Reading her various posts we learnt that Lucia has chosen our made in PegPerego to help her little girl discover the world. So we contacted her to ask her what criteria had led her to choose our products. This is what she answered.

"When we started looking at travel systems we were searching for one with a good bassinet as we did not have a cradle. As we won’t need this for long (the baby will probably start sleeping in a cot after a couple of months), we are planning on Adele sleeping in the pram.

We needed a system that provides us with a base on which to fix the bassinet at home because we don’t want to keep it on the floor. We were particularly lucky because at the time we booked the travel system there was an ongoing promotion. We were given the cradle kit for free (stand, mattress and anti-suffocation pillow), although we would have bought it anyway.

What's more, I wanted a stroller that could be both forward facing and rear facing. I may never use it in the rear-facing position, but you never know and we didn't want to buy two separate products.

We hope Adele will not be our only daughter, so we chose a high-quality system because it will have to be used for more than one child, and Peg Perego seemed to offer a guarantee of high quality.

Lastly, when it came to the chassis (umbrella-fold or book-fold), we chose the book-fold one because the opening/closing system is really simple and intuitive. When I think of myself steering the stroller and carrying Adele in my arms at the same time, I am convinced the single handlebar is the best solution."

As you can see, Lucia has very clear ideas about what she needs and we are very proud she has chosen our Book Plus Sportivo and Modular, as she explains in a dedicated post.

Adele's little bed is ready and we will keep up-to-date on Lucia's blog... Who knows, at some point she may want to talk about how things went with our modular set. Naturally, we hope she will be satisfied

 PS: the photos are – of course – Lucia’s

Here is what Francesca has to say about her experience with Book PopUp:

"Whoever is pushing manages to steer the Book Pop Up easily and, best of all, we can get it into all lifts (something that should not be taken for granted). To crown it all, the Book Pop Up passed the Granny Ornella and Aunt Ing. Giorgia test, an achievement that perhaps only the people who know them can truly appreciate.

We switched to the stroller two months ago and Andrea is very happy because he is bigger than average and was not happy with being stuffed into jackets and suits and then put in the car seat or pram swaddled in blankets. But he is happy in the stroller, and with good reason!"

You can read Francesca's review on the Blogmamma pages where, among other things, you can learn about love for scooters and about how a stroller can save soft cheeks from affectionate dogs.
You will also read that recently Andrea took part in an important event, comfortably seated in his Book PopUp - his mother's graduation.

His peaceful sleep shows how our products allow children to sleep comfortably pretty much anywhere. Let's admit it though - our admiration is all for his mother Francesca and the team that helped her reach this important target. Well done!!

The program includes workshops, round tables, awards and hundreds of opportunities for families to spend time together and have fun. Dads and children are welcome to the Social Family Day event and they can enjoy a program planned specially for them.

This year a shuttle bus service was organized - #merivaflexmom. How can you adequately shuttle over two hundred blogger moms and their children? 
With our car seats, of course! To ensure safety, a comfortable ride and all the quality of Made in PegPerego products.

The car seats used by the children are Viaggio 2-3 Surefix and Primo Viaggio SL, both in Fleur fabric.

If you are not familiar with German, we can assure you it was a positive review. It would not have been rated as Sehr Gut otherwise, don't you think?
 If you are interested in the subject, why don't you read the reviews of the Italian bloggers who tried our Book PopUp?

1. Do not underestimate The infinite vitality of our children, their capacity to recover and above all their capacity to grasp the deep meaning of situations, in both a positive and negative sense. They always manage to surprise me and I see them as the litmus test of our adult world.

2. Do not underestimate My energy.
I sometimes seem like I am suffocating with all the multitasking required and over time I have learned just to keep going rather than try to get there first. I have learned that it is the only way to keep my balance and not let myself be overtaken by the intoxication of hyperactivity. I realize that this is the great challenge of modern times, particularly for us women (but not only women), as we are in the front line faced with career, personal and family demands and often on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

3. If you need help Look for support. I have learned little by little how to be a healthy egotist, I ask help from those around me, sometimes from oldest children as well, obviously only for things that they are able to do. The two aged 9 and 10 now make their own beds before going to school and tidy up their rooms, little tricks that added up every day become a great help. My husband also helps out with almost all family matters and I am very fortunate to have met and chosen him as my life partner.

4. I couldn't live without My space, that is small, brief or carved out. I need to find a little time just for me, dedicating myself to that which has always been a part of my world. First of all photography. I started as a child and I have never stopped taking pictures, mainly just for personal pleasure, practically every day. But I also express myself through action. I absolutely cannot keep my hands still, so I put them to use in the kitchen, in little knitting or crocheting projects, creating little fabric dolls, creating and experimenting.

5. My motto for those desperate times Don't be afraid, nothing stays the same for ever, everything changes. So I feel confident in the future, I can glimpse a ray of light even in the darkest times.

