A founder's reflection on traveling with tiny humans, surviving snowpocalypse, and what's new at BUBS
Happy January, everyone!
I'm writing this from my couch, where I've spent more time than I'd like to admit this month. Between an international trip with two kids under five and a snowstorm that shut down New Jersey, January has been... a lot. But also kind of amazing? Let me explain.
Our First International Trip as a Family of Four
We did it. We actually did it. We took our 4yo AND our 1yo to Oaxaca, Mexico. If you're already wincing, I get it. I was you a few months ago, googling "traveling internationally with toddler and baby" at 2 AM, it's all so daunting the more you research.
But here's the thing that made all the difference: we didn't go alone.
We traveled with other families. And honestly? It changed everything.
The Village Effect:
Remember that saying "it takes a village"? Turns out, you can build a temporary village anywhere in the world. And when you do, traveling with little ones becomes less survival mode and more actual vacation.
Why Traveling With Other Families Works
Here's what nobody tells you about traveling with kids: the exhausting part isn't the flight or the time change or even the meltdowns. It's the relentlessness. The fact that you're "on" 24/7 with no backup. (This "ON" is something I've learned being a parent.)
But when you travel with other families? Suddenly there's backup.
One evening, the other parents took all the kids to play so my spouse and I could sit at a café, have a breakfast together and have an actual conversation. Like adults. Without interruptions. For almost an hour.
I nearly cried into my latte.
And then we returned the favor. We watched their kids the next afternoon so they could explore a market together. It wasn't complicated. It wasn't even planned that far in advance. It just... worked.
The kids entertained each other. The parents traded off duties. Nobody was running on empty. We all actually got to enjoy the trip.
Real Talk:
Was it perfect? No. There was a diaper blowout on the plane. Our 4yo refused to eat anything but just meat for five days straight. The 1yo's sleep schedule went completely sideways. But with other families there, we could laugh about it instead of spiral.
Oaxaca Was Magic
If you haven't been to Oaxaca, put it on your list. The colors, the food, the people. Our 4yo was mesmerized by the street vendors and the markets. The 1yo was mostly mesmerized by trying to eat everything... cultural immersion =)
There's something about getting out of your routine, even (especially?) with little kids, that resets your perspective. You remember that parenting can be an adventure, not just a grind.
Then We Came Home to Snowmageddon
And then reality hit. Hard. And cold.
The snowstorm that rolled through New Jersey didn't just dump a ton of snow, it completely shut down our childcare situation for days. Schools closed. Daycare closed. Our regular babysitter couldn't get out of her neighborhood. Everyone was stuck.
If you're a working parent, you know this feeling. That moment when you look at your calendar, full of meetings and deadlines, and then you look at your kids, full of energy and chaos, and you think: how is this going to work?
Spoiler: it kind of didn't. I worked at weird hours. I took calls while building snow forts. I answered emails during nap time (when nap time actually happened, which was not guaranteed).
The Silver Lining:
But here's the unexpected gift: we were forced to slow down. No activities. Nowhere to be. Just us, some hot chocolate, and a lot of time together. My 4yo still talks about the sled we launched down the hill. The 1yo ate some snow and seemed thrilled about it. Sometimes the interruptions become the memories.
What January Reminded Me
This month taught me two things that seem like opposites but are actually the same:
First: Community makes everything better. Whether it's traveling with other families in Oaxaca or just knowing your neighbors are stuck in the same snow-covered boat as you, we're not meant to do this alone. The parents who helped us take breaks on vacation. The neighbor who texted to check if we needed milk. It all matters.
Second: Plans will fall apart, and that's okay. The snowstorm wasn't in my plans. Neither was a baby who decided 4 AM was a great time to be awake in Mexico. But some of the best moments happened in the chaos. Not despite the chaos—in it.
January kicked off wild. And honestly? I'm grateful for it.
Speaking of Things Coming Back to Life... BUBS Updates!
Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room. If you've noticed BUBS has been a little quiet lately, you're not imagining it.
Life happened. Between the trip, the snowstorm, and the general chaos of raising two small humans while building a company, I had to step back from the app for a bit. And honestly? I think that's okay to admit. We're building BUBS on the premise that parents are real people with real limitations. That includes me.
