Luvaboos

Luvaboos of Rochester, NY Winter Consignment Sale Details!

2012-01-17T08:26:00.000-08:00

Luvaboos 2012 Winter Consignment Sale

Saturday February 4th, 11-5pm and Sunday February 5th 12-4pm

(Sunday = 50% off all items marked to REDUCE!)

How do you sell your gear?

1. email us right away! We will send you a form to fill out with your diapers, name, price and REDUCE to include in the 50% off sale if they do not sell on Sunday.

2. Send your list back to us with ALL your contact info and your option of 60% cash back or 80% store credit and we will send you a PDF of Barcoded tags (if all goes smoothly :) for each of your items.

3. Print your tags on card stock, tag your items. Small gold safety pins work great or you may use our Tag Gun for $1.00 (You must arrive at least 1 1/2 hours before close to use our Tag Gun).

4. Drop off your items Jan-28th -Feb 2nd during store hours OR ship them and we'll take care of the rest! We'll organize them, answer questions and hopefully sell them all for you :)

5. Any remaining items and your 60% cash back or 80% store credit will be available for your pick up. You MUST pick up your items and payment by Feb 10th or we will assume you don't want the remaining items and we will donate them.

*This Sale there will be a $6 consigner registration fee deducted from items sold and a $1 purchaser fee for each customer at the sale (you are only charged if any of your items sell OR if you are purchasing, no entrance fee. This is to help us cover the costs of staff to keep the sale up and running!).

*Like to earn more commission? You can do so by volunteering before, during OR after the sale. Volunteer shifts are 4 hours and you will receive an additional 10% back in either Cash or Store Credit.

Last sale we went through the majority of the items in the first few hours so it is a great way to unload your stash. We also went through other baby items such as carriers, wipes warmers, gear and more. We are NOT accepting clothes, feminine products or home made carriers at this sale but have some great consignment stores to recommend if you are interested.

Any questions feel free to shoot us an email. And remember, you MUST follow these steps or we will have to turn you away. It is not that we wouldn't love to help you tag your items but there simply isn't enough time with everything else there is to accomplish around here and still see our little ones before they go to bed :)

NOW, go get your stuff out and get ready to free up some cash, tell all your friends, post on your mommy/daddy groups, craigslist, blogs, facebook, twitter, wherever! We want to see you destash and know there are lots of parents already looking forward to snagging some good deals for little ones to come. Let's save everyone some time and money, shop local and have a fun day :)

Here is the email again to contact us! Rita is heading up getting your labels to you so all emails will be directed toward her! (thanks Rita :)

Ever had to use your SuperMom super powers?

2012-01-13T08:14:00.000-08:00

SuperMom to the rescue!!!! Have you ever thought that since you became a mom you’ve acquired super powers? I do and I have a story to tell you to prove it.

It was a nice quiet afternoon. My son, Buggie, was doing his daily quiet time in his room and I was playing with my 6 month old daughter, Lady Bug on our couch. She was giggling at me as I played peek-a-boo. I thought this would be a perfect time to grab my video camera since I so rarely have a quiet moment with just her. She was propped up in the corner of our couch, resting between the back of the couch and the arm rest. I should have known better but I quickly turned around and out of the corner of my eye I saw her tipping forward. It all seemed to happen in slow motion and if this has ever happened to you, you know what I’m describing.

Without hesitation I leaped towards her, desperately trying to catch her. Using the couch as a buffer I gently scooped her up into my arms. She was obviously startled but I knew her cry and it wasn’t from pain. I nailed my side on the corner of our coffee table but it’s almost like I didn’t feel that initial twinge of pain.

My hubby will be the first person to tell you that I’m incredibly uncoordinated and clumsy. I was a swimmer growing up and I’ve always said that I’m better in water not on land. When it comes to my kids’ safety that clumsiness disappears and I have reflexes as fast as a cat. I think I shall call myself MamaCat during these moments.

What about you? What’s your mama super power?

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son. She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things. This June, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl! Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything! Visit her blog, at FTM. Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

Conrgats to Audra Barrick, Winner of our Knickernappies Diaper Hunt!

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for participating in the Knickernappies Diaper Hunt! We hope you all had fun and enjoyed browsing our site.

Knickernappies has chosen all the official winners and the lucky winner of our leg of the Diaper Hunt is Audra Barrick! Audra, please check your email for a notification from us and to claim your prize, (3) Just Hemp Knickernappies Inserts!

For a complete list of winners and to see who won the Knickernappies Grand Prize please visit the Knickernappies Blog.

Winner of the Boba THANK YOU giveaway is...Meg P!

2012-01-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for entering our giveaway! We enjoyed giving you all a chance to win an awesome Boba Carrier, and we also are so flattered by having gotten to read all your reviews and recommendations!

Rafflecopter has chosen a winner and the lucky winner is Meg P!

What did Meg P have to say about Luvaboos?

"I have had so many great experiences visiting Luvaboos. Heather and her staff are very knowledgeable and always willing to help educate and provide assistance! The shop has so many great items in stock, and they are also willing to special order items that aren't in stock. I definitely recommend stopping in to the store for all my local friends, and the website for friends who are not local!"

Meg, thank you and everyone else who entered, we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts! Meg, please check your email for a notification from us.

Cloth Diapering in the 80's vs. today? A cloth diapering mom interviews her mom!

2011-12-12T06:18:00.000-08:00

Guest Post by Bert

My mom always comments to me how she thinks it’s so funny how cloth diapering today is really turning into this hip cultural thing to do. She used cloth diapers on me in (and now you’ll know my age!) 1982 and apparently she hated them. She’s changed my son, Buggie’s, diapers and my daughter, Lady Bug’s, cloth diapers in the new millennium. I thought I’d ask her what her thoughts are on cloth diapering today. Remember the diapers of today are not your mother’s cloth diapers!

Me: Why did you cloth diaper me?

My Mom: We made this choice because of cost. When you were an infant, pampers had just come on the market and they were expensive, a luxury item. Everyone used cloth diapers. I was staying home and had the time to wash and fold diapers.

I also recall that my friends who used pampers said they leaked so it was still necessary to use plastic pants.

Me: What do you think about today's cloth diapers?

My Mom: First of all, I think they are 100 times better than they used to be due to the elimination of the pins and rubber pants. I think they are cute. I like the variety of pattern and design. They are easier to use with the addition of velcro and snaps. I used gigantic pins and poked my fingers often and I think I occasionally poked you too. Today's cloth diapers are pretty chunky. I have also found it difficult to describe them to women my age, they have a hard time understanding the "pocket" until they see it. It seems pretty time-consuming and complicated to launder them today. I just threw mine in the washer and then into the dryer, because we weren't worried about preserving their water-proofing ability.

Me: If you had a baby now, and you were younger, would you use disposable or cloth?

My Mom: I did use disposables for your sister and loved them. Use it and toss it...done! I would probably use today's cloth diapers, especially if I had a laundry service. Actually diaper services were a very popular baby gift in my day. This nice man in a cute truck came once a week to your house, took away a week's worth of stinky (think ammonia smell) diapers and left you with about 60 clean ones, all folded and ready to use. Is there such a thing as a diaper service now?

Me: What are the things about cloth diapering in the 80s that you loved? Hated?

My Mom: What did I love about cloth diapering in the 80's?.........................Not one single thing, see the following list to understand why.

What did I hate about cloth diapering in the 80's?............................

1. The horrible smell of the sloshing wet heavy diaper pail, the fumes made my eyes water.

2. The BIG pins, even the cute ones with bunny heads on them or little flowers. They were weapons.

3. The leaky plastic/ rubber pants. Those things never did the job, especially overnight. It was nasty when the leaky pee

and poo got caught in the creases of the pants and slipped out when you had to take them off the baby. YUK!

4. How the plastic pants got hard and crunchy with repeated washings. I can't imagine they were very comfortable.

5. Hauling the sloshing wet heavy stinky diaper pail to the basement and then removing said stinky diapers to put them

into the washing machine.

6. Folding the diapers into neat thirds and doubling some of them for overnight.

7. The fact that the dirty diaper laundry never stopped.

Me: What would you say to those who are thinking about cloth diapering but aren't quite sure?

My Mom: I would say try it. It is less expensive, it is more ecologically sound and it seems that they do a better job than disposables. They are cute and kind of like a cool baby accessory. Today, using disposables seems like the easy, albeit expensive, way out.

Knickernappies Cloth Diaper Scavenger Hunt, Dec 1-31, 2011! Register today!

2011-12-01T08:13:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about Knickernappies Cloth Diaper Hunt? It's an online Scavenger Hunt of EPIC proportions!

Nearly 30 Knickernappies Retailers are participating, including Luvaboos, and there are just as many awesome Knickernappies prizes to be won!

How does it work?
Each Knickernappies Retailer who is sponsoring can be found in an album on Knickernappies Facebook page. Along with their URL, you'll find a link to their Facebook page and the prize for their leg of the hunt. Visit their site and look for the icon with clue #1, there you'll start your hunt.

After solving the clues you'll find a final icon linked to an entry form. There you can enter to win that sponsor's prize. *We suggest you then go back to the Knickernappies Sponsor Album and comment on the ones you've found so that you don't lose track.

Each sponsor's hunt that you solve will not only qualify you for an entry into their giveaway but it will also earn you an entry into the Grand Prize Giveaway! The more you solve, the greater your chances are of winning the Grand Prize, a 6 pack of Knickernappies Custom Fit Pocket Diapers with Micro Inserts in the color and size of your choice!

Entry into the Grand Prize Giveaway can be found on Knickernappies.com!

What if you need help?
Can't figure out a clue? Need a hint or a little extra help? Each sponsor is responsible for helping hunters with their leg of the hunt. Please visit their Facebook Page and ask questions or contact them directly.

