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Unlocking the secret to dahlia dividing? Get your Unlocking the secret to dahlia dividing?

Get yourself a reliable, SHARP knife! 🌸🔪 #MyVictorinox #partner It makes dividing way less stressful and so much faster 🙌 That was my biggest mistake as a amateur farmer!

If you’re in the market look no further than the @Victorinoxnorthamerica Huntsman Swiss Army knife – this versatile tool makes dividing tubers (and so much more!) a breeze. Compact yet powerful, with 15 different functions, it’s the ultimate companion for any gardening enthusiast. It’s my go-to flower farm tool, always in my pocket for whatever unexpected farm (or #momlife) issues come up!

Back to dahlias, here’s a few more tips for dividing —

🌸 Use a SHARP knife — I recommend the Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife for its versatility, precision and sharpness

🌸 Use the saw tool on your Huntsman for the thicker cuts, and the scissors for cutting off the stringy roots before dividing

🌸 Sterilize your tools in between varieties as you’re dividing to lessen the spread of viruses

🌸 You can either divide in the fall before storage or in the late winter/spring just before planting 

🌸 Look for eyes on the crown (they’re circled in the video), a viable tuber will have a piece of the crown attached to its neck; toss any tubers that have broken necks

🌸 Storage is different for everyone and greatly depends on your specific situation, for us what works best is storing washed, cured clumps and divided tubers in vermiculite in airtight bins that we keep in our garage for the winter (you want a cool, dark space, ideally kept at 90% humidity and around 40°)

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!

Happy gardening! 🌻

#SwissArmyKnife #FlowerFarmer #FarmerFlorist
#GardeningLife #BloomAndGrow
#ConvenientTools #dahliaseason #dahliatubersale #dahlialove #gardentools #gardengifts
Embracing the whimsy of tending to blooms and wran Embracing the whimsy of tending to blooms and wrangling little ones requires a multitool that's as adaptable as life itself. Enter my sidekick, the @Victorinoxnorthamerica Huntsman Swiss Army knife! 🌸🔧

From harvesting blooms to dividing dahlia tubers to fixing impromptu toy crises, and let’s be real — opening my endless amazon boxes — its versatility mirrors the unpredictability of my days. Compact yet robust, it's more than just a tool—it's the essence of everyday convenience and the heartbeat of both my flower farm adventures and mom magic. 🌼💫 #MyVictorinox #Partner #FlowerFarmer #FarmerFlorist #MomLife #BloomWithHuntsman
1,200 dahlia clumps out, 300 more to go 🙌 Here 1,200 dahlia clumps out, 300 more to go 🙌

Here are my thoughts —

✨I prefer the fork over a shovel, lifts the clumps more gently and easier to get underneath

✨Lopping down the plant to the base and waiting a few days signals the tubers to start setting eyes, this makes dividing so much easier

✨It’s ok to start digging before the first frost, dahlias only need around 130 days in the ground to grow new tubers

✨Pre-digging and pre-frost make sure to label your plants!! Very important because once that frost hits you can’t tell one variety from the next

✨Dig around the the clump careful to not sever tubers, but if you do it’s not the end of the world, it happens to the best of us

✨Once the clump is dug gently shake and brush away excess dirt, I also like to wash immediately because I find the that leaving the soil on dries them out faster which is no bueno

✨By all means don’t dig your dahlias if you want to experiment — we did this last year with a few varieties I didn’t super care about and lo and behold they came back on their own like perennials! We just lazily cut them back and threw a hay bale on top for insulation, worked like a charm (zone 6b)

✨If you do dig you just want to get them out before the ground freezes

✨Back brace, knee pads and waterproof clothes are highly recommended

🌿I’ll be sharing tips for dividing clumps and storing them over winter in my next reel, stay tuned!!

Save this video so you can reference back, and share with someone who might need this info!

