The humble fanny pack will instantly transport you back to a time before your birth, or that you remember in a foggy haze of hairspray – the ’80s! The fanny pack was a huge hit during the ’80s and became a symbol of the era. Not only were these little pouches seen as being highly practical additions to your everyday style by allowing you to carry more or carry things hands-free, but for a while, they were genuinely seen as cool! So why are we talking about fanny packs today again?

According to a recent report, it seems that the humble fanny pack has come back into style in a big way. Rather than being seen as a kitschy throwback to the ’80s or just another hip trend, the idea of being able to walk around without a bag and live relatively hands-free, while keeping all your essentials in one place, appeals to young people in a huge way. Because of the appeal and apparent trendy nature of the fanny-pack, it is said to have made up for roughly 25% of all accessories sold in the US this year. When you think about it, that’s a staggering amount of money and even more fanny packs than we can picture!

While we consider the amazing revival of the fanny pack across the spectrum of fashion, from the high-end nouveau riche to the everyday fashionable, it might pay to understand how the trend came about in the first place. The first mention of fanny packs (or anything like it), dates back to 15th century France when it was considered both fashionable and practical to wear a little pouch around one’s waist known as a chatelaine.

Since then, the concept has been reinvented many times and eventually wound up in the form that we know it today. We’re not sure how much longer the fanny pack is going to stay in style, but there’s a good chance that it’ll be around for a long time. So if you’re planning to start making your own private brand, now would be a good time to start manufacturing them.

Moms can get pretty creative and inventive, repurposing things that you’d never think of to solve problems that arise throughout the day. Here are some examples of moms who seem to be living in the future while the rest of us are still here…

After a long hard day, all moms want to do is hop into bed after their nightly makeup removal routine. This can be pretty tedious if you don’t have the right tools on hand, though. Surprisingly, using an unused panty liner as a makeup removal pad seems pretty effective.

Unfortunately, when you become a mother or a parent, your stuff usually becomes everyone else’s. So, if you want to keep something for yourself, you have to get really creative in where and how you hide it.

This is pretty genius, as no one will think to check mom’s box of tampons for a secret snack. And let’s be real — no one wants their Girl Scouts cookies being touched!

When you’re transporting something that has a sharp end from one place to the other, you have to be very careful about the way that you pack it into the vehicle. If you’re not, potential injuries could be had.

Understanding this, this woman did something pretty smart. In essence, she used what she had and found a new use for her baby’s diapers.

One of the biggest challenges for mothers around the globe is trying to get their kids to eat things that they don’t want to. Oftentimes, these things tend to be good for them, so when they finally give in, it’s a big win.

What kid doesn’t like ice cream? Thinking about this, this mom came up with a great idea. The only thing we’re not sure about — how well will other fruits work? It seems that the strawberry is perfectly made for this and so, a cantaloupe probably isn’t…

The last thing you want as a breastfeeding mother is to forget your bra pads. This can lead to some pretty embarrassing situations and so, you sometimes have to get a little creative. This woman figures that out the hard way.

But, she handled it with grace and quick thinking. After all, diapers absorb things, so it doesn’t matter what they’re absorbing. Super forward thinking!

If you have a cat, you probably know that opening up a can of food means that there’s a chance you’re going to be throwing away about half of it. This is not only wasteful but can be quite annoying and perhaps a bit smelly too.

But this woman figured out a great hack for that problem. Utilizing old coffee cup lids to keep the cat’s food fresh is pretty smart.

As your kids grow up, they may leave a toy behind or damage one to the point that it can no longer be used. But, that doesn’t mean you need to throw them away!

Just because they aren’t being played with doesn’t mean they have to go to waste — you can just repurpose them! This woman is pretty clever and decided to use a toboggan as a plant bed.

As a mom, you quickly learn that your kids will go through phases and fads pretty quickly. When they do this, though, sometimes it can be quite expensive. After all, with each new hobby, they have to get new equipment and gear.

So, instead of investing in a pair of brand new tap shoes, this mom simply put some coins on the bottom of their kid’s shoes and let them run (or tap) wild. Then, if they decide they like it and they stick with it a while, maybe she’ll be more willing to invest in legit tap shoes.

Many kids nowadays have TVs and other electronic devices in their room that require remotes. But like with everything else, from their toys to their socks, you might find that you spend more time looking for the remote than you do actually using the gadget.

This mom got tired of the whole process and figured out a way to solve the problem. Attaching it to the ruler the kid always uses seems to be a good solution.