First thing you need to do is register to hunt!
Fill out the Rafflecopter form below with your name and email address and LIKE each sponsors page. Yes, this is mandatory, but think about it. We would have asked that you like each sponsor anyhow so we figured it was best to just get it out of the way at the start. Plus, this gives us a way to count how many people participated in the hunt.

*You have from December 1st-31st to figure out each sponsors clues and claim your entries into their giveaway and the Grand Prize Giveaway.

>>CLICK HERE to RSVP<<

We'd like to THANK YOU in advance, with a Boba Carrier Giveaway! CLOSED

2011-11-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

Here at Luvaboos we love our customers and we want it to show! We need your help spreading the good word about Luvaboos and your experience with us.

We'd like you to leave your honest review of Luvaboos in a variety of places, which will help new prospective customers know what they can expect when they shop with us!

We've got a variety of easy ways to enter and on December 31, 2011 the giveaway will end and we'll choose a random winner!

What's the prize?
A Charcoal 2G Boba Carrier!

Where to leave your honest reviews:

Click here to leave a review on Yelp!
Click here to leave a review/rating on Google Places!
Click here to leave a review on Merchant Circle!
Click here to leave a Recommendation on Facebook! (visit our page and look for the place to leave your recommendation on the right column.)

Additional entry methods and details can be found on the Rafflecopter form below.

The J&J Formaldehyde Issue, One mama shares her thoughts.

2011-11-17T12:07:00.000-08:00

Maybe you’re like me and you trust brand name products, especially when they’ve been around forever. I chose to use Johnson & Johnson’s baby wash/shampoo because I trusted them. Their time tested product and the trust that they’ve gained from thousands of parents around the world was good enough for me. I was wrong.

The beginning of this month a few articles and news reports started circulating around the media regarding the use dioxane and a substance called quaternium-15 that releases formaldehyde in Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. The study was completed by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and they are urging consumers to boycott the brand. The details of the issue is that Johnson & Johnson is currently make formaldehyde-free products in other countries EXCLUDING the US, Canada and China. In response to the report J&J released a statement saying that they intend on phasing out all formaldehyde-releasing products worldwide.

Why is formaldehyde dangerous? By now should all be thinking back to eighth grade biology lab and dissecting frogs – yeah the preserving chemical for dead things (okay preservation in general) is the one and only formaldehyde! Quaternium-15 is a problem for your child (as well as you) for a few reasons:

The release of formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen and was declared such this past June by the US National Toxicology Program.
Studies conducted by reputable groups have shows that there is a link between exposure to formaldehyde and leukemia.
It also is a potent allergen that can cause skin rashes and irritation.

J&J did release a statement on November 1^st, after The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics issued their report, stating that they are taking measures to remove all formaldehyde containing chemicals from their products. The study that was conducted by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics was done from July 2011 to October 2011. They purchased J&J baby shampoo from 13 different countries including the US and Canada to see if any contained the chemicals discussed above. Sadly, Johnson’s Baby Shampoo in the US, Canada, Australia, China and Indonesia all contained both chemicals; while Japan, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, South Africa and the UK did not contain either chemical.

I don’t know about you but I feel a little perturbed that J&J would knowingly continue to put a dangerous chemical into my baby’s shampoo because they could simply get away with it here in the US. I’m assuming this was a cost cutting decision and unfortunately we don’t have the same kind of standards in the US regarding the chemicals that we daily place on our skin and our children’s. It’s one thing to know that you probably will get cancer from something or somewhere during your lifetime but it’s completely different to knowingly use a product daily on your child’s skin that has links to leukemia. I’ve heard the argument, “Well, we can get cancer from anything,” many times and sadly I have used it too. Little changes do make a big difference though. I’m sickened with J&J. I’ll no longer be spending my money on their product or any knock off.

Super Easy Strawberry Smoothie Recipe!

2011-11-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

In our house smoothies are a staple. Breakfast, lunch, snack, desert...the kids want them all the time.

Our smoothies are more like slushies so we call them smooshies. If they're not "slushy" enough then the kids don't care for them as much.

Our recipe is super easy! I'll share with you the simple steps below.

Here are the ingredients:

Ice Cubes
Frozen Mixed Fruit (Ours is a combination of strawberry, pineapple, mango and peaches.)
Frozen Bananas
Apple Juice

The steps are easy! Add your ice cubes, fill about 3/4 of the way with frozen fruit. Then add 1.5 to 2 whole frozen bananas. Fill the rest with apple juice, to about an inch or two from the top.

Hit blend and voila! Strawberry Fruit Smooshie!

You can also add yogurt, use a different juice and add berries. We skip the berries because when the raspberry seeds are in the smoothie the kids get all weirded out. When needed I have also put powdered or liquid acidophilus in the smoothie as well.

*Fresh Fruit works well too of course but if your fruit or bananas aren't frozen then your smoothie won't become a smooshie!

So what do you think? Are you a smoothie fan?

Clogged Nipple Pore? It could happen to you too.

2011-11-05T05:33:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by Bert

I noticed it a few days ago; that persistent burning feeling whenever I wasn’t breastfeeding my daughter. It wasn’t the twinge that I usually feel in my nipples when my milk lets down, it was different. It was painful and felt like I was just beginning to breastfeed again. As soon as my daughter would latch on and start eating the pain would reside. I knew what this was; after all it had happened almost three years ago with my oldest son.

If you haven’t experienced a clogged nipple pore you should be very thankful. If you have then you know what I’m talking about. And if you’re reading this and wondering if that pain you’re experiencing is a clogged nipple pore then read on, Mama! A clogged nipple pore looks like a white pimple on your nipple. It’s not to be confused with a blood blister that is usually caused by friction from poor latching or positioning. It’s also not thrush, although it does resemble it. Thrush will not feel better after your baby has eaten. It’ll burn. A clogged nipple pore will feel much better after nursing your baby or pumping.

Clogged nipple pores (aka milk blisters or blebs) are usually caused by oversupply, pressure on your breast from a tight bra, changes in feeding schedules (baby skips feedings) or stress. If left unattended the bleb could lead to mastitis so it’s really imperative that you take action to relieve the pressure. It can also reduce your milk supply in the affected breast. I noticed a reduction earlier this week when I was pumping. I thought it was odd. Actually I thought that it might be the pump for some reason. Then the pain came and I instantly knew what was happening with my milk supply – there was a plug somewhere inside.

So what can you do to fix a bleb? It’s really rather simple. Apply a hot (be careful, you don’t want to burn yourself!) damp compress to the breast to loosen things up. You can also use a cotton ball that’s been soaked with olive oil to help loosen the skin. Next you’ll want to apply a hot compress to your nipple before your baby nurses. After a few minutes, take the compress off and allow your baby to nurse. Be sure to nurse frequently as this will unclog the pore and relieve the pressure. My lactation consultant also told me that if I could see the white part’s head I could sterilize a needle by lighting a match and holding the tip of the needle into the flame for a while until I knew it was hot. Then place the needle in rubbing alcohol and soak for ten to 15 minutes. Then lift the skin of the bleb with the sterilized needle. Do not pierce, lift. This should relieve some pressure immediately and then your baby can get working on helping you out!

I think it’s just amazing how the “cure” for this is your baby’s sucking. Our bodies are made wonderfully, don’t you think? Another way of treating a bleb is to do the following: Fill a spray bottle with five drops of grapefruit seed extract, ¼ cup of white vinegar and two cups of water. Apply the solution to your breasts one a day. For more information I highly suggest checking out KellyMom. It’s a great resource for all things breastfeeding! Now I’m off to go and work on getting this bleb to go away…

New Holiday Hours at Luvaboos, Plus we're Hiring!

2011-10-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is fast approaching! We've extended our hours to make it easier on you to shop!

Now Open:

Tuesday 11am-8pm

Wed-Fri 11-6pm

Saturday 11-5pm

Sun & Monday Closed

We will also be closed December 24th for Christmas Eve this year!

We have been filling the store with new toys and gear for Christmas and after many requests will also have Class Gift Cards Available! So make your wish lists now at Luvaboos!

Our

New Class Schedule

Has been filling up all week. If you want to join the fun Register online today, after this week you can call the store to register and class tuition will be prorated for the duration of the session.

We're hiring, keep the applications coming!

Send us an email with Luvaboos Application in the subject and we'll get you an application. Even if it's not the right time or fit for you now we'll keep you on file for the future. We love getting to know our families in this way so don't be shy :)

Boo-nana Ghost Pops! A healthy Halloween treat!

2011-10-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

I’m always on the hunt for healthy snacks for my kids. That doesn’t mean that they have to have tasteless food! I LOVE reading the blog Skinny Taste for ideas on slimmed down flavorful food. I happened upon these cute little guys! Happy Halloween!

Ingredients:

Bananas

1 Cup of White Chocolate Chips

Mini Chocolate Chips

Popsicle Sticks (wooden or reusable)

First you’ll cut your bananas in half and then take those halves and cut them in half again lengthwise. From there you’ll place them on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and put the sheet in the freezer. Keep them in the freezer for a little while.

While you’re waiting for the bananas to freeze you can get started on melting your white chocolate. You’ll want to do this in the microwave, setting the microwave for thirty seconds on high power, stirring the chocolate at the end of thirty seconds until the chocolate is melted.

If you try to hurry the process like I did you’ll get burned white chocolate and yes, it does turn brown!

After the chocolate’s melted take the bananas out of the freezer and dip them into the melted chocolate. Then scrape the excess white chocolate off the back of the banana and place them onto the cookie sheet. Quickly place two mini chocolate chips on the top of the banana so that they look like little ghost eyes. Put your finished pops back into the freezer and let them freeze.

Once they’re finished give these yummy snacks to your kids! Happy Halloween friendly ghosts!