Flower farm, farmer florist, Connecticut, fall garden, dahlia tubers, dahlias
Until next year, dahlias 🌿 We’re about half Until next year, dahlias 🌿

We’re about half way through digging tubers and prepping for storage — more on that soon! It’s a long, dirty, physically taxing process but we do it because they’re worth it, they take my breath away every season 💞💫

This also means an EPIC tuber sale will be happening sometime in early 2024, stay tuned over on our farm page @wildirisflowertruck!
Harvested the last of the marigolds yesterday just Harvested the last of the marigolds yesterday just in time for Día de los Muertos 💀🧡💀🖤 and the first frost! And had my right hand man helping me to boot, he snipped all the snaps by himself, I love that he can name all the flowers in that last fresh bucket harvest ((swipe))!

Cheers to the end of a great 2023 flower season 💐
One whole month with our littlest love! Everything One whole month with our littlest love! Everything just feels right with you, our sweet + smiley Layla girl 💕
Take the photos ✨ It’s no secret that photos Take the photos ✨

It’s no secret that photos and photography are extremely important to me. Especially to document these fleeting moments of pregnancy and newborn days, which truly do fly by.

And especially through my losses I’ve learned that no matter the outcome I want the photos to remember these times. I have very few photos of my Liam belly (my son who died during pregnancy) but the ones I do have are some of my very most treasured possessions. And no, I definitely did not feel that way at first. It has taken a lot of time and a lot of therapy and a lot of work. But here I am and I’m unapologetic about how much I love and value photos and documenting this time.

So, friends, just take the photos ✨

Giant thank you to the photographers (slash  good friends!!) who entertain all of my crazy photo shoot ideas, love you guys 🫶 @jessicamicciophoto @mymotherhoodstory 

#momtobe #honestmotherhood #momoffour #maternityphotography #maternityphotoshoot #maternityphotos #pregnancyphotoshoot #pregnancyafterloss #thebump #pailawareness #pregnancylossawarenessmonth #pregnancylossawareness #pregnancylosssupport #babyloss #babylossawareness #babylosssupport #rainbowbaby #goldenrainbow #lifeafterloss #griefjourney #loveandloss #pregnancyaftermiscarriage

Maternity photos, pregnancy photoshoot, beach maternity shoot, black cut out pregnancy dress, flower farm, dahlias
2 whole extra weeks with our girl, happy due date 2 whole extra weeks with our girl, happy due date (yesterday!) little mama we’re so happy you joined us early 💕💕
Baby SISTER is here!! Best surprise ever and worth Baby SISTER is here!! Best surprise ever and worth the wait to find out! Everyone say hi to our littlest love, Layla Marie 💕💕 She came into this world making us laugh + cry the happiest tears. Weighing 7lb 3oz with the cutest cheeks and darkest hair, 20in long! Layla girl, you are everything our family needed and more 😭 IT'S A GIRL! Ahhhhh!!! Still can't believe it 🫶
Unlocking the secret to dahlia dividing? Get your Unlocking the secret to dahlia dividing?

Get yourself a reliable, SHARP knife! 🌸🔪 #MyVictorinox #partner It makes dividing way less stressful and so much faster 🙌 That was my biggest mistake as a amateur farmer!

If you’re in the market look no further than the @Victorinoxnorthamerica Huntsman Swiss Army knife – this versatile tool makes dividing tubers (and so much more!) a breeze. Compact yet powerful, with 15 different functions, it’s the ultimate companion for any gardening enthusiast. It’s my go-to flower farm tool, always in my pocket for whatever unexpected farm (or #momlife) issues come up!

Back to dahlias, here’s a few more tips for dividing —

🌸 Use a SHARP knife — I recommend the Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife for its versatility, precision and sharpness

🌸 Use the saw tool on your Huntsman for the thicker cuts, and the scissors for cutting off the stringy roots before dividing

🌸 Sterilize your tools in between varieties as you’re dividing to lessen the spread of viruses

🌸 You can either divide in the fall before storage or in the late winter/spring just before planting 

🌸 Look for eyes on the crown (they’re circled in the video), a viable tuber will have a piece of the crown attached to its neck; toss any tubers that have broken necks

🌸 Storage is different for everyone and greatly depends on your specific situation, for us what works best is storing washed, cured clumps and divided tubers in vermiculite in airtight bins that we keep in our garage for the winter (you want a cool, dark space, ideally kept at 90% humidity and around 40°)

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!