But I'm back. And BUBS is back. And we've got some exciting updates to share.
🎉 Big News: Full Buying & Selling is LIVE!
After months of building our community and inventory, BUBS marketplace is now fully operational. You can list items, browse what other parents have available, AND complete purchases—all within the app. We're officially open for business.
A Fresh New Look
First thing you'll notice when you open the app: we've refreshed our color scheme! Our signature coral-pink (#FD4A6A) is still at the heart of everything, but we've updated our palette to feel warmer and more welcoming. Think soft backgrounds, cleaner cards, and an overall vibe that's easier on the eyes, especially when you're scrolling at 2 AM during a feeding.
We've also added dark mode support for those late-night browsing sessions. Because we know when parents actually have time to shop, and it's rarely during daylight hours.
Partnering with Trustap for Safer Transactions
This one is huge for us. We've partnered with Trustap to handle transactions and customer service on the platform.
What does this mean for you? A few important things:
Payment protection. Trustap acts as a secure middleman for transactions. Buyers' payments are held safely until they confirm they've received the item and it matches the listing. Sellers get paid once the transaction is complete. No more awkward Venmo requests or wondering if that person is actually going to show up with cash.
Dedicated customer support. If something goes wrong... and let's be real, sometimes things do—Trustap has a customer service team to help resolve disputes. You're not on your own figuring out what to do if an item isn't as described or a buyer ghosts.
Trust built into every transaction. The whole reason BUBS exists is to create a safer space for parents to trade. Partnering with Trustap lets us deliver on that promise at scale. It's one thing to say "we're safe"—it's another to have the infrastructure to back it up.
Why This Matters:
We've all had that marketplace experience where things felt... sketchy. A stranger wants to meet you in a parking lot. A "brand new" item shows up broken. Someone disputes a payment. With Trustap integrated into BUBS, we're eliminating those headaches so you can focus on what matters: getting great stuff for your kids at fair prices.
Find Local Family Events (Automatically!)
Here's something I'm really excited about: we've upgraded our events feature with automated scraping that pulls in family-friendly events from across the Northeast.
Every day, our system scours trusted sources... sites like Mommy Poppins, Macaroni Kid, New York Family, Meetup, and more, looking for kid-friendly activities happening in your area. Story times at the library. Free museum days. Toddler yoga classes. Seasonal festivals. All of it, automatically collected and organized in one place.
No more opening fifteen different websites trying to figure out what to do this weekend. No more missing that cool event because you didn't check the right Instagram account. We're doing the legwork so you don't have to.
And it's smart about it too... (but please send feedback / requests, it's the only way we can better your experience)
Happy New Year, BUBS Community
So here's to a new year of adventures... planned and unplanned. Of building our villages wherever we go. Of helping each other out when the snow piles up or when someone just needs an hour to drink a cocktail in peace.
That's what BUBS is all about. Parents helping parents. Whether you're trading snow boots your kid outgrew, finding a Saturday activity that doesn't cost a fortune, or swapping stories about surviving travel with a toddler, we're all in this together.
How did your January start? Any travel adventures, weather chaos, or app feedback? Drop a comment—I'd love to hear from you!
Ready to Try the New BUBS?
Full buying and selling is live. Transactions are protected by Trustap. And local family events are at your fingertips. Whether you're looking for affordable gear, planning your weekend, or just want to connect with parents who get it—we're here.
Trade locally. Save money. Build community. That's the BUBS way.
Join the BUBS Community →
More Stories Coming Your Way
We're excited to bring you fresh perspectives on parenting every week, real talk about the challenges, wins, and everything in between. From navigating costs to building community to finding peace in the chaos, we're here to share stories that actually matter.
Want to contribute? We'd love to hear from you. Whether you're a parent with a story to tell, a writer with insights to share, or someone who just gets what we're building here... let's connect. Drop us a message.
Building a community where parents support parents is what BUBS is all about. When we trade items our kids have outgrown, we're not just saving money... we're reducing waste, connecting with our neighbors, and creating a calmer, more intentional way to raise our families. We all love our kids. And that's more important than anything dividing us.
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