With fall just around the corner, a toddler who is on the move and a new baby on the way, there are a few things that I am seriously loving right now that I can’t help but share will all of you! I’ve rounded up a couple of fabulous finds for mama, some toddler fashion and one of my favourite baby proofing products. These five things are essentials for me right now and make mommy life just a little bit prettier and a whole lot easier.

A Little Black (Maternity) Dress

Ok so I told myself recently that I was going to stop buying maternity wear, but then I won this amazing giveaway from Pink Blush Maternity and decided that I needed a couple more maternity and potential nursing essentials. This Black V-Neck Dress comes in four colours and honestly feels amazing on! The ¾ sleeves are the perfect transition into fall and I know that I will wear this one post pregnancy for sure! It looks great with a pair of booties, perfect for fall, or some cute summer flats. You can never go wrong with a little black dress.

#GIRLBOSS

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, mommy brain kicking in right about now, but I am in a book club and have been for a long time. I think we are going on at least 5 years, let me know if I’m wrong on this one ladies. Anyways, I am hosting the next book club gathering and decided to try something a little different. We often read novels, but I wanted to give this motivational memoir a try and I am loving it! Sometimes you just need to turn the “mommy brain” off for a bit and read something totally different. If you ever feel like you need a boost, especially if you are starting a business or pursuing anything you’ve dreamed-up, this is the book for you. I read it before bed or when I’m feeling like I need a motivational boost and it does just that, gives me a little push to keep on going. I think that’s why Lena Dunham said “#GIRLBOSS is more than a book … #GIRLBOSS is a movement” because it kind of is! Sophia Amoruso tells her own “rags-to-riches” tale that uses a conversational, no nonsense tone. Her story is edgy, authentic and incredibly relatable. It’s everything that you would expect from the founder and executive chairman of Nasty Gal.

By-my-Side Safety Harness Backpack

Does anyone else have a “runaway-toddler,” because I do, and this backpack from Munchkin is perfect for those days when he wants to walk on his own but has no interest in holding hands. I love that he has his own little bag to carry his toys, sippy cups and snacks in. It makes him feel independent, but also gives me the option of holding on to the harness when we are out so he doesn’t stray too far. It’s really hard to find backpacks that are the right size for an 18-month old and this one is perfect! It’s small enough that he doesn’t get weighed down by it, but big enough to fit a few of his favourite things (snacks being his first choice).

Loft Aluminum Gate

So we’ve tried three different types of baby gates so far and this one is, by far, the best! While we don’t really block off too many entry ways and latch too many cupboards, our little man has access to the majority of the house, this gate gives us the peace of mind we need in terms of stair safety. The Loft Aluminum Gate from Munchkin works perfectly for our small space, swinging in two directions and opening with one hand (that’s right mamas, you can actually open this gate while you are holding something … like a baby). The latch opens and closes with ease and it’s very difficult for toddlers to bust outta this one, even the little “escape artists” who find their way over, under and through most gates eventually. This gate is still going strong in our house. And just as an added bonus, it actually looks nice! The clean lines compliment some of the design elements of our home, so it kind of just blends in.

Minimodel Gallery Panda Tee

I recently featured Ada of Minimodel Gallery, one of the fabulous mompreneurs I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know recently, and a couple of weeks ago I attended Minimodel Gallery & Bonjour Baby Basket’s Pop-up Shop. We had a lot of fun shopping, getting our little one’s photo taken and I picked up this adorable Panda Baseball Tee! This Tee is one of those shirts I wash often just so my little man can wear it as much as possible. It’s light, goes with everything and perfect for the cooler fall weather coming our way soon. Plus he is in love with bears right now and gets very excited about it!

I’ve partnered with Minimodel Gallery for a giveaway this week (check out our Instagram pages to enter) and I am so happy to offer you a 20% discount on sale items at Minimodel Gallery. Just use code: backtoschool16. The discount code is valid until Monday, so get shopping!