Happy gardening! 🌻

#SwissArmyKnife #FlowerFarmer #FarmerFlorist
#GardeningLife #BloomAndGrow
#ConvenientTools #dahliaseason #dahliatubersale #dahlialove #gardentools #gardengifts
Embracing the whimsy of tending to blooms and wran Embracing the whimsy of tending to blooms and wrangling little ones requires a multitool that's as adaptable as life itself. Enter my sidekick, the @Victorinoxnorthamerica Huntsman Swiss Army knife! 🌸🔧

From harvesting blooms to dividing dahlia tubers to fixing impromptu toy crises, and let’s be real — opening my endless amazon boxes — its versatility mirrors the unpredictability of my days. Compact yet robust, it's more than just a tool—it's the essence of everyday convenience and the heartbeat of both my flower farm adventures and mom magic. 🌼💫 #MyVictorinox #Partner #FlowerFarmer #FarmerFlorist #MomLife #BloomWithHuntsman
1,200 dahlia clumps out, 300 more to go 🙌 Here 1,200 dahlia clumps out, 300 more to go 🙌

Here are my thoughts —

✨I prefer the fork over a shovel, lifts the clumps more gently and easier to get underneath

✨Lopping down the plant to the base and waiting a few days signals the tubers to start setting eyes, this makes dividing so much easier

✨It’s ok to start digging before the first frost, dahlias only need around 130 days in the ground to grow new tubers

✨Pre-digging and pre-frost make sure to label your plants!! Very important because once that frost hits you can’t tell one variety from the next

✨Dig around the the clump careful to not sever tubers, but if you do it’s not the end of the world, it happens to the best of us

✨Once the clump is dug gently shake and brush away excess dirt, I also like to wash immediately because I find the that leaving the soil on dries them out faster which is no bueno

✨By all means don’t dig your dahlias if you want to experiment — we did this last year with a few varieties I didn’t super care about and lo and behold they came back on their own like perennials! We just lazily cut them back and threw a hay bale on top for insulation, worked like a charm (zone 6b)

✨If you do dig you just want to get them out before the ground freezes

✨Back brace, knee pads and waterproof clothes are highly recommended

🌿I’ll be sharing tips for dividing clumps and storing them over winter in my next reel, stay tuned!!

Save this video so you can reference back, and share with someone who might need this info!

Flower farm, farmer florist, Connecticut, fall garden, dahlia tubers, dahlias
Until next year, dahlias 🌿 We’re about half Until next year, dahlias 🌿

We’re about half way through digging tubers and prepping for storage — more on that soon! It’s a long, dirty, physically taxing process but we do it because they’re worth it, they take my breath away every season 💞💫

This also means an EPIC tuber sale will be happening sometime in early 2024, stay tuned over on our farm page @wildirisflowertruck!
Harvested the last of the marigolds yesterday just Harvested the last of the marigolds yesterday just in time for Día de los Muertos 💀🧡💀🖤 and the first frost! And had my right hand man helping me to boot, he snipped all the snaps by himself, I love that he can name all the flowers in that last fresh bucket harvest ((swipe))!

Cheers to the end of a great 2023 flower season 💐
One whole month with our littlest love! Everything One whole month with our littlest love! Everything just feels right with you, our sweet + smiley Layla girl 💕
Take the photos ✨ It’s no secret that photos Take the photos ✨

It’s no secret that photos and photography are extremely important to me. Especially to document these fleeting moments of pregnancy and newborn days, which truly do fly by.