You can check out the original recipe from Skinny Taste here!

Breastfeeding Twins, A mother's journey.

2011-10-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by Amanda

At just 10 weeks pregnant, I found out I was expecting twins. The hubby and I were shocked but super excited to be blessed with two. My pregnancy, although uncomfortable, went by without a hitch. I was always in perfect health at every doctor’s appointment and the twins were growing perfectly. True to my public health background I had no doubt that I would breastfeed my twins. I read everything I could get my hands on about breastfeeding twins. I bought the My Brest Friend nursing pillow for twins and registered for a double electric breast pump. I was as ready as I was ever going to be.

The twins were delivered via c-section at 36 weeks gestation because they were both in the breech position. I gave birth to identical twin boys who we named Noah and Eli. The excitement of the twins’ arrival was quickly replaced with fear when we found out that Eli was born with a tracheosophageal fistula and esophageal atresia. Basically, his esophagus and trachea formed incorrectly. His esophagus didn’t connect to his stomach and there was a connection between his esophagus and trachea. He underwent surgery to repair his esophagus and trachea when he was just one day old.

After surgery Eli remained in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for 6 weeks. He had some serious complications following his surgery. He spent 3 long weeks on the ventilator. After coming off the vent I was finally able to hold him for the first time. He also began eating 5 milliliters of breastmilk every 3 hours. I spent a lot of my time pumping so Eli could get as much breastmilk as possible. After being on a ventilator for 3 weeks Eli had a serious oral aversion and hated anything being put in his mouth. It was painstakingly hard to get him to suck and drink even 5mLs of breastmilk. At this point in time, attempting to breastfeed him wasn’t even an option.

Noah came home from the hospital after 2 weeks in the NICU. With no serious health complications I was able to begin breastfeeding him while he was in the NICU. However, because he was born early, he wasn’t quite strong enough to latch on and suck well. With all that was going on with Eli, I breastfed Noah when I could, but we ended up having to supplement his diet with formula.

Whenever things seemed to be getting better with Eli, a new problem would emerge. Due to the complications he had following surgery, Eli developed kidney damage. Now it was even more important that he get as much breastmilk as possible. He still refused to latch so I continued to pump and bring bottles to the NICU. It was difficult for me because I wasn’t able to pump enough milk to feed 2 babies. I struggled with depriving Noah of the precious breastmilk in order to give Eli as much as I possibly could.

Eli came home from the hospital when he was 6 weeks old. I tried over and over to get him to latch on and breastfeed, but he would arch his back and scream bloody murder. It was so upsetting to me that he wouldn’t breastfeed. I breastfed Noah during the night and continued to pump every few hours so I could have bottles for Eli. For 6 months I pumped and supplemented the twins’ diet with formula. This was such a trying time in my life, but I did the best I could to get at least some breastmilk into my babies. At 6 months, my mom lost her battle with cancer and pumping became too much for me to handle.

I still wish I was able to breastfeed the twins exclusively. I did the best that I could with my circumstances. I am happy that I didn’t give up sooner and that they at least received some breastmilk for the first 6 months of their lives. I know that some breastmilk is better than no breastmilk. They are now thriving 3 year olds, and looking at Eli, you wouldn’t even know he had such a tough beginning. I am also now successfully breastfeeding my 8 month old daughter and loving every minute of it.

Amanda is a stay-at-home mom of 3 year old, identical, twin boys and a beautiful, 8 month old, baby girl. She is a new found cloth diaper addict who also enjoys sewing and crocheting when the kids aren't climbing all over her. She married an amazing man and enjoys living two houses away from her in-laws. Amanda has a degree in Public Health Education from Brigham Young University. She started blogging to keep her family updated on the crazy and cute things her kids are up to. You find her at The Duke Family blog.

Luvaboos, Rochester NY Store updates!

2011-10-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

Starting to have to bundle up out there! We've been having a blast with classes at the store. Don't miss your chance to join in the fun before the holidays. I can't believe I'm saying this but this is our last official session before Christmas! Starting next week so check them out today!

New Class Schedule

If you want in register soon because we've started to fill up faster with the cold weather finally here. If you are still having trouble viewing check your anti-virus first then let us know if you still can't see the page (still not sure all the kinks are out).

NEW this session is Itsy Bitsy Yoga! Get to know other caregivers, bond with your baby and feel empowered with more tools to play and sooth at this early age.

If you are expecting, don't miss Tamara Alberts comprehensive session, Childbirth: A Joyful Experience Saturday November 5th. I can tell you first hand you won't regret it (went through it 3 times and 3 amazing births!).

Want to join the fun but can't find a good time? Jump over to our FaceBook page and answer the poll about what times work best.

Lots of new products are in.

We've been unpacking like crazy around here with all the new products coming in. For those of you that are new around here (welcome!), every fall we head to the largest baby expo in the world and hand pick many of the products you see in store. It's a great chance to meet the families behind the things you've come to love. We also see products in person and learn about the manufacturing process before bringing them to you. If you haven't been in lately stop by and say hello :)

AND we're hiring again!

Make your own baby food at home!

2011-10-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by Bert

There are tons of cookbooks and products out there for making your own babyfood. I did not purchase any of them. In fact, I didn’t decide to make my own baby food until my son was ready to eat meat. That’s when I looked at the packaged meat baby food and decided that I would never eat pureed meat from a jar, why should my kid? Did I buy a special food processor or a special baby food cookbook? No. I’m married to Mr. Frugal (and as a result we live pretty debt free aside from our student loans) so purchasing something was out of the question. Plus, it’s not rocket science – anyone can do this! And as I’m sure my Nana would say, “We made our own baby food back in my day. We didn’t have to buy anything fancy.”

What do you need to make your own baby food?

Blender, food processor or my personal fav, the handy chopper. It’s really very easy to use all of these tools and you’ll get the same result – pureed food that your baby can eat. What I did, for example, is I cooked a chicken breast then I chopped it up. Next I put it in my hand chopper with a little water. I kept adding water to the chopper until I got the consistency that I wanted. The difference between the three tools really is the way you get the food out. A blender is better for liquids so you might find that approach to be rather messy.
Food – You’ve got it! You can’t make baby food if you don’t have regular food. It’s past the gardening season for those of us who live in the northern part of the States, however, if you Southerners can grow your own! This summer I planted green beans so that I could make and freeze some for my daughter who is four months. You’ll want to do the same thing for any veggie or fruit that I did with the chicken. Cook or steam it, place it in the chopper, add a little water as needed and viola! You’re very own green baby food! If you don’t have access to a garden I have heard from some nutritionists that frozen veggies are second in line to fresh. If you need to eat on a budget but still want to provide a healthy and nutritious meal for your baby go the frozen route before you eat anything from a can.
Baby cube trays. Freeze your pureed foods. Your baby will not eat an entire thing of chicken in one sitting so you’ll want to pour the food into the cube tray. I then put the tray into a freezer storage bag. The food can be stored that way for no more than six months. Obviously any kind of freezer burned food should not be consumed.

As far as fancy cookbooks go I think they looked cool on my shelf but really I never used one baby food cookbook. My favorite site for inspiration was WholesomeBabyFood. And here’s my favorite recipe from there as a way to get your baby to eat meat (they are yummy!) and make sure that they get a veggie or fruit in as well:

J&J's Baby Meat Balls* (from WholesomeBabyFood)
Ingredients:

Ground Turkey, Beef or chicken
Plain baby cereal (boxed type)
Pureed veggies or fruits
Spices as desired
Wheat Germ

Directions:

Place 1 part lean ground beef/turkey or chicken into a mixing bowl
Add 2 parts baby cereal and 1/2 part wheat germ. Use Spices that you find appropriate (you may use bread crumbs if you choose)
Add pureed veggies and/or fruit to moisten the mixture
Mix together as you would when making “adult" meatballs.
Bake in an oven at 400 degrees until brown and cooked thoroughly – Cover with tinfoil, be sure not to burn the meatballs as they will become tough on the outside and baby may not be able to eat them. (*Ground turkey, rice cereal, wheat germ, pureed sweet potato, dash of cinnamon for example)

I think that you’ll find that making your own baby food is really easy and you’ll have peace of mind as you have the control of what goes into the food itself. Also, you’ll save a buck or two and create less waste because you won’t be throwing anything away. Happy feeding, Mamas!

Breastfeeding Supplies and Accessories you'll need!

2011-10-13T09:44:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by Bert

Whether or not you’re new to breastfeeding or you’re looking for some great ideas for a breastfeeding mom, this list is sure to inspire you. Using my own experience and the experience of the fans on my Facebook page I think you’ll see that we have quite the helpful list for you!

