News

So it’s March 2010, how’s those New Year’s Resolutions holding up? I have to admit that I just put some together, but at least I’ve got some goals now! They do include balancing work/life and making time to get more fit. Do yours also include staying healthy and fit? The Aquabag can help with those plans by helping you stay hydrated! So how would you use your Aquabag? How have you used it?

**Email us at sales@myaquabag.com with your ideas and we will pick one idea/person by the end of March to win a free Aquabag!

-Visit our website, we got a facelift at the end of the year, have you checked it out yet? www.myaquabag.com

-Planning an event/promotion? Company event? Did you know we can print YOUR logo on our Aquabag’s….get something that stands out and is unique and everyone can use!

-Know anyone expecting or that is a new mother? How about a unique gift item any mommy would appreciate…the insulated Aquabag holds baby’s bottle or sippy cup temperature longer and hold’s all your essentials so they are organized on the go!

-Working out at the gym and forgot your locker key? Don’t worry anymore about your personal items, the Aquabag is great for use while working out at the gym as you can carry everything with you….bring it to your sports practice/event too!

Remember to send in your ideas for uses or testimonials to get entered to win one for FREE!

So as a mom who lives far from my family I’ve had to travel often with my baby, my toddler, and now my toddlers!  I have learned some tricks to traveling with infants or toddlers.

1. Bottle/Sippy’s are essential-with my baby’s I always had their bottles with formula or breast milk at hand.  With all the rules of travel regarding bringing liquids on board, make sure you check current TSA guidelines, find them here: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm.  Looks like for now, as long as the milk items fit in your quart size bag a mother can bring them on board, just make sure you declare them through security.  For the toddlers, I usually make sure I buy a bottle of apple juice in one of the concessions before boarding the plane.  You never know what to expect from the airlines these days.  Did you ever see that episode of Jon and Kate plus 8 when they got stuck for hours on a plane with all their toddlers-let’s just say a mother’s worst scenario.  Of course I carry my bottle or sippy in my Aquabag.  My passports, boarding passes, credit cards, and cell phone are right at hand and my baby’s bottle is insulated.  Don’t leave home without one, order yours today to get it in time, http://www.myaquabag.com/store/.  You will get so much use during your flight and after while out and about, you won’t want to carry a purse anymore!

2. Everything organized-I usually ditch my normal diaper bag and bring a bigger bag.  While packing for the trip I make sure that everything in this bag is organized.  I have a couple diapers and wipes usually in an outside pocket to make it even more accessible.  Something I don’t always have with me and have on airplanes is a changing pad and I try to have one that is large enough to cover at least the upper torso area of my baby or toddler.  Have you ever noticed the dirt on the carpet on a plane or the changing table in the bathroom?  Just make sure you have something to lay your child on.

3. Extra set of clothing (maybe two for the bottoms)-I know this means that you’re going to bulk up your carry on, so try and choose outfits that have thinner fabric.  Plan for the worst case scenario of diaper leaks, drinks being spilled, etc.  I know my baby doesn’t adjust well to sitting in wet clothing, so plan to have a couple changes with you.

4. Bulkhead seating pros and cons-I have purposely asked for the  bulkhead seating before.  There’s some advantages to sitting in these seats when traveling with a child that’s a toddler.  There’s usually a little more leg room in these seats.  Therefore a child that has a hard time sitting for hours can have a little extra space.  The downside to these seats is that there’s usually no place to put your carry on so access to all your toddler essentials can be tricky.  When I requested this seating I would make sure I got on the plane in plenty of time and then would take the time to get out all the items I thought my child would need for at least half the flight.  Then would put the bags up and would only have to get them out if needed.

5.  Something new to play with-On past flights I have tried to create activities that would be new and novel for my toddlers.  Newer activities tend to keep them excited and occupied longer.  Ideas for good in flight play; crayons and coloring pad, Colorforms (reusable stickers), pipe cleaners, books, MP3 player, Video player and Aquadoodle Travel size.  If you are bringing any electronic items, make sure you fully charge them the night before and if you can bring another back up battery!