And especially through my losses I’ve learned that no matter the outcome I want the photos to remember these times. I have very few photos of my Liam belly (my son who died during pregnancy) but the ones I do have are some of my very most treasured possessions. And no, I definitely did not feel that way at first. It has taken a lot of time and a lot of therapy and a lot of work. But here I am and I’m unapologetic about how much I love and value photos and documenting this time.

So, friends, just take the photos ✨

Giant thank you to the photographers (slash  good friends!!) who entertain all of my crazy photo shoot ideas, love you guys 🫶 @jessicamicciophoto @mymotherhoodstory 

#momtobe #honestmotherhood #momoffour #maternityphotography #maternityphotoshoot #maternityphotos #pregnancyphotoshoot #pregnancyafterloss #thebump #pailawareness #pregnancylossawarenessmonth #pregnancylossawareness #pregnancylosssupport #babyloss #babylossawareness #babylosssupport #rainbowbaby #goldenrainbow #lifeafterloss #griefjourney #loveandloss #pregnancyaftermiscarriage

Maternity photos, pregnancy photoshoot, beach maternity shoot, black cut out pregnancy dress, flower farm, dahlias
2 whole extra weeks with our girl, happy due date 2 whole extra weeks with our girl, happy due date (yesterday!) little mama we’re so happy you joined us early 💕💕
Baby SISTER is here!! Best surprise ever and worth Baby SISTER is here!! Best surprise ever and worth the wait to find out! Everyone say hi to our littlest love, Layla Marie 💕💕 She came into this world making us laugh + cry the happiest tears. Weighing 7lb 3oz with the cutest cheeks and darkest hair, 20in long! Layla girl, you are everything our family needed and more 😭 IT'S A GIRL! Ahhhhh!!! Still can't believe it 🫶
09.18.23 🤍 09.18.23 🤍
Feeling ready to meet this babe!!! Give us your be Feeling ready to meet this babe!!! Give us your best guesses for baby’s gender — it’s a surprise and I’ve had zero “feelings” this whole time 🤣 I love hearing everyone’s predictions and reasonings though! Also throw your best name choices at us for both boys and girls because we still haven’t narrowed anything down, third child energy, no time to think 🤪✌️#herewegoagain
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Christine Covino

- The Blog -

New Mama Must-Haves

September 12, 2018 / Mom & Baby

This post may contain affiliate links.


New Mama Must-Haves

Okay mamas! Let’s talk about all the things that kept me sane during the first few months postpartum, AKA my new mama must-haves.

A couple of weeks ago I shared all my favorite Newborn Essentials that I loved for the early days with Luca and now it’s time to spill my new mama secrets. Because when it’s 8am and you’re already covered in puke (and probably poop), you need a little pick-me-up… or a giant glass of wine with breakfast. That’s acceptable right!?

Here’s a list of some of the things I’ve loved in early motherhood. My mama must-haves range from nursing staples to postpartum healing tools, to practical and comfy clothing, to beauty must-haves that will make you feel pretty behind allllll that spit-up.

If you’re looking for more reading I have two great posts going into more detail on C-section recovery (CLICK HERE) and tips for nursing while recovering from a C-section (CLICK HERE).

New Mama Must-Haves: Nursing

A good nursing bra

(1N) is a serious lifesaver. You will be popping those puppies out every couple hours (slash every 30 minutes if you have a cluster-feeder like I did). I LIVED in these Kindred Bravely sleep-style nursing bras day and night for the first few weeks. Then I started wearing the Marvella everyday nursing bra when I had to go out and be a presentable human. Their nursing tanks are also incredible! Use Code COVINO20 for 20% off your order (works either on Amazon or directly on the KB site!)

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!
Kindred Bravely sleep-style nursing bra and underwear set picture here. I lived in these bras day and night in the early days and still wear them to bed now.

Reusable Nursing pads

I loved the reusable nursing pads because they are super soft and in all honesty, more comfy on my beat up nipples.