Nursing Tanks are a must, according to quite a few moms on my fan page. Kelsey said, “…so much easier than shirts!” And Mary Katherine suggests using bikini tops during the summer, “Bathing suit tops were my go – to bra during the summer for nursing. They easily slide, are relatively cheap, can be thrown in the wash, and [they] don’t look bulky under tank tops.” Now, I do have to add that I don’t think I could use a bikini top for my rather full girls but if they were smaller I would totally use Mary Katherine’s tip!
Good Nursing Bras is something that I cannot emphasize enough! Your breasts will be heavy and you need good support. Also, you can buy bras to sleep in too if it’s uncomfortable to go unsupported at night.
Nursing Pads are on my list of must haves as well as the majority of the breastfeeding fans on my page. I prefer the reusable kind because I don’t really see a need to create more waste when I have to wash clothes anyway. Nursing pads are especially important in those beginning weeks as your milk supply is being established and you will likely be engorged right after your milk comes in.
A Nursing Basket is something that my home health nurse suggested to me after my son, Buggie, was born. I loved the idea. Basically what you’ll want to do is put everything that you think you might need in the basket next to your preferred nursing spot so that you won’t have to get up to do anything while you’re feeding your baby. This is so important during the first weeks when it can take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour to nurse. Dena said, “…a good book or magazine – you will spend lots of time sitting! Oooh and a good water bottle, nursing makes you oddly thirsty.” I could agree with her more.
Lanolin cream or coconut oil is something that you could put in your nursing basket as you might experience dry, cracked or sore nipples in the beginning. Rebecca, from the fan page, suggested using Soothies, a gel pad that prevents leaks as well as soothes sore nipples.
An electric breast pump and/or a manual breast pump were practically unanimously in every suggestion on the page and I couldn’t agree more. You want your baby to receive the best and no one can deny that breast milk is the best thing for your baby. The only wait to ensure this is to buy a pump. Erica also suggested using a bra that promotes hands free pumping. Pumping helps keep infection and mastitis away.
Green cabbage keeps mastitis away according to five time breastfeeding mom, Miranda. (I know! I’ve never heard of this but what a great tip!) Miranda said to, “Take a leaf, slice open the veins, and apply directly to your breast inside your bra.” She swears it works.
A good support system. You need this. It’s a must. My mom came to my house for two weeks after my first child was born. Why? I didn’t know until I had him but she anticipated that I would need the support, encouragement and extra help because she needed it after she had me. (I’m the firstborn in my family.) Breastfeeding can be really easy or it can be quite the challenge. My son did not know how to breastfeed until he was 12 weeks old. The only reason I stuck it out was because of the people who surrounded me and supported me. An experienced mom, a lactation consultant (I LOVE mine) or a spouse or significant other is a great support system for you during this sometimes trying time. Don’t give up, keep at it and it’ll eventually come naturally. Trust me.

Like I said whether you’re new on this path of breastfeeding or you needed a few ideas on how to help a mother on her breastfeeding path, I hope this has helped you and given you a few tips. Green cabbage. Green cabbage?! Amazing.

Featured Product: Raz Baby BPA Free Toothbrush is a must have!

2011-10-11T09:31:00.000-07:00

Brushing your teeth is obviously something that baby and child must get used to so in my opinion it's best to get them acclimated to the feel, texture and routine of using a real toothbrush from the start. You can do just that with the RazBaby BPA Free Baby and Toddler toothbrush! No worrying about baby gagging or reaching for the brush and cramming it down their throat.

The Raz Baby toothbrush has a silicone guard that protects baby from over insertion while you brush. Baby can help you brush and you can easily clean a squirming child's teeth.

Luvaboos carries a great selection of RazBaby BPA Free Teethers, Pacifiers, Toothbrushes and more!

So what are your thoughts? Do you use a toothbrush, washcloth, your finger? How does baby react to you cleaning their teeth?

Leaky diapers? There might be a simple solution.

2011-10-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

Often leaky diapers are the reason families want to give up on cloth or think that something is wrong with their diapers. They wonder, Are they ruined? Worn out? Need to be stripped? Do they have holes or defective PUL? Is XYZ just a bad brand of cloth diapers?

Sometimes when you're troubleshooting leaky or malfunctioning diapers the best place to start is by trying the simplest solutions first.

Check the size. If the diapers a bit too small it could just be that you need to go up to the next size.
Check the setting. If you use one size diapers you might be using the wrong setting, perhaps you need to snap up or down or adjust the leg elastic.
Check the inserts. Could be that adding an extra insert or doubler is all you need. The other possibility is that you might be overstuffing your diapers which can cause the diaper to not fit properly. Here's a great post on the Knickernappies blog about the issue of "overstuffing."

Before you assume the worst try some of these simple tips and tricks to see if you can fix the problem without too much work. Through process of elimination you should be able to determine the cause of the issues.

The Quest for the Perfect Nursing Bra!

2011-10-06T07:19:00.000-07:00

Guest post by Bert

The quest…it took a long time but I think I have finally found a nursing bra to support my rather well endowed chest. That’s right. Well endowed. I have never struggled in that department and it’s a family trait. From an early age and after Oprah aired her bra show featuring bra fittings at Nordstrom’s my mother has been insistent that my sister and I have good supportive bras to lift the girls up!

With my daughter, Lady Bug, I produce more milk than I ever did with my son, and as a result my larger than life breasts now need extra support. Back in May, before Lady Bug was born my mom and I took a trip to our beloved Nordstrom’s lingerie department so that I could get fitted before I started nursing. Now the only reason we did this was because the bras I was wearing were over a year old and stretched out. The woman fitting me did know what she was doing; she gave me a cup size bigger than what I currently was. I, however, didn’t think it was correct so I returned the bra and got a smaller cup size. How was I to know that I’d be a mass milking machine this time around?

I broke Rule #1 – Wait until at least three months before really settling into a nursing bra size. By three months your milk supply is well established so the likelihood that your size will go up is pretty slim.

Rule #2 – Always get professionally fitted. This is essential if you are a larger chest size like I am. I don’t even mess with trying to figure it out on my own.

Rule #3 – Don’t be afraid to buy the expensive bra; it’ll be worth the support in the end. I’m basing this on my own personal experience but when I have a good fitting bra I feel slimmer and my back doesn’t ache as much. I have two bras that I own and yes they are well over $50 but it’s worth the money.

Some Helpful Hints:

If the band rides up in the back you need a stronger support band to compensate for a heavy load. You may also need to reassess your cup size
If your straps are falling down your arm and they are on the tightest setting then your cup size is likely too big.
If your shoulder straps are digging into your shoulders then your cup size is too small and the straps are being forced to do all of the work. You should be able to slide your straps off of your shoulders and your bra should stay in place. Your poor little straps should only support 10% of your breasts’ weight.

On my FB page, FTM, I threw the question out there and asked if any of my fans had a favorite maternity bra that they used. Some of the suggestions were Bestform found at Wal-Mart, Bravados, and nursing sports bras found at Motherhood Maternity. Now you can always get fitted at a specialty store and then look for the bra at a different retailer who has a cheaper price. My favorites? I like Elomi and Anita nursing bras. Elomi is made for larger size breasts and you can definitely tell that they know what they are doing!

Support the girls, get fitted and spend a little extra cash for a good fitting bra. You’ll look better and feel better, I promise!

Luvaboos carries a great selection of Bravado nursing bras. Stop by and check out the bras in person if you're in Rochester or shop online at Luvaboos.com!

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son. She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things. This July, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl! Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything! Visit her blog, at FTM. Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

The day I squirted breastmilk in my eye, on purpose!

2011-10-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share today. No, this is not about a breastfeeding blooper or accident!

Something I never thought twice about doing for my kids when needed, was squirting breastmilk in their eye, it never occurred to me that I too could benefit from it and need it.

If you nurse your kids then you know the awesome healing power of breastmilk, not just as a nutrient for your growing babes, but as a topical treatment for scrapes. Beyond scrapes, the real magic happens when you used breastmilk for eye infections. You know we all have those days when baby wakes up with crusty eyes or they're lid is a little swollen and you think they might get a stye. Just a few drops of breastmilk worked like magic for my kids.

It wasn't until the day I personally woke up looking like heck, one eye was swollen and sore and I was for sure either getting a painful stye or the dreaded pink eye! It was gross, embarrassing not to mention when your eye is read people tend to treat you like you have the plague.

Now my breasts were saggy and there was plenty of milk but no way I could aim and get it in my own eye! So I squirted some into a tiny cup and used an eye dropper. I applied the breastmilk to my sore eye twice in one day and then next day I was completely cured!

This benefit of breastfeeding is one I miss the most now that my kids are older. They're all very prone to those awful styes and I wish each time that I had a little breastmilk I could defrost and use (although it would long since be expired).

How about you? Ever used breastmilk for it's medicinal purposes?

The perfect alternative to disposables...GroVia BioSoakers!

2011-09-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

Often mamas and their families are a little leary of making the switch directly from disposables to cloth diapers, especially if they may not know anyone who uses cloth. The perfect transitional diaper to gradually get you addicted to cloth is the GroVia system.

GroVia's cloth diaper shell, also known as a cover, is a one size product and it's super versatile. It fits babies from birth through potty training and can be used with cloth/reusable soaker pads or their super awesome Bio Soakers.

GroVia's Bio Soakers will give you that semi-cloth yet semi-disposable feel. They're biodegradable, which means they rock....errr...I mean they're better for the environment, and they work a lot like disposables. They stick right into the cover and can easily be removed, often all you'll need is to replace with a fresh soaker and you're ready to go. That means you don't need a new cover/shell for each diaper change.

The GroVia Hybrid system is perfect for cloth and easy enough to use for those who don't really want to. If you've got a caregiver, daycare or spouse who perhaps refuses or despises cloth, they're sure to be willing to use the BioSoakers!

Check out Luvaboos for a great selection of GroVia products.

Winner of our Baltic Amber Teething Bracelet or Necklace Giveaway is...Maria K!

2011-09-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

Someone's little one is going to be super happy that mommy won this giveaway! That lucky mama is Maria K, she's the winner of a Baltic Amber Teething Necklace or Bracelet from Knickernappies.

Thank you all for your interest and we hope we've shed a little light on this great natural teething pain remedy.

SALE: 10% off Baltic Amber at Luvaboos
If you haven't won and you'd like to purchase an Amber Necklace or Bracelet from Luvaboos, they are now marked down 10% off for you on our website! Shopping in the store? Mention this sale to receive the discount.

Maria, please check your email for a notification from us and to claim your prize.

Meet our Lamaze Class Instructor, Tamara!