6.  Sling (baby carrier)-I can’t believe I’m on #6 on this list and haven’t mentioned my sling yet.  I didn’t discover slings until my second baby came along.  Slings are a little easier to use through airports than baby carriers like the Bjorn because you can just lift your baby/toddler out and usually keep the sling around you like a piece of clothing.  Normally in going through the security check point they’ve let me walk right through with this on.  This is a huge difference with another type of carrier as these you would have to try and take on and off quickly through security (not an easy task).  If you can get your baby or toddler used to a sling than this is a travel must have!  I also found the sling is nice to have for a sense of security on the plane if it gets a little bumpy.  I’ve place my baby/toddler on my lap and slid the sling around me and baby’s waist to act like a seatbelt.  Okay so it’s not FAA worthy but it’s at least something and makes them feel secure in your arms as well.

7.  First Aid Kit-I wouldn’t expect the airplane to have any of the normal items when it comes to boo boos.  Make sure you bring the basics for first aid; antibacterial cream, band aids, Tylenol, etc.

8. Disposable empty bags-You just never know when your going to need an empty bag while traveling.  I usually just bring my empty grocery bags, but there’s also the nice baby powder smelling ones you buy.  Of course there’s the normal uses for these of throwing out diapers, however you may find you need to clean up a snack mess, seperate and hold wet clothing, or even for airsickness!

9. Plenty of snacks-Snacks on planes seems to be a thing of the past these days.  Bring plenty of  your baby’s or toddler’s favorites.  Again review the TSA guidelines for baby foods, but most are fine if you can fit into a quart size bag.  You can always quickly make baby cereal or even bring some bananas you can quickly mash up!  For the older toddler, I always pack the staple snack, fish crackers and cheerios (which can be fun to play with too!)

10. Jacket or blanket-Planes can tend to get too hot or too cold, so I always like to put my kids in layers.  A light zip up hoodie or light jacket is great to have on flights.  I do always bring my baby’s favorite blanket as this not only can be used to bundle them up but also acts as a security item to hold on to.  Just be sure it isn’t left behind!

I hope this list has helped in preparing you for your travels.  There’s many great resources these days for parents getting ready to embark on the challenge of traveling with your little ones.  I think with a little planning, you can eliminate alot of your travel with children anxiety.  You’ll be surprised how the excitement of the day and all the new things to see and do keep your little ones looking like they are pros!

Happy Travels!

The Aquabag was chosen to be included in Captivate-Indulge.com’s Holiday Shopping Gift Guide! Click on the link to get your coupon code and save, save, save!
http://captivate-indulge.blogspot.com/2009/12/indugle-2009-gift-guide-everything.html

Holiday shopping season is here and with that comes the rush to get gifts for loved ones. I’m sure everyone has at least one person on their list that is hard to buy for. I’ve always looked for unique gifts for the people like this on my list! What’s more unique than giving an Aquabag! Since it’s new to the market, I guarantee they won’t have one! Send me an email at sales@myaquabag.com with your story of who your buying for and why and I’ll respond with a coupon code for 20% off (only $25). Order yours today!

I have to admit this article caught my eye and reminded me to get back into the habit of drinking more water daily! So most of us are walking around dehydrated….make sure you stay hydrated with a min of 8 glasses of water each day! I didn’t realize some of the early symptoms of dehydration include; fatigue, headache, cravings, etc. Read here to get the scoop! http://www.naturalpathhealthcenter.com/index.php/Newsletter/Walking-Along-the-Natural-Path/The-Dehydration-Epidemic.html

Anyone notice how we weren’t even through Halloween and everywhere had already switched to Christmas? What happened to Thanksgiving? With all the holiday travel coming up, wouldn’t it be nice to have your Aquabag along with you….get one today so your ready to go! Sign up for our newsletter and comment on this post ‘how would you use your Aquabag?’ I will pick one entry to win a FREE Aquabag!

Congrats to our bag winners from the conference! The bags were shipped out and you should receive them within a week. It was so nice to meet everyone and be around so many motivated and inspiring entrepreneurs!

I am excited to be presenting the Aquabag at the MIBU conference next week. This event will be held at the University of San Diego on Sept. 16. Click here for more details; http://www.momsinbusinessunite.com/index.html. If you’re a Mom with a business or an aspiring Mompreneur, this will be a great event!

