t want to have to say no to some fun play…say yes and produce a new outfit for changing.

3.         Paw Paw Ointment

Multi tasks like every mum!  Works as a lip gloss, toosh cream, soothes scrapes, bites & cracked cuticles!

4.         Snacks & Drinks

If you see a little one with big smiles {especially strapped in a stroller in a shopping centre}, they are usually well fed, rested and watered.  Pack water or milk and enough snacks for your trip and then two other options, doubles as your snack when you forget to eat or great for fussy eaters.

5.        Mum’s essentials

Wallet, keys and phone. You can go anywhere, buy anything and call for help!

What other essential can’t you leave home without?

Stylish families are usually led by an organised mum with a Grand Plan!  We have listed our Top 10 tips for an organised family, to help create a stylish calm out of the family chaos!

Tip#1. Diary / Planner

Family wall planner, journal paper diary, petite planner or electronic form?  There are numerous choices.  The most important thing is to work out which methods suits you best.

If you spend the majority of your time at home then the family monthly planner is great, the month is open in front of you, ready to write appointments on straight away under each person’s name. Mooo has a beautiful range to choose from in their personalised stationery range.

If you’re out and about more often, then either the choice of writing things down in a stylish diary (we love Kate Spade’s Tudor City diary), or typing it into your phone/iPad would be the other two main options.  Printing out your digital monthly calendar to put up near the kitchen phone would probably work well instead of purchasing a separate wall calendar.

Tip#2. Car pooling

Trading the school pick up and drop off one day with a friend will free you to get other work done, you’ll be saving time travelling and coiffing yourself for the school run…so book the manicurist!

If you can do it more than one day then all the better…

Tip#3.  Meal planning

It’s great to start the week with a plan as to which meals you will make.  It saves you time procrastinating each afternoon and thumbing through recipe books while everyone is pushing their hunger pains on you!

Planning ahead also saves on your grocery bill, as you don’t run madly through a supermarket picking up a little bit of everything ‘just in case’ you want to make a certain dish.  Writing it all down also allows you to see, at a glanc,e that everyone has a well balanced diet over the week.

There are many free printable meal planners on line or you can purchase some cute pads of them at Kikki K.  This one is from The Project Girl.

Tip#4.  Distractions

Keep a little ‘secret box’ in the kitchen.  Something decorated in a way this is appealing to your child. Rotate little making activities, stickers, marbles, cards with things to find like four red items, things starting with ‘S’ etc. while you make dinner.

In our Terrific Toys category is a great 2D marble run, it ticks all the boxes in regard to keeping little fingers busy while you’re in the kitchen.

Tip#5.  Little Help

Children naturally want to do meaningful work…fold or sort clothes from dryer, put away own small dishes, pack away toys or try out Junior Master Chef in the kitchen! My four year old is happy to measure and mix pancake batter, wash lettuce in the salad spinner, grate carrot, wash potato’s or cut strawberries for dessert.

Maybe you can even get dad and the little ones to do the dishes after the meal!

Tip#6. Time for yourself

It’s important YOU stay both healthy and happy to keep everything running smoothly for your family.  Trips to the gym, leisurely walks with girlfriends, a new ‘do at the hairdresser, a splurge at a day spa! Find your special treat and make time for you. Even if it’s just a nice warm bath…you deserve it!

Tip #7.  Evening Hair Washing

The mornings fly by while you’re trying to get everyone fed, dressed, packed and out the door.  Best you don’t try washing your hair during that frantic AM schedule!

Didn’t find time last night? Now there is no time for a wash and blow dry this morning… the answer for all busy mums is Dry Shampoo. Just spray, shake and go!  If you’re a brunette there’s one great product on the market, coloured dry shampoo…we thank you Batiste!

Tip #8.  Fortnightly or Monthly Grocery Shopping

If you can estimate ahead and shop for your main non perishables in one large shop it will save you a lot of time.

Try ordering all the heavy items such as cleaning & laundry products, drinks, canned food, cereals, dry rice, noodles pasta, nappies, toiletries…and get home delivery, that way you only need to pop out during the week for meat and fresh produce.

Tip #9.  Stay Organised

Keep cupboards and drawers neat and tidy, then you will have everything at your fingertips, no time wasted searching for the things you need.  Stay on top of washing, keep frozen emergency meals in the freezer, update and work on your to do list and only click on emails once!

Keep the children organised!  Give them a clear guide to follow each morning or evening, in the same order each time, you will find they will soon get ready to your beat!  Here are some gorgeous free printables from Living Locurto.

Tip #10. Multi Tasking

Mum’s generally have this skill down pat!  Fold the clothes from the dryer when it stops, reduces ironing. If you have an upstairs and downstairs, or long hallway, don’t walk empty handed!  Make social phone calls while cooking or doing laundry, make games with the children to get your jobs done…tidying up, watering the garden, raking the leaves, taking the rubbish, passing you pegs, making you a tea party!!!

This is our 10 tips for an organised family, do you have some other great time saving tips for other mum’s?  Let us know here, we could all do with a little more help!!!

It’s a New Year. Chalk it up to another resolution! It’s time to choose which planner will keep you and your loved ones on time with with a family diary 2012.

I know it seem archaic to be using ‘paper’ {gasp!} to record your daily schedule, however personally I love the traditional way of actually writing something down!  I think it serves as an extra reminder of the event rather than just quickly tapping away.

Here’s a few of the more popular paper options;

Family Wall Chart.  This is great as you can see your family’s ‘Grand Plan’ every time you walk past.  Also allows easy access to quickly write down appointments as you are talking on the phone.  The only draw back is if you’re not at home when you want to make a booking.  You can order a stylish personalised calendar at Mooo, order soon for 25% discount.

Personal diary or Petite Planner.  Portable so you can keep it handy in your ‘Stroller Bag’.  Con would be its more time consuming, as you cant just ‘add event’ from an email or text.  We love this {Eco} Diary by Kate Spade, just refill the gorgeous leather cover each year with one of her pretty designer refills.

Any organised family could benefit from a specifically designed family organizer.  A little more room for everyone else’s appointments as well as your own.  We found one that suits those who like to carry it all around…Pretty Neat.

Moving from paper to digital seems to be the way of the future.  Honestly I juggle between the two and consider my digital alarm appointments a backup.

iPhone now has iCloud, so with computers, laptops, Blackberry’s, Tablets & iPads, you have no excuse for forgetting an appointment….unless of course the kids drain the battery playing iApps!

How do you stay a Stylishly Organised Family?

Let us know if you found a better organiser out there.