2011-09-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Did you know that our Childbirth, A Joyful Experience class is a Lamaze Class? Get to know Tamara, our class instructor by reading her interview below. You'll also find great information on how to register for classes and contact information in the event that you have questions.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family-
I am a certified doula with DONA and a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. I have been a doula for 10+ years, have attended 55 births and absolutely love it! My main goal as a doula and a childbirth educator is assist you to have the kind of birth you desire. My husband and I reside in Geneseo, NY and we have 5 wonderful children. Abigail (16), Rebekah (14), Bethany (12), Timothy (3), and Phoebe (1)! They are awesome!

Tell us about your hobbies and/or interests outside of teaching-
We are a homeschooling family – that keeps me pretty busy. Also, we are very active in our church, serving as elders, nursery worker, and helping to run the bookstore/coffee shop. My girls play soccer in the fall – and therefore, I become an avid “soccer mom” with two little cheerleaders in tow!

Name and Description of your class(es) that you teach-
The birth of a child is among the most precious and wonderful moments a couple can share. In order to enjoy this experience, training is necessary. Childbirth: A Joyful Experience is a Lamaze® course designed to train both husband and wife to be prepared for this extraordinary event.

Our goal is to prepare you for the kind of birth you want to have. Through focused information and training, Childbirth: A Joyful Experience is an excellent choice for you and your family.

How did you become interested in teaching and what do you enjoy most about it?
In 2001, a friend of mine asked me to teach her what I did when I had my first three children. She had had a poor childbirth experience with her first and was pregnant with a second. Being a type A personality, I dove in with both feet and wrote a manual! My husband and I taught that couple and then I was hooked. From there I taught several other couples, mutual friends who had heard I taught that first couple. I researched certifying organizations, became certified as a doula first and then a childbirth educator. I love it!!! My passion is to help couples have the birth they desire!

Throughout your class session is there a specific topic or activity that you look forward to? (in other words, what's your favorite part of your class)
My favorite part of teaching childbirth class is watching confidence grow in mom’s–to-be. At the first class, many of the women are very nervous about giving birth. By the last class, most of the women are confident and excited about it!

What's your favorite product or product line at the Luvaboos store? Cloth diapers!

Current class dates, times, cost and any other pertinent information-
November 5th – Express Class. $125 – discount given for registering early

Contact info for those interested in signing up-
tamaralynn@rochester.rr.com
585-243-1515

Toys made from Milk Jugs, As Green as they can be!

2011-09-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

You might remember our past blog post about "Toxic Toys" and how so many plastic products, especially toys, contains phthalates and other toxins that are harmful to ours and our childrens health. Well luckily, companies like Green Toys have come to the rescue giving kids back those classic toys, without the harmful chemicals.

Green Toys Inc. makes an awesome line of classic children’s toys constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials. This helps reduce fossil fuel use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improving the overall health and happiness of the planet.

Luvaboos is super excited to now be a Green Toys retailer and we've got a great in stock selection for your to check out online or in person at our store in Rochester.

We've also got a great little video below that you can watch to learn more and see some Green Toys in action!

Luvaboos Instructor Interview with Sarah!

2011-09-17T07:40:00.000-07:00


Sarah and Wren

Time to introduce you to another of our very talented class instructors. Sarah is the mama who teaches our Yoga classes! Read our interview below to find out more about her and the classes she offers here at Luvaboos.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family- I have 6 month old, Wren Rebecca, born Feb 23rd 2011 at home weighing 11 lbs 7 oz! My partner, Jesse Hughson is a self-employed contractor, specializing in recycled wood carpentry. I have been a self employed yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner since 2005. I've lived many places, teaching, studying and just exploring myself and life, including New Mexico, where I did my Reiki master training, South Korea, where I taught Yoga and English to middle schoolers, and Vancouver, B.C./Oregon, where I did yoga training. I also lived for a few months on Koh Phangan island in Thailand studying Yin Yoga. Happy to be back in the ROC for a few years. This past year and a half being pregnant and becoming a mommy has literally transformed my life! I am happy to finally be rooted and starting a yoga/Reiki practice in Rochester, my hometown. I am excited to see what "blooms" from here with Inner Bloom Yoga and all that I have to offer as a mom teaching yoga!

Tell us about your hobbies and/or interests outside of teaching- Yoga is still one of my favorite past-times. I try to get to at least one class a week outside of teaching and it sometimes happens...sometimes doesn't! Otherwise, studying bodywork is exciting to me. I am going to be learning Reflexology, which for me, is my favorite form of bodywork to recieve. I absolutely LOVE my feet rubbed...better than a full body massage and so beneficial to my whole being! Can't wait to practice on others!! Also always been a crafter. I started my own craft biz in junior high and have dabbled in it ever since. I make jewelry out of gemstones, which I also love. I have also just started sewing patchwork squares from old fabric samples together and making pillowcases and a duvet cover out of them. We'll see what else comes of the patchwork work! Doing artistic things really feeds me and makes me feel whole, just like yoga does!

Name and Description of your class(es) that you teach-
Prenatal/Postnatal yoga - A gentle approach to classic Hatha yoga designed to aide in relieving tension and opening the body to prepare for childbirth and help it recover post-birth.
Parent/Baby yoga - a time to stretch your body and stimulate/bond with your baby. Really a great way to connect with your baby and open your body while doing it.

How did you become interested in teaching and what do you enjoy most about it? I took teacher training to delve deeper into my own practice and not actually to teach...but somehow, I started to teach and loved it so much that it overcame me...and it is what I do...it is my bliss! =)

Throughout your class session is there a specific topic or activity that you look forward to? (in other words, what's your favorite part of your class) I love seeing moms (and being a mom!) interacting with their own babies and hearing that sweet baby laugh as we do some interactive postures together. Baby laughs are the best part of the class!

What's your favorite product or product line at the Luvaboos store? We have used cloth diapers and love the Thirsties covers and prefolds. Right now, Wren's favorite new Luvaboos toy is Sophie the Giraffe. She already has 2 teeth and it's a great teether that also entertains her for quite a long time.

Current class dates, times:

Saturdays -12pm-12:45pm - Parent/Baby yoga

Contact info for those interested in signing up- Book online https://www.luvaboos.com/articles.asp?id=296
or call the store!

Also, email me at: innerbloomyoga@gmail.com with any questions
Find me on Facebook: Inner Bloom Yoga, classes with Sarah Lamb
My website: www.innerbloomyoga.com

Baltic Amber, a Natural Teething Remedy you're just sure to love!

2011-09-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

Among other things, amber is a natural analgesic (pain reliever) and anti-inflammatory. When amber is worn on the skin, the warmth of the skin releases trace amounts of healing oils on the skin. Commonly known as "teething jewelry," baltic amber has been a natural and traditional European remedy for teething discomfort for hundreds of years.

Our necklaces and bracelets are handcrafted with amber beads imported from the Baltic Region. They are made of authentic Baltic amber, the most esteemed type of amber in the world. The translucency of amber depends on the amount of air bubbles contained within a piece of amber and their distribution. Some believe the color is related to the type of tree source.

Succinic acid is the most beneficial component of the amber. I have read that the darkest colored amber generally contains less succinic acid than lighter colors. I have also read that the more cloudy or opaque amber is, the more succinic acid it contains (and usually the more cloudy amber is the nearer to the color white it becomes).

The string the amber is strung on is designed to stretch when a good amount of pressure is applied, and break if necessary. Each piece of amber is individually double knotted on the strand. The necklace fastens with a screw clasp.

Enter to win your very own Knickernappies Baltic Amber Teething Necklace or Bracelet!

Luvaboos Instructor Interview with Linda!

2011-09-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

We'd love for you to get to know another one of our fabulous class instructors! Today we're featuring our interview with Linda! Read all about Linda, our Baby Signing Time Instructor, her family and the classes she teaches below.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family-
I have been married to my husband Bill for 30 years. Between us we have 6 children and 9 grandchildren.
We have always lived in the Rochester area and we are now living in Spencerport.

Tell us about your hobbies and/or interests outside of teaching-
I love spending time with my family. I like to walk and read and travel. We try to go to Florida every year and I love spending time at the beach.

What are the names and descriptions of the class(es) that you teach?
Baby Signing Time, Sing, Sign and Play Classes: are for hearing babies 4-24 mos. and their caregiver. We use books, music and playful activities to teach babies and adults how to use simple ASL signs for pre verbal communication. We will meet once a week for 6 weeks for 45 minutes. Each class will have a theme (ie: bedtime signs, bath signs etc.) Supplies are included. Have fun with your baby, learn, play and make new friends.

How did you become interested in teaching and what do you enjoy most about it?
I became interested when my grandson was 18 months old. He was speech delayed and very frustrated. His speech therapist and parents started teaching him to communicate with ASL signs. Signing helped him so much that I wanted to learn more about signing with babies and toddlers. I researched the subject thoroughly and decided to open my own business (Tiny Hands Talk To Me) so that I could help other parents and babies learn how to use ASL signs for pre verbal communication.

There is something magical about seeing a baby actually be able to communicate his wants and needs before he can speak. I have had the privilege of seeing several babies signing their 1st sign. It's an awesome sight.

Throughout your class session is there a specific topic or activity that you look forward to?
I enjoy the whole class but watching the babies respond to the music is fun. They love when we sing and sign to them.

What's your favorite product or product line at the Luvaboos store?
So much has changed since my kids were babies, the whole store intrigues me. I especially like the little 2 wheel bikes that don't need training wheels.

Current class dates, times, cost and any other pertinent information-
Tues Sept. 20-Oct. 25 two classes to choose from
10:00-10:45 or 1:00-1:45 fee is $65. for 6 classes, can be pro rated if need be.
*Class times and dates are subject to change. Please check the Luvaboos schedule for official dates and times.

Contact info for those interested in signing up-
To register for class please call Luvaboos at 319-4981.(1-5 Mon-Fri) (Sat 11-5) or stop in the store. Online sign up is also available at Luvaboos.com.