We have finally received all the new Aquabag’s and will upload new photo’s today! Just in time for all your back to school shopping! Make it easier by carrying your very own Aquabag! (I know I did today trying to find just the perfect shoes for my girl who already has opinions about her clothing…didn’t know it would start this early!)

Due to better volume we have been able to lower the Onyx Aquabag to $29.99, get one now so you’re ready for all your summer fun!

We were so glad to be Vendor of the Month in May for my local Stroller Strides group! Congrats to the Aquabag winners Tami and Kayleen who received their new Aquabag’s last Friday! I hope you enjoy them and they come in handy during our workouts!

Looking for a great site to get advice on traveling as a family? Well I have found travelingmamas.com to be an excellent source! Their recent article on staying hydrated while traveling highlights the Aquabag! Check it out at the link below! Thanks to travelingmamas for the review of our product and have to agree that having the insulated bottle holder is a lifesaver at times! As DesertMama states, “My favorite feature is the insulated pouch which keeps the water cold. I can’t tell you how thankful I was when I took the kids to the zoo recently on a hot Arizona day and when I reached for my water it was still cold!”
http://travelingmamas.com/2009/04/01/tips-for-staying-healthy-and-hydrated-while-traveling/

So I don’t know about you, but it sure is getting HOT fast around here! I’ve been so glad I have my Aquabag everywhere I go as I always have either my little ones sippy cup handy or my water bottle. When it’s hot any mom knows you can’t be without sippy’s for a second or a meltdown might happen! Sign up for our newsletter today for all our latest and also to be entered into our monthly giveaways! Don’t forget to email us with any ideas, feedback, or questions!

We are excited to be the vendor of the month for my local Stroller Strides group! This group of ladies has really been my beta testers and great support, so thanks a bunch. We have offered a special discount code for anyone that orders a bag, good until the end of May! If you belong to Stroller Strides and did not receive the email with the discount code, please email us (sales@myaquabag.com) and we will get you the code!

We are currently developing a monthly contest! Sign up for our newsletter (bottom right corner of our home page) and get entered in our monthly contest. One winner each month will win an Aquabag! More to follow on the contest details….stay tuned!

I am so excited to offer a few more fabric designs and can’t wait to get them up on the site! I will have a tan and white bag, black of course, and than a laminated cotton that is cream with printed leaf fabric. These Aquabags are all really nice and we can’t wait to show them off! We are working to find more fabric so we can offer even more colors and designs! If there’s something your looking for that we don’t yet offer, please submit an inquiry and give us your ideas and feedback! Have a great day

List of Attributes on every Aquabag:

• 2 Side Pouch
• Interior Change Purse
• Billfold with Zippered Closure
• Strap is Detachable & Adjustable
• Interior bottle holder has cord lock for closure & is insulated for holding temperature longer
• 7 Credit Card Slots
• 2  Clear Slot for ID / Pictures

We have entered Startup Nation’s competition for leading women in business for 2009. Please go and put in a vote for us as it is based on total votes!

Vote here!

Also check out some of the other women owned companies on there, totally inspiring! Another San Diego based company is BabyFabulous which has adorable baby items as well!

We will continue to improve and upgrade the site, so check back often!

Just annouced, our new Blue Azul Aquabag.

The Aquabag is an insulated bottle holder that functions as a purse! It has a built in wallet and two side pouches, which hold all your essentials. Full sized wallet includes credit card slots (2 slots clear for drivers license and/or pictures), billfold with zipper closure, and change purse.

The pouches are great for holding keys, cell phones, etc. The interior is insulated and water resistant. The top of the bottle holder pulls closed and has a cord lock to secure shut.

The Aquabag also includes an adjustable and removable strap. This makes it easy to transfer your Aquabag to hang on your stroller, shopping cart, exercise machine, etc. It is removable to allow someone to carry it on their belt by looping it through the Aquabag’s side handle. The material is durable and water resistant to any spills.

Color: Dark Blue

Fabric: Denier-Water Resistent

Height: 8.5 “ Height x 5.0” Width (at widest point)

Patent Pending

We are excited to be launching our new Onyx Aquabag!

Have fun shopping and email us with any questions!

Happy New Year, here’s to a great 2009!