Lansinoh Lanolin

Your nipples can get pretty torn up during the first few weeks of nursing, even to the point of cracked and bleeding. Mine got to the point of a cracking but luckily never bled. I used lanolin to help calm the soreness and heal the cracks. BUT here’s a great tip: even more helpful than this ointment was rubbing breastmilk on them and letting them air-dry. I no joke walked around/sat there topless until they dried. That was a tip my doula/lactation consultant gave me and it legit worked better than any balm or ointment ever did for me!!

Nook nursing pillow

This pillow was attached to me, I seriously took it everywhere because it was so comfortable to nurse with it! I loved that the materials were organic and it provided a bigger surface area for the baby than the boppy nursing pillow.

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!
I was seriously obsessed with my Nook nursing pillow; much better than the Boppy in my opinion, and worth every penny!

Haakaa suction breast pump (150ml) 

Yes, you will need an actual pump but this contraption was more for releasing some milk pressure, especially in the middle of the night when I would wake up engorged. Or I would put it on the opposite breast from what I was nursing on to catch the letdown. The best part is it’s NOT a manual pump, you suction it right on and it gravity does the rest. This little thing is so efficient I could get up to 5oz. in a few minutes!

Medela Pump in Style and these extra parts

I luckily got my Medela pump through insurance, (which you should too if they offer it!), but the extra parts are KEY so you’re not washing like a crazy lady after each session. I bought two of these extra sets.

Kiinde Breastmilk Storage Starter Set 

I found these pouches to be the easiest for milk storage both frozen and in the fridge. Also, Luca took right away to this nipple, we started him on it at 5 weeks. He’s been getting about one bottle a week since he was that age and has never had an issue!

New Mama Must-Haves

Oat mama bars/snacks/homemade food

I was/still am hungry ALL. THE. TIME. Even more than I was during my pregnancy! Snacks like bars, fresh fruit, nuts, and granola were my go-to’s and homemade meals from friends and families got us through those first few weeks. I still snack on my Oat Mama bars almost daily, use code COVINO for 15% off your order!

Yeti 30oz Rambler

Nursing moms need to drink alllllllll the water!! If there’s anything I notice about my supply its that it is directly related to my water intake. The one piece of advice I can give you about increasing your supply is to DRINK MORE WATER! And have a good water bottle/cup on hand to make you remember!

New Mama Must-Haves: Beauty

Makeup Must-Haves

I don’t know about you guys but for me, the tiniest bit of makeup can make me feel human again. I recommend Tarte Shape Tape (1B), I use the shade ‘light sand’ to conceal those tired-mom under eye circles. Then add a dab of this Stila Cheek Tint in shade ‘Lilium’, or the Beauty Counter Cheek Tint in shade ‘hibiscus’, to give your face a little life. If I was really feeling fancy (and had a couple extra minutes) I would throw on my Beauty Counter Tint Skin (3B) to even out my skin tone (I use shade is ‘linen’) and also some of my favorite mascara.

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!

This Revitalizing Chlorophyll Face Mask was a go-to for me. It detoxifies your skin via microcapsules of phytonutrients (one of which is actual chlorophyl which I think is super cool) and I noticed more radiant skin after just one use. PRAISES!! Because dang does nursing literally suck the life out of you!

Hydrating Face Mist

My skin has been extra dry since having Luca/starting nursing. On top of investing in a bunch of hydrating serums and moisturizers, I tried (and loved) this Hydrating Face Mist. It was super quick and easy to spray on throughout the day if I needed an extra boost of moisture!

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!
Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!
Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!

Lip Balm

Word to the wise: get a good lip balm (or seven like me)! My favorites are this Sugar Lip Treatment by Fresh or this Lip Conditioner by Caudalie.  My lips were soooo chapped! Maybe it was the cold weather or maybe it was from how draining nursing is, either way, lip balm was a necessity!

Dry Shampoo

Because you will go days without washing your hair. Dayssss.