To contact me (Linda) for more info or questions please call 259-1304 or lindasmk@yahoo.com

Luvaboos Instructor Interview with Emily!

2011-09-07T07:45:00.000-07:00

Since we're so excited about our classes here at Luvaboos we thought we'd take some time this week and in the coming days to help you better get to know our class instructors and also more about the classes they offer.

Today we're featuring Emily, the instructor of our New Mom Connection class!

Tell us a little about yourself and your family- I am a licensed mental health counselor and wellness coach. My training as a therapist is unconventional, and involves fusing eastern philosophical practices with traditional western psychology. One of my passions is supporting people at various points along the "parenting spectrum." This includes offering support to new, expecting, or experienced parents wherever they might be on that journey. Of course my own transition to motherhood has been a huge inspiration for this work! My experience of motherhood, and my spunky four-year old daughter, have thus far been some of the most impactful teachers of my life. My husband, daughter and I relocated to Rochester from Boulder, CO last fall in order to be closer to my family. We are currently expecting our second child, due in November. Our daughter couldn't be more excited to be a big sister, at least in theory. We'll see how she feels in actuality when the time arrives :)

Tell us about your hobbies and/or interests outside of teaching- My husband would lovingly say that my hobby is “working” in some capacity or another. It's true that much of what I do is connected somehow to my vocation, which I guess is a sign that I am truly passionate about my work! Aside from "working" I love spending time outdoors with my family, cooking and eating delicious healthy food, practicing yoga, and dancing. I am a fanatic for any good dance/movement practice or experience, and over the past few years making sure that I move my body to fun music has been the best form of self-care that I’ve found. In addition to my work as a therapist and coach, I also teach a dance fitness class called "Soul Sweat." I hope to bring some of these movement classes to Luvaboos in the near future.

Name and Description of your class(es) that you teach- I facilitate the "New Mom Connection" group at Luvaboos. This group is all about helping mamas connect to one another and create community while also supporting them to feel more empowered and connected to their own intuition as parents. We are not meant to be as isolated as families often feel in our society! I have heard many moms say that they yearn for a place where they can connect with other mothers and really dive in and speak openly about ALL of their experiences as parents—the beautiful, heart-breaking lovely moments and the pull-your-hair-out, crazy-making moments. This group offers a container for all of that, and more.

How did you become interested in teaching and what do you enjoy most about it? Though I love the intimacy of working one-one-one with people, I really enjoy the energy and fullness of working with a group, particularly a group of moms and their babies. You never know what to expect moment to moment, and it really keeps you grounded in the present. I’ve been working with groups in some way or another over the past 11 years, and I love the spontaneity and freshness of it.

Throughout your class session is there a specific topic or activity that you look forward to? My favorite thing about all of the new mom’s groups that I’ve facilitated is when a mama has an “ah-ha” moment in the group, either when something really clicks for her and she understands herself and/or her baby a bit more deeply, or she feels more “normal” and less alone, or when she experiences more confidence as a parent. Those little moments are gold, and can really carry us through the difficult times.

What's your favorite product or product line at the Luvaboos store? Oh, there is so much to choose from. I really love all of the Plan Toys items, and the Earth Mama Angel Baby line of products.

What are your current class dates, times, cost and any other pertinent information- New Mom Connection will run for 6 Consecutive Fridays, starting Friday September 23rd and ending October 28th, 2011 from 11am-1pm.

Contact info for those interested in signing up- You can contact Luvaboos directly to register by phone or online, or feel free to contact me with any questions at 585-935-7122 or emily.fullcirclewellness@gmail.com. Don't hesitate to ask any questions at all, if you are inclined to join this group and feel it might be a fit for you, I'd love to have you!

To find out more about Emily, her business and offerings please visit her website, Full Circle Counseling and Wellness.

Website link: http://www.fullcirclecounselingandwellness.com/

Two Steps Forward...

2011-09-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

Guest post by Elizabeth

…and one step back. Week after week that’s what it’s been at the FTM house. We’re in full pottytraining mode with our boy, Buggie. It wasn’t my decision at all. I had been advised by my mommy friends to not push him into it so I didn’t. I was actually planning on broaching the topic this Fall when my new daughter, Lady Bug, was four months old and in a more predictable routine. Nope. He had other plans in mind.

About three weeks ago, Buggie decided that he was finished with his cloth diapers. We haven’t looked back. I reluctantly plunged forward with him. That’s what parenting’s kind of about, right? Watching our little ones cues and enabling them to succeed.

He’s been extremely successful when he has nothing on. He’s also taken a new liking to being in his birthday suit because of this. I’ve tried to explain to him that he has to wear clothes; it’s how we function in society. That was the first step for us.

Then two steps back. When he had any kind of pants on – training pants, “boy big pants” (which is what he calls underwear), and regular pants with nothing on underneath – he seemed to get distracted and then an accident would occur.

One step forward. We decided that the best approach would be positive rewards. We bought an Elmo potty coloring book that came with a poster in it. I taped it to the wall outside of our bathroom and for every time he stayed “dry and clean” and went in the potty he was rewarded with a sticker and a gummy. He rarely gets candy so that was a huge bonus and he’s finally at the age where he understands stickers. With this approach he was getting it. He was keeping his pants dry and even going to the bathroom in public.

And another two steps back. He had been doing an excellent job of keeping the training pants dry for about a week and then the weekend came and all efforts by him went out the window. After a few days earlier this week of wetness, I decided to just take the plunge and get ready to do lots of spot carpet cleaning and laundry. The boy big pants are back on.

Today’s gone well so far. He stayed dry in his boy big pants more than he was wet. As far as the clean part…well, that’s an entirely different story. I’m learning with this stage of childrearing that it’s definitely more of a journey than it is a quick trip. Hopefully we’ll be able to take another step forward next week! And hopefully his answer to my question of how his pants are supposed to be is not a prediction to what lies ahead…today he laughed hysterically and then answered, “Soggy and dirty!” Oh the joys!

Elizabeth (aka Bert) Anderson married her college sweetheart in 2005, became a "mom" to a beagle named, Chula, that same year and started her journey into motherhood in 2008 with the birth of her son. She started blogging in 2009 as a way to keep track of her thoughts on being a first time mom, especially her struggle with postpartum depression, and as a way of reaching out to other moms who are struggling with the same things. This July, Bert had another first in her motherhood travels - a little girl! Even though she's newly a mother of two, Bert maintains that no matter how many children you have you will always be a "first time mom" because there's a first time for everything! Visit her blog, at FTM. Bert is a contributor for She Thinks Media.

Our Biggest Sidewalk Sale ever is tomorrow! Saturday September 3, 2011 11-5pm

2011-09-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

On Saturday September 3, 2011 from 11am-5pm. Almost everything in the store will be on sale and there will be many products with deep discounts as we get ready for new gear from the upcoming Baby Expo!

Also, meet our awesome teaching staff and register for a new class this fall! Sign up for a class while you're there on Saturday and receive a $10 gift card to the store!

Please also RSVP if you might be attending the sale and share this link with your Rochester area friends!

See you there!

Winner of the Keekaroo Mahogany High Chair is...@RachelHooey!

2011-09-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

Wow guys, what a great giveaway and great response! We are still in disbelief at Keekaroo's generosity in offering a High Chair and accessories valued at over $200 to a Luvaboos fan! So awesome!

We left this giveaway open two weeks to give you all ample time to enter like crazy and the giveaway finally concluded on the 31st! According to random.org the lucky winner was entry 738 and that entry belonged to Rachel, aka @RachelHooey on Twitter!

Rachel, congrats! Please check your email for a winners notification from us and to claim your prize! Thanks!

Three lucky winners of the portrait sessions with Lora Ann Photography are...

2011-09-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for such a great response to this giveaway! It's fantastic that you all are so excited about having your portraits taken with Lora Ann!

Just as promised, we're giving away three portrait sessions! The winners are below.

Three winners are:

Jen Sternal-Johnson (1) Family or Children's Portrait Session with Lora Ann including a $100 print credit
Sophie Chartier (1) Family or Children's Portrait Session with Lora Ann including a $50 print credit
Aimee Wood (1) Family or Children's Portrait Session with Lora Ann including a $20 print credit

Each will receive either a family or childrens portrait session with Lora Ann! Ladies, please check your email for a winners notification and details on how to claim your prize. Thanks!

Babywearing with Twins? Yes you can!

2011-08-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

As a mama of twins, one of my biggest regrets is not doing a little more research on babywearing with two. Not having any clue that you could wear two infants, I assumed that I'd just resort to wearing one at a time. It wasn't until some time later when I became immersed in the cloth diapering community that I came across baby carriers that would have worked for me.

In case you were unaware, youtube has a wealth of babywearing videos and tutorials. Mamas and papas are eager to share with you their favorite carriers and techniques. Below I'll share with you a few good ones that I've found. You can, in fact, wear twins in buckle carriers, mei tais, slings and wraps!

An (un)natural beginning to natural parenting.

2011-08-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by Hannah

We had the cloth diapers picked out, religiously attended our Natural Birthing Class, and had about half a dozen slings and wraps on our registry. We were totally ready for a natural birth and natural parenting experience. That was before our son was born at 32 weeks.

Instead of a natural delivery, immediate skin to skin bonding and breastfeeding, I was recovering from an emergency c-section and our new baby, whom I hadn’t even been able to meet, was somewhere in the NICU in a plastic crib instead of our arms. We spent 2 weeks in the NICU, 2 months recovering from an emergency c-section and months trying to figure out what had happened to our shattered expectations.

Hudon, our NICU baby3 yrs later!