Doing fun crafts with your kids is a good way to spend a few hours with them. But, if you’re not crafty and unable to do things — like build a gingerbread house to standard — that’s OK too!

All you have to do is take a cue from this mom and think outside of the box. Clearly, this mama has some creativity pumping through her veins considering that it was her idea to add a dinosaur to make it look like a scene out of Jurassic Park.

One of the most annoying things is when you get a cold drink and have no place to set it down. After all, then you’re stuck holding it and your hands are forced to freeze.

Instead of dealing with that, though, this woman just reached the back, whipped out her baby’s diaper, and wrapped it around the cup. It’s a pretty ingenious cup holder that not only protects your fingers, but also absorbs the condensation from the cup.

No matter how well put-together your kid’s food is, they tend to make a huge mess of it. But, when you give them something that’s super messy, like a burrito, you have to be OK with cleaning up after them.

Or you don’t — and you just need a clever way to make this delicious meal less messy. Mama bear here seems to have the whole parenting thing down pat!

Sometimes, when you’re a mom, you have to find time to eat between your errands and chores. This typically means that, occasionally, you’re going to have to make a visit to the drive-thru for some fast food.

It also might mean that you don’t get to your food right away. This mom figured out a way to reheat her son’s fries when he complained that they were cold and soggy. Though we’re not sure they’re really gonna taste that great, it’s still a somewhat clever idea.

Nowadays, most parents prefer to travel by car. Whether it be for errands or a road trip, moms and dads all over take advantage of the technology available nowadays in order to keep their little tots occupied. Putting on a cartoon or movie will keep them entertained so that the adults can do what they need to do.

However, this mom had to figure out a way to do that, despite the fact that her baby’s car seat was facing backwards (as a safety precaution). With some quick thinking and adaptability, she came up with a pretty ingenious way of doing that. A freezer bag was the savior of the day!

When it comes to kids’ toys, frequently, there are a lot of little pieces that go with them. The smaller the piece, the more likely your child will lose it — and you may find it in a very unpleasant way.

It seems that this mom was getting tired of stepping on teeny-tiny shoes and so, she glued them to the dolls’ feet using liquid super glue.

As a mom, you quickly learn that you’re going to inevitably deal with unplanned or unexpected situations. Perhaps you didn’t bring enough diapers, or you forgot them altogether? These things happen!

This mom did a great job not panicking and instead, thought quickly on her feet. It may not be Huggies-level, but it certainly gets the job done!

When you have a large family, it means going to a grocery store will result in large amounts of food at home. If no one is willing to help you, that means sometimes you’re gonna have to make several trips.

This mom really thought ahead and opted to utilize a little help so she doesn’t have to worry about doing it all on her own.

Every year, when the holiday season rolls around, most moms go out and buy a ton of wrapping paper — though half of it doesn’t get used, and then you end up with a closet full of paper to plow through the following year.

We bet that this woman’s closet doesn’t look like a paper massacre — considering that she’s smart enough to use a spare sock instead of Scotch tape.

There’s nothing wrong with giving kids treats, snacks, and chocolates — though it’s not something that should happen all the time. Still, moms and adults are not kids, and sometimes they just want to snack on some sweet treats without having to share.

How do you do that without letting your kids see what you’re doing? This mom thought of a brilliant way and just simply made it look like she was having her everyday cup of coffee.

Creativity can seriously go a long way. While there are plenty of fancy clips and bands that you can purchase to seal your snacks and chip bags, why spend money when you can repurpose something at home?

We would have never thought about using these plastic hangers to seal our bag of potato chips — but we’re definitely taking some pointers now. Some people are just so innovative!

It’s essential to stay hydrated no matter what age you are. But, if you’re dealing with a few small children, having to grab the cups or glasses for them can be quite time-consuming and perhaps even a bit frustrating.

So, this OP figured a way out to solve that problem. With the use of command strips, her kids just got that much more independent! Thanks, Mom!

Sometimes, things have to get done. Mothers have a lot on their plate and so, there isn’t always enough time to wait for other people to help. As a result, many parents have to turn to their creativity and instincts to solve their problems.

Choosing to use your child’s toy roller skates to help move furniture around is genius! Not only will this reduce the risk of scratches, but it’s also just more efficient all-around.

The last thing you want to do is pop a few Goldfish into your mouth only to realize that they’ve gone stale. This means that, much like chips, you have to find a way to ensure the bag stays sealed.