Dry Brush and Body Oil

This could also be listed under postpartum healing as well! My legs were extremely swollen for about two weeks after my C-section and the doctors recommended dry brushing as a way to reduce the swelling. Not only did it feel great but the oil smelled amazing and it definitely helped!

New Mama Must-Haves: Clothing/Accessories

Baby Wrap

I honestly don’t know what I would have done without my wrap! Especially during those early days when Luca was extra fussy and wouldn’t let me put him down. I absolutely LOVE babywearing and will do it for as long as possible. My favorites for newborns are my Solly wrap and my Tuck & Bundle wrap.

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!
Tuck & Bundle wrap pictured here.

Freshly Picked Diaper Bag

My absolute favorite diaper bag on the market! Not only is it chic, it is also super functional – the set up is super organized with all it’s internal and external pouches. It even doubles as my everyday purse it’s that cute and functional!

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!

A nice nursing nightgown

Or this super soft nursing pajama sleep set was also essential – early motherhood is all about comfort! I highly recommend trying the Dwell & Slumber dressing gown too if you can catch them in stock!

Joggers or comfy sweats

I needed the softest and loosest sweats during the early days because everything irritated my incision!

Compression Leggings

Especially these belly bandit compression leggings! I loved how they made me feel put together – they are super high-waisted and smooth you out in all the right places!

Eventually, I started wearing these Spanx leggings and I will say they are expensive but they are my favorite to date and I’m looking forward to breaking them back out this fall!

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!
Pictured here are the Kindred Bravely Marvella Bra and Belly Bandit Mother Tucker compression leggings

Robes – Luca was born in the winter and I just loved the extra coziness of a good robe! I wasn’t into bulky robes because I needed quick, easy access, but these all did the trick – try this Pinkblush Robe, this Nordstrom Robe, this other Nordstrom Robe or this one.

Calming Scents – Get a nice candle or essential oil diffuser! I am a firm believer in scents/essential oils for creating moods and atmosphere. There are a lot of trying (stressful) moments in early motherhood and diffusing oils/burning candles with calming scents helped me tremendously.

The Baby Book by Artifact Uprising

Take my advice, do your child’s baby book! I purchased this before Luca was born and I think it is the most beautiful one on the market today. I am so happy I have the memories tucked neatly and beautifully away in this book.

Coffee

Alllllllll the coffee!!! Because NO. SLEEP.

New Mama Must-Haves: Postpartum Healing

I decided to add a section specifically about healing because C-Section recovery is NO FREAKING JOKE. I also included some items for vaginal healing because I was prepared for a vaginal delivery and purchased all the things beforehand.

Kindred Bravely C-Section Panties 

These would also be good for vaginal-delivery moms. They are SUPER soft and high waisted, never irritated my incision. I used the mesh undies from the hospital for about a week and then switched to these. Use Code COVINO20 for 20% off your order!

C-Section Scar Away Strips 

I started using these as soon as all my glue fell off. Side note, if you can choose how your incision is patched up go for the glue!! I had zero issues with my incision healing, it came off super easy and my scar is barely visible now!

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!
This essential oil was my saving grace, I would put it in the diffuser daily. I still use my stress away rollerball whenever I need a dose of calm! Also pictured: Bellefit corset, KB C-Section panties, Frida Mom Washer and Earth Mama Sitz Bath.

The Bellefit corset

This corset worked wonders for me. I started wearing this at three weeks postpartum (for the first three weeks I used the hospital-provided girdle which was AMAZING, especially with recovering from a C-section). I purchased two (one XL and one L) like they recommend because I eventually shrunk enough and needed the smaller size. This corset 100% aided in healing my core. It made me feel more “together” when I really felt like straight up mush. Use code CHRISTINE20 of $20 off your order!

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!

Maternity Pads or Depends

For some reason, during my postpartum healing, I was allergic, or at least extra sensitive, to all pads! These pads were the ones from the hospital and were the only ones I did not have a reaction to. I couldn’t do the depends because of my incision but I would have otherwise!