Every mother knows: theory is one thing and reality is another. Did our Book Pop-Up pass the test of everyday use?

What a wonderful feeling our first outing, Andrea happy as could be in his capsule and I strolling along, leaning on the structure and using the entire structure to transport anything. What a wonderful invention the pram is. Compartments and hooks for transporting and hanging various things, fundamental.

And a baby who is very happy and determined, just like his parents, he is undoubtedly much happier when traveling in his pram/capsule. Long strolls protected from the sun and bad weather, the pram is really light and is incredibly easy to maneuver.

This appears to be the case Find out more about Francesca's account and her first two months with Andrea and with the Book Pop-Up on Blogmamma.it.

PS: Andrea is really a wonderful prince charming

Her last contribution ended with this question: the Pop Up seat can be used facing the mother and facing the world. Which will I choose?
Here's the answer:

“Over the past few months I always kept my eye on Iris and noted, or could predict, what was happening. She was about to fall asleep, to cry, had her hat covering her eyes and so on. When she was facing me I could soothe her if a dog barked or an ambulance went past, stop the little old lady at the supermarket from kissing her and pulling faces. It's great that I can choose her position and this is not just determined by the change from the capsule to the seat."

Read more of Francesca's comments on the regulation of the chair and the hood in her review at PeriodoFertile.it. Have you noticed how much Iris has grown up?

Do not underestimate yourself: both in terms of resources and limits. Because if on the one hand demanding to much of yourself may be stressful in the long term, insecurity also does not help, in fact it often blocks the right decisions.

Do not underestimate the future. Do not let negative times and difficulties get you down too much. With children, family and work, you will always be faced with phases that pass and give way to new phases. When there's little to be done about a situation, I just sit and wait. Sooner or later something good will come along. And everything always changes.

Do not overestimate the lives of others. From the outside everything may seem easy and perfect, but I can assure you that this is not the case.
Never overestimate the opinions and words of others. People speak from their own experience, way of being and personal life. This will never coincide with your own experience. Do not overestimate your fears and anxieties. They are like shadows, they seem much bigger at midday than they really are.

If you need help look for it and delegate. Don't feel guilty if you need to take time out for yourself. Try to rest every now and then everything will seem easier! Do not take everything on you own shoulders, there is also a daddy in the family, don't discount him, he can learn as much as you did.

Don't be without: everyone will tell you that you can't be without children and I agree that this is really true, but I also advise you to take some time out for yourself every so often. Regenerate the body and mind and relationships!

Her motto for desperate times: Panta Rei

Now Elena has started another activity, WorldWideParty. She makes themed decorations for birthday parties and special occasions. Learn about her creations and “taste” them in the free download section. I bet you'll love them!

1. Do not underestimate your abilities, the little girl inside you who really wants to play and, most importantly, your instinct. It is amazing how, in the end, our instinct guides us in the right direction.
As I moved from place to place from one part of the world to another, I discovered that our resources and inner strength are far more than we realize and expect. Fear is often our limit and we think we can’t do it. Then magically we always succeed.
Love for our children and the survival instinct that makes us fight for everybody’s well-being - that, no doubt, is the most precious lesson I have learnt since I moved abroad!

2. Do not overestimate what you hear, read, what other people “advise” you to do and what other people think. With my first child I was always ready to take notes of everything I was told. I took everything at face value. You later learn that not everything people say is always right. Yes, listen to what people say, then use your brain.

Too bad if somebody doesn’t agree (there is always somebody who disagrees). Your life is your own and you must go ahead with courage and perseverance. In this case, too, moving abroad taught me a lot - partly because living in a foreign country, far away from your family, makes you stronger. You find yourself in the middle of a different culture. You can learn a lot but you can also feel very lonely, so you have to pull yourself together and believe in yourself!

3. If you need help… ASK FOR IT!!! It is amazing how much we women struggle to ask for help. Why? I personally had to learn to manage on my own and I am still working a lot on it. I still have problems managing the kids. I have never had a babysitter because I have never trusted anyone. But this year that the children are a little older I have given in and have started enjoying my husband’s company without little ones around. There is nothing bad about asking for help, quite the contrary. It means accepting your limits and helps you improve. Most importantly you don’t end up exhausted.

4. You won’t manage without… Since I started living in the US I have become American, so my answer is that I couldn't survive without a tumble dryer and a huge refrigerator.
And here is my answer as an expat Italian: in whatever part of the world I live in, I couldn't manage without my coffee machine, Grana cheese and Skype, which allows me to spend some time with my family and that, if you live abroad with children, is crucial.

5. My motto for when you are desperate: “baby steps” is an American expression to say that you should do one thing at a time. You can manage by taking one small step, then another and so on. Problems and obstacles must be dealt with a little at a time - just as unforgettable moments must be truly enjoyed!