Thinking fast on her feet, this woman reached over and took that label off her kid’s brand new shirt to seal the bag shut.

Oftentimes, as a parent, you have to multitask. Perhaps you want to take care of chores around the house and keep your kids entertained at the same time. Maybe you’re at a restaurant and you’re trying to calm your rowdy child so you can have a few moments to eat your food and chat with your spouse.

Whatever the case may be, you may have to find a hands-free solution in order to stand your phone up on its own. This mom simply reached over and used what she had on hand — her kid’s Lego set. There’s probably a market for something like this!

Sometimes, when you’re cooking for your family or even hosting, you might want to have a few drinks. But, just because you open a bottle doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to finish it in that sitting.

If you didn’t keep the cork, then you could very well be wasting the rest of that bottle — unless you decide to get a little resourceful. This woman looked around in her fridge and found something that could replace the cork, a string-cheese stick.

Originally a book, Elf on a Shelf has become somewhat of a holiday tradition. Basically, parents move the toy elf around the house to trick their kids into thinking that the elf is somehow alive. Though that might sound creepy, it’s actually quite entertaining.

This mom thought it would be humorous to utilize a spare mask by transforming it into a makeshift hammock of sorts. In all honesty, we had a good laugh at this one…

When you’ve just had a baby and you’re breastfeeding, there are a lot of extra steps needed to ensure that you always have enough ready for the child. One of those steps happens to be pumping, so that you can store your milk for later.

But, no one wants to place a pair of cold pumps near their most delicate areas. So, this woman figured out a way to avoid this — and all it took was a mini heater!

No matter how old you are, there’s always that chance you could lose or misplace a sock. It just so happens that kids tend to do it more, which means moms have to be on their game.

This mom took a little extra time to ensure that her kid’s socks would always remain together. She did this by sewing in a button for easy clipping! Innovative and cute — what more can you ask for?!

As a parent, one of the biggest things you’re in charge of is your child’s safety. This is why so many expecting mothers and fathers alike go through the house and kid-proof anything and everything that could be harmful.

One of the ways to childproof is to put caps over the electrical sockets. Rather than breaking the bank by spending a bunch of money on new sockets, though, this woman looked no further than her bathroom. Who knew that an old packet of wipes could be transformed into an electrical socket?!

If you’re out on the road and don’t have a way to warm up your baby’s bottle, don’t fret. If you’re anything like this mom, you’re more skilled than you think. After a few moments of panic, she realized that she could up her kid’s milk right in the palm of her hands.

We’re not sure many moms would think to do this. Still, it’s quite a brilliant solution — especially if you’re out on the road.

Moms have a lot to do and so, they need quite a bit of energy. Many choose coffee, or caffeine. Though too much of anything is bad, a hefty dose of caffeine can help you get through the day. From the looks of it, this mommy would agree.

Instead of dirtying new dishes, she can just slip a straw in the little hole on the top of the coffee pot, and she’s got herself a large makeshift cup of joe.

Imagine — you’re in the middle of an important chore or serious phone call when your kid begins calling for you. Frustrating, right? Even more so when they’re calling you for the simplest things.

This mom got tired of always having to run to the other room and turn the light switch on for her kid. So, she got resourceful with a plastic straw and some tape.

Kids can be pretty picky. On top of this, they go through all kinds of different phases where they may like something one day and despite it the next. This is especially true when it comes to food.

We think this mom is pretty clever, simply because she had her kids reimagine their French toast with jam as French fries with ketchup.

There are so many chores in a mother’s everyday life that finding ways to eliminate some of them is always a great idea. One of the biggest could very well be dishes, especially when you have little ones.

This mom is pretty ingenious not only because she’s eliminated having to wash another dish, but she’s also helped with keeping hands clean. After all, isn’t it hard when you reach down into the popcorn bag only for your hand to rub against the sides and absorb all the grease?

To keep their kids busy, many moms love to do a little arts and crafts. When kids are young, this typically means markers, paints, and even glitter. But, as we all know, glitter gets everywhere, so looking for a way to reduce the mess is recommended.

How clever is this mom? She realized that she could use salt and pepper shakers — not only as a place to house the glitter but also as a tool to actually use the glitter in art projects. So smart!

If you love to travel, then you know it’s challenging right now, thanks to all the new regulations. These regulations go for everybody, including people like Santa Claus and his elves — or at least, that’s what this mom thinks!

We think this is a really innovative idea as it allows her to teach her kids about all these new guidelines in a fun and interactive way!