Our plans for natural birth were squelched by a sudden onslaught of pre-eclampsia and swift dive into HELP syndrome. Exclusively breast feeding had not gone according to plan as our son was taken directly to the NICU and I was unable to attempt breastfeeding till much later. Cloth diapers were out of the question, as they generally don’t make any small enough to fit on a 4 lbs. baby.

We both felt like such unnatural parents as we adjusted to a cranky little guy who wasn’t ready to be in the world, and seemed to need more from us than we could provide. We did what we could; pumping breast milk, wearing our baby skin to skin and we eventually even got him into the cloth diapers.

As we stumbled into our role as parents, I think we came to realize that we didn’t have to use all the special ‘natural’ baby gear and that our expectations of natural parenting wasn’t exactly on the mark. Natural parenting is not only about natural things or natural instinct, but committing to raise your child in the most spiritually, mentally and physically healthy way we can. Despite an unnatural beginning, we found we were able to naturally parent after all.

About Hannah: My husband and I are Rochester natives, returned after an 8 year educational hiatus. Mom to Hudson Daniel 4 years old and Ellis Irene 4 months old. I practice law by day, natural parenting by evening and attempt to put my creative writing minor to use after bedtime.

Get to know Lora of Lora Ann Photography a little better!

2011-08-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

Today, to coordinate with our fabulous Lora Ann Photography Giveaway, we're sharing a brief interview with Lora Ann so that you can get to know her a little better! We're also sharing some of her favorite portraits. Don't forget, if you want to check out more of Lora Ann's work please visit her website.

Tell us a little about yourself and your family?
I am a thirty-"something", wife, mother of three, one dog, 5 cats and a partridge in a pear tree.

When and how did you realize you had a talent and passion for photography?
I have Loved photography all of my life, I come from a family of artists and photographers and former Kodak employees! Photography is in my blood! ( as my Aunt Lee always says...)

What is your favorite type of location to take photos?
I am continually inspired by Nature; sunrises, sunsets, tall grass, cool breezes, slight waves, weeds!, calm blue lakes, falling leaves, rain, and fresh fallen snow! In short, I Love shoot outdoors! Anywhere! Any season!

Which of my photographs is my favorite?
The one I am going to take tomorrow, Imogen Cunningham! My favorite image from today, so far, is above!

Any goals for the future that you'd like to share?
I am super interested in BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY lately and I look forward to capturing a birth in the near future.

You can view more of Lora Ann's work in her portfolio at LoraAnnPhotography.com! Are you a Rochester, NY area local? Make sure to give Lora Ann a call and schedule a session with her!

Below are some more of Lora Ann's favorites!

Enter to win a Family or Children's Photo Sessions with Lora Ann Photography of Rochester! Ends 08-31-11

2011-08-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

We're ready to end this summer with a bang! While the weather's still beautiful, we're giving THREE lucky families a chance to win a Family or Child's Portrait Session with Lora Ann Photography of Rochester, NY.

Lora Ann is a local photographer who is passionate about photography and capturing amazing moments and events that you can cherish for a lifetime.

You can read more about Lora Ann and what makes her tick, how she got her start and why she loves her job here on her website.

Lora Ann has generously donated (3) portrait sessions for our lucky Luvaboos fans!

Three winners will be chosen:

(1) Family or Children's Portrait Session with Lora Ann including a $100 print credit
(1) Family or Children's Portrait Session with Lora Ann including a $50 print credit
(1) Family or Children's Portrait Session with Lora Ann including a $20 print credit

*Sales tax and/or Shipping & Handling are not included.

Entry open only to new clients of Lora Ann Photography.

You can view Lora's website and stunning portfolio here or check out her work on FaceBook.

Submit your entries into this great giveaway via the Rafflecopter form embedded below.

Breastfeeding Insurance Reimbursement & Tax Benefits

2011-08-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

Exciting News for Breastfeeding Mamas!

Via Medela

Thanks to Medela for sharing this great information. There's always such an overwhelming amount of information out there in regards to health insurance and tax credits that it's very much appreciated when someone broadcasts all the pertinent information and related links so that you don't have to scour the internet for more indormation.

Well Medela has compiled all the information you need to find out if you can benefit from any of the tax benefits for qualifying breastpumps and supplies.

Medela connected with the IRS to learn more, and here is what you should know:

The IRS guidance is broadly interpreted and covers any supplies that “assist lactation.”
FSA/HSA benefits providers may differ slightly in what they may cover. For example, some may define a breastpump as an allowable expense, but not other supplies.
It is important for you to contact your employer’s benefits provider to determine what is covered under your specific FSA/HSA and the steps needed for reimbursement.
If you do not have a FSA/HSA account, you may be able to deduct breastfeeding costs if your total unreimbursed medical expenses exceed 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income, and if you itemize your tax returns.

FSA/HSA plans are one of two ways you can explore reimbursement for your breastpump. Private insurance may also offer coverage.

For more details, please visit this page from Medela.

The Winners of the Pregnancy and Newborn Giveaways are....

2011-08-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to everyone who participated in this great giveaway sponsored by EIEIO Photography. We know the guidelines were a little complicated but we really wanted to make sure someone wins who could actually use the free photo sessions.

The Grand Prize Winner, Shannon Akers entry 36, will receive a Maternity and Newborn Package with EIEIO Photography, No session fee. $250 value plus a $100 print credit!

1st Runner Up, Johanna O'Connell entry 27, will receive an Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Pampering Kit from Luvaboos!

2nd Runner Up, Leah Minervino entry 5, will receive a A Little Something for the New Baby Kit from Luvaboos!

Winners please check your email for a notification from us or email us to claim your prize. Thanks!

Are you cloth curious? Check out these great videos from Mama Natural on Youtube!

2011-08-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

When you're researching cloth diapers, it's always helpful to see the cloth diapers in action in order to get a real idea of how they work. Well thanks to Youtube and some super tech saavvy mamas and papas, you can now find a plethora of cloth diapering "how to's" that will answer any questions you might have, from how to use a diaper, diaper sprayer, cloth wipes, folding techniques and more!

Today I'll share with you two videos from Mama and Papa Natural on Youtube! One video shows you cloth diapers are better than disposables and the other demonstrates how to use cloth diapers. Papa Natural shows you their routine, using BumGenius cloth diapers, from the moment they put the diapers on the baby to the moment they come out of the wash!

Good stuff! Check out these videos and let us know what you think!?

Garden Fresh Potato Salad Recipe from Dr Greene!

2011-08-12T17:53:00.000-07:00

Just thought we'd share this delicious recipe recently posted on the Dr Greene.com blog! It's yummy, garden fresh, easy to make and your family is sure to love it! It's called Three Color Potato Salad!

Three Color Potato Salad Recipe on Dr. Greene.com

Ingredients:

Potatoes
Green Beans
Tomatoes
Olives
Capers
Parsely

Add this healthy recipe to your regular menu and see if you're friends and family don't just go nuts over it!

For the complete recipe and instructions please visit Dr.Greene.com!

An Amazing Giveaway! Enter to win a Keekaroo High Chair, CLOSED

2011-08-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

Remember a few weeks back when we discussed the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly high chairs? The post was titled "High Chairs...You can have too much of a good thing!" Well this week you're in luck because we're giving away the most awesome prize thanks to Keekaroo!

What's the Prize?
(1) Keekaroo Height Right High Chair in Mahogany
(1) Keekaroo Infant Insert in Lime *Optional Comfort Cushions can be purchased when your child outgrows the infant insert.
(1) Keekaroo Tray and Tray Cover

Total Value over $219.95!

Details:
Open to participants in the USA only.

Date: Giveaway is open through August 31, 2011.

The winner will be announced on the Blog and FaceBook and will also be notified via email. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen in their place. *You must leave us a method to contact you, if none can be found then we will choose an alternate winner.

Rules: All winning entries will be verified. For each entry you must comment on this giveaway post. Please make sure we can either contact you via email through your profile or leave your email address with each entry.

*You must first complete the mandatory entry. All other entries are optional.

Entry Methods:

Mandatory 1st Entry- Leave a comment here (as your first entry) letting us know why you'd love to win this awesome Keekaroo High Chair!
(1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of Keekaroo on FaceBook and then you must comment on their wall that @Luvaboos sent you. The comment verifies that you did indeed "like" their page.
(1) Entry for using Keekaroo's store locator and submitting an entry letting us know the name of the store closest to you.
(1) Entry for Becoming a new Fan of Luvaboos on Facebook or already being a Fan of Luvaboos on FaceBook.
(1) Entry for Following Luvaboos on Twitter
(1) Entry for leaving a Luvaboos Product Review on Luvaboos.com (visit the item you'd like to review and look for the link to leave a review under the products description. Come back and leave your name and the name of the product you reviewed with your entry) *Limit 5 product reviews per giveaway.
(3) Entries for sharing the link to our Giveaway on FaceBook or your Blog. (limit 1 x per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting about this Giveaway. You must Tweet this "Enter to #win a Keekaroo #nontoxic wooden high chair @Luvaboos Blog! Click here to enter--->http://ow.ly/5YMPs" (limit 2 tweets per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting this "Visit @Luvaboos for all your Natural Parenting & Cloth Diapering Needs! #clothdiapers --->http://ow.ly/5dj85" (limit 2 tweets per day)
(10) Entries for Contributing an article/blog post to the Luvaboos Blog! Please email submissions to shethinksmedia(at)gmail.com
(5) Entries for placing the code for our Luvaboos Blog Button (located on the right sidebar of this blog) onto your Blog or Website.
(5) Entries for making a purchase at Luvaboos during the giveaway. Please leave your invoice or date of purchase with each entry.

Good Luck!

*All winners entries will be verified. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize before an alternate winner will be chosen.