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!

Breathe Mama Breathe by Shonda Moralis

I needed this mindfulness reminder! You will love this book too. I took about 5 minutes to myself each day to read a little bit of it and it was so helpful for my mental state.

The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson

This book was extremely validating and comforting. I was so thankful for this book as well as the great Facebook and Instagram mom communities I found.

Postpartum Sitz Bath

I purchased this because it had great reviews, I did not need it but would recommend it for vaginal-birth healing.

Earth Mama Peri-Spray

Great reviews on this one too!

Okay mamas! My new mama must-haves are right here on the blog! We're talking everything from nursing staples to postpartum healing to simple beauty hacks!

Fridababy Momwasher

Yes, I had a C-section and I STILL LOVED this spray bottle! It just makes you feel fresh and clean because – real talk – the bleeding is A LOT. Also for vaginal deliveries, it helps to spray warm water down there the first few times you pee! Its ergonomic shape makes it super easy to use too!

Laxatives/prune juice – These are an absolute MUST. In case no one has told you yet, you’re going to need some help with that first poop. It’s like birthing another baby. You’re welcome.

Bonus Tip!

Take these items from Hospital for yourself: girdle, maternity pads, maternity underwear, dermoplast, witch hazel wipes. I even asked for more the day before we were leaving the hospital. The nurses were more than happy to provide us with the extra goods!

And take for baby: hospital blankets, diapers, wipes, ointment packs, brush.

Shop My New Mama Must-Haves

I linked all the items possible. If you don’t see an image below scroll up to wherever it is linked above (in pink). You got this mama!

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  1. Luca at 8 Months - Christine Covino Baby says:
    November 6, 2018 at 4:33 pm

    […] haven’t written a Luca update in a while, really since my Newborn Essentials and New Mama Must-Haves posts a few months back (which are both MUST-READS for sure!!). I am also publishing a post next […]

    Reply
  2. Newborn Essentials - Baby - Christine Covino Blog says:
    December 9, 2018 at 4:59 am

    […] In case you missed it, read Luca’s birth story here and stay tuned for my New Mama Must-Haves post coming to the blog next […]

    Reply
  3. 16 Ways to Comfort Your Colicky Baby - Christine Covino says:
    January 10, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    […] I would hand express or use the Haakaa before I nursed so he could get more hindmilk. The Haakaa was a godsend, you can read more about it here on my New Mama Must-Haves post! […]

    Reply
  4. 2018 Recap & Looking Ahead to 2019 - Christine Covino says:
    January 11, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    […] New Mama Must-Haves […]

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  5. Six Tips for Successful Breastfeeding After a C-Section - Christine Covino says:
    February 2, 2019 at 12:59 am

    […] Haakaa Pump, also for all the leaking! Read more about how I used this awesome must-have HERE. […]

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  6. A Letter to Me Before You - Christine Covino says:
    April 8, 2019 at 3:48 am

    […] no matter how glorious early motherhood might look on social media accounts, they’re all going through the same messy newborn crap. […]

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Unlocking the secret to dahlia dividing? Get your Unlocking the secret to dahlia dividing?

Get yourself a reliable, SHARP knife! 🌸🔪 #MyVictorinox #partner It makes dividing way less stressful and so much faster 🙌 That was my biggest mistake as a amateur farmer!

If you’re in the market look no further than the @Victorinoxnorthamerica Huntsman Swiss Army knife – this versatile tool makes dividing tubers (and so much more!) a breeze. Compact yet powerful, with 15 different functions, it’s the ultimate companion for any gardening enthusiast. It’s my go-to flower farm tool, always in my pocket for whatever unexpected farm (or #momlife) issues come up!

Back to dahlias, here’s a few more tips for dividing —

🌸 Use a SHARP knife — I recommend the Victorinox Huntsman Swiss Army Knife for its versatility, precision and sharpness

🌸 Use the saw tool on your Huntsman for the thicker cuts, and the scissors for cutting off the stringy roots before dividing

🌸 Sterilize your tools in between varieties as you’re dividing to lessen the spread of viruses

🌸 You can either divide in the fall before storage or in the late winter/spring just before planting 

🌸 Look for eyes on the crown (they’re circled in the video), a viable tuber will have a piece of the crown attached to its neck; toss any tubers that have broken necks

🌸 Storage is different for everyone and greatly depends on your specific situation, for us what works best is storing washed, cured clumps and divided tubers in vermiculite in airtight bins that we keep in our garage for the winter (you want a cool, dark space, ideally kept at 90% humidity and around 40°)

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!

Happy gardening! 🌻

#SwissArmyKnife #FlowerFarmer #FarmerFlorist
#GardeningLife #BloomAndGrow
#ConvenientTools #dahliaseason #dahliatubersale #dahlialove #gardentools #gardengifts
Embracing the whimsy of tending to blooms and wran Embracing the whimsy of tending to blooms and wrangling little ones requires a multitool that's as adaptable as life itself. Enter my sidekick, the @Victorinoxnorthamerica Huntsman Swiss Army knife! 🌸🔧

From harvesting blooms to dividing dahlia tubers to fixing impromptu toy crises, and let’s be real — opening my endless amazon boxes — its versatility mirrors the unpredictability of my days. Compact yet robust, it's more than just a tool—it's the essence of everyday convenience and the heartbeat of both my flower farm adventures and mom magic. 🌼💫 #MyVictorinox #Partner #FlowerFarmer #FarmerFlorist #MomLife #BloomWithHuntsman
1,200 dahlia clumps out, 300 more to go 🙌 Here 1,200 dahlia clumps out, 300 more to go 🙌

Here are my thoughts —

✨I prefer the fork over a shovel, lifts the clumps more gently and easier to get underneath

✨Lopping down the plant to the base and waiting a few days signals the tubers to start setting eyes, this makes dividing so much easier

✨It’s ok to start digging before the first frost, dahlias only need around 130 days in the ground to grow new tubers

✨Pre-digging and pre-frost make sure to label your plants!! Very important because once that frost hits you can’t tell one variety from the next

✨Dig around the the clump careful to not sever tubers, but if you do it’s not the end of the world, it happens to the best of us

✨Once the clump is dug gently shake and brush away excess dirt, I also like to wash immediately because I find the that leaving the soil on dries them out faster which is no bueno

✨By all means don’t dig your dahlias if you want to experiment — we did this last year with a few varieties I didn’t super care about and lo and behold they came back on their own like perennials! We just lazily cut them back and threw a hay bale on top for insulation, worked like a charm (zone 6b)

✨If you do dig you just want to get them out before the ground freezes

✨Back brace, knee pads and waterproof clothes are highly recommended

🌿I’ll be sharing tips for dividing clumps and storing them over winter in my next reel, stay tuned!!

Save this video so you can reference back, and share with someone who might need this info!

Flower farm, farmer florist, Connecticut, fall garden, dahlia tubers, dahlias
Until next year, dahlias 🌿 We’re about half Until next year, dahlias 🌿

We’re about half way through digging tubers and prepping for storage — more on that soon! It’s a long, dirty, physically taxing process but we do it because they’re worth it, they take my breath away every season 💞💫

This also means an EPIC tuber sale will be happening sometime in early 2024, stay tuned over on our farm page @wildirisflowertruck!
Harvested the last of the marigolds yesterday just Harvested the last of the marigolds yesterday just in time for Día de los Muertos 💀🧡💀🖤 and the first frost! And had my right hand man helping me to boot, he snipped all the snaps by himself, I love that he can name all the flowers in that last fresh bucket harvest ((swipe))!

Cheers to the end of a great 2023 flower season 💐
One whole month with our littlest love! Everything One whole month with our littlest love! Everything just feels right with you, our sweet + smiley Layla girl 💕

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