The Raspberry Boys, a breastfeeding poem by Peter Waldor

2011-08-03T09:47:00.001-07:00

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week I'm sharing with you all my favorite breastfeeding poem!

the raspberry boys 

The nipple huge in the baby's mouth,
like a well gummed butt of an old cigar,
the baby's hands squeeze the flesh,
he pulls off every few seconds to smile
at his mother or turn to see what else
is out here. And then one brother blew
huge raspberries on the baby's belly,
the baby pulled off again, guffawing,
then the other brother blew raspberries
into the air, there being no more room
on the belly, that worked just as well,
child laughter squeaky as old pumps,
young spittle covering the scene,
then, for encore, the holy valve closed
a second late and the baby's face
was sprayed with warm milk, more laughter,
the raspberry boys waving their hands
to feel the spray as if it were a first snow,
boys who lost their privileges at their
mother's breasts not long ago,
though they remember none of it as they
won't even remember this by tomorrow,
and so I take it down for them.

Peter Waldor

EIEIO Photography & Luvaboos Pregnancy and Newborn Giveaway! CLOSED

2011-07-30T09:28:00.000-07:00

Time for another fabulous giveaway! This time around we're giving away a photography and gift package sure to make any new mama or mama-to-be excited. EIEIO will capture your portrait while you bask in the glow of pregnancy and capture those precious newborn moments you'll cherish a lifetime.

The Prizes:

Maternity and Newborn Package, No session fee. $250 value plus a $100 print credit! (Some restrictions apply, please see rules below.)
Earth Mama Angel Baby Pregnancy Pampering Kit from Luvaboos
A Little Something for the New Baby Kit from Luvaboos

The Rules:
Only new clients to EIEO Photography are eligible to win the EIEIO Grand Prize, Maternity and Newborn Photo Package and print credit. Previous EIEIO clients are eligible to win the runner-up prizes from Luvaboos.

Ways to Enter:
There are TWO mandatory entries

#1 Comment on this blog post with your FaceBook Name (the name you use to "like"
our fan page, and your zip code. We are using this first mandatory entry so that we can assure that the Grand Prize Winner is a local and able to use the free photo session and print credit. If you're chosen and are not local then you'll automatically win one of the runner-up prizes.

then choose one or the other of the two mandatory entries below.

#2 For New EIEIO Fans, Like EIEIO Photography on FaceBook and then comment on their wall tagging Luvaboos Page and commenting with what you love most about being pregnant. *Then come back here and submit an entry (a comment to this post) letting us know that you did.
#2 For New or Existing Luvaboos Fans, Like Luvaboos on FaceBook and then comment on the wall tagging the EIEIO Page and commenting with what you love most about being pregnant. *Then come back here and submit an entry (a comment to this post) letting us know that you did.

Additional ways to enter:

Share the link to this giveaway on FaceBook and tag both EIEIO and Luvaboos in the post. *Then submit an entry here with the link to where you shared it.
Blog about this giveaway! Please tell your readers about our giveaway and provide a link to this giveaway in the post. *Then submit an entry here with the link to your blog.
Tweet about the giveaway! Tweet this "#Rochester Area Mamas, Enter to win a maternity and newborn photo session on the @Luvaboos Blog!-->http://ow.ly/5Raqn " *Remember to come back and submit an entry that you did this.
Follow this Blog via Google Friends Connect. *Submit an entry after you do so.
Subscribe to the Luvaboos Newsletter. *Submit an entry with the name you subscribed with.

This Giveaway Ends August 14, 2011 with the winners being announced on August 15, 2011. Have questions? Please ask on either Luvaboos or EIEIO Photography's FaceBook Wall.

Special Offer for Luvaboos Fans:
EIEIO Photography would like to offer a $15 credit/discount to Luvaboos Fans for any session scheduled for August or September.*Just make sure to mention Luvaboos when scheduling the appointment.

Get to know Chelse, the mama behind EIEIO Photography!

2011-07-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

Today we're featuring Chelse of eieio Photography! We want you to get to know her a little better.

Tell us a little about you and your family?

I have two little ones. Lucas, 3 (my wild boy) and Claire 6 (going on 26). Lucas is a all boy, but he LOVES his sister. (and nutrigrain bars, we are on a 12 step program). Claire is super shy, but I could see her as a performer-makes no sense! She loves music and acting out whole movies. My husband is from Barcelona Spain! We have been married for 10 years. I met him when he was and exchange student my senior year of high school and we have been together ever since (16 years ago!).

When and how did you realize you had a talent and passion for photography?
Since I was in high school I have been into video, photography, music and all of them together! I have always loved the impact photography can have. I wanted to work for MTV in college, but realized I would have to move to NYC or LA to go that route. So I decided to follow my husband around for a while and do whatever I came across. I continued taking photos. Finally about 6 years ago, when I had Claire I really put all my attention back into photography. I loved it. and luckily so did some other people.

What is your favorite type of location to take photos?
I think my favorite location is actually in people's homes. I love how different everyone's world is. When the photos really capture their personalities. I also love anything in a field. I know the fad will end, but I will try and keep it alive as long as possible!! I am a big time country gal. Born and raised. So a field is where I feel like me.

If you have a photo that you consider one of your best, or very special to you, what is it and why?
I have a really hard time picking out favorite photos. I think all photographers do. We keep waiting for the next time we shoot. The next one will be our favorite....BUT I took one of my son and daughter I so love. The photo has problems. (which many photographers could pick out easily) but to me it is perfect.

Any special accomplishments or business goals that you're super proud of?
I try and create goals every year. I think everyone should. Mine are pretty specific. Last year I wanted to be published. I was so excited to have a wedding featured in WellWed magazine! a 3 page spread! and also I had a wedding published on my favorite national style blog, Style me Pretty. I also opened my own studio! That was huge.

Any goals for the future that you'd like to share?
Strangely enough after opening it, I know long to help other photographers. I am a really competitive person, but I also am a teacher. (I taught 2nd grade and child birthing classes....) I love helping people and take it as a huge compliment when they want to learn from me! In the next year I hope to help other business women, photographers and beyond achieve their goals! I have a couple really fun resources I am developing. From a photography stand point I would love to expand on my birth photography. I think birth is such a miracle! I want to help more families remember that day forever!!

Like what you've read? You can check out more of Chelse's beautiful photos on either of her sites:
eieio Photography
glowweddings.us
or follow her on FaceBook:
EIEIOPhotography on FaceBook

Preserve your cloth diapers by using flushable liners!

2011-07-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

Flushable liners really are a necessary cloth diaper accessory. Yes, they are an added expense but per diaper change...it really is worth it. Consider this, the cleaner your diapers are before washing, the less rinse and wash cycles you'll need, less detergent and overall, less work.

Flushable cloth diaper liners also help prevent stains and can eliminate the need to scrape or spray the poop into the toilet on every diaper change. There will be time that the liner might bunch up or not have caught anything at all, but for the most part, the times it does catch the poop, makes them all worth it.

Have you considered flushable liners or have been curious about how they work? We've found this great video on youtube that demonstrates perfectly what they are designed to do for you.

Winners of our Smashing Photo Contest are...

2011-07-25T11:50:00.000-07:00

Wow you all really came through with this photo contest! At first you had me questioning...what if people don't have pics of their messy eaters? But then the photos began to pour in. You all rock!

The photos you all entered could not have been cuter and funnier and we thank you so much for sharing them.

Remember, there were to be two top winners, a Grand Prize and Runner Up based upon the number of votes. Then there was also to be three random winners chosen from the entry form. Well, without further delay...your winners are...


Grand Prize Winner

Eileen M, who's little ones photo received the most votes, is our Grand Prize Winner! She will receive,

Grand Prize: Free Cake Smash Photo Session (Value $100) or Family Week Day Photo Session (Value $150) with Morgan Dawson, a Rochester area photographer and a $50.00 Luvaboos Gift Certificate.


Runner Up

Nicole W's little girl was our runner up! She will receive,

Runner Up: $100.00 Print Credit with Morgan Dawson and a $25.00 Luvaboos Gift Certificate.

Our three random winners, Random Winners will each receive a $10.00 Luvaboos Gift Certificate.

Julie K, $10.00 Gift Certificate to Luvaboos
Kristina W, $10.00 Gift Certificate to Luvaboos
Allison U, $10.00 Gift Certificate to Luvaboos

Thanks to everyone who entered, we really enjoyed your photos. Please stay tuned, we have a couple more photo contests coming up really soon.

Luvaboos News and Upcoming Events!

2011-07-22T07:34:00.000-07:00

Just in case you've missed the FaceBook posts or past blog announcements, there are some upcoming events you should be in the know about!

Luvaboos 3rd Annual Gently Used Sale is this weekend!

Luvaboos 3rd Annual Gently Used and Consignment Sale is on Sunday July 24th from 1-5pm! Here's a link to more details. Even if you're not selling anything, you are of course encouraged to come and shop! It's a blast and there are a ton of great deals to be had. Make sure to call us at 585-319-4981 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 585-319-4981 end_of_the_skype_highlightingfor more details or last minute questions.

Last Chance to get your votes in for our Smashing Photo Contest!
Sunday July 24th is also the last day to get yours and your families votes in for our Smashing Photo Contest! Remember there are some great prizes to be won as well as photo sessions with Morgan Dawson Photography of Rochester, but you don't have to be a local to win!

We have a Keekaroo High Chair Giveaway coming up!
We are super excited to announce that Keekaroo has agreed to sponsor a giveaway of one of their famous and absolutely fabulous chairs! You don't want to miss this awesome giveaway! Keep an eye on our blog and facebook page for more details.

Our Post Gently Used and Consignment Sale, a 50% off Sale is coming!
Sunday is the Gently Used Sale and then this Tuesday, July 26th is our 50% off Sale! You really don't want to miss this great sale event, it only comes around once a year.

Let eieio Photography of Rochester capture your portraits and preserve memories that will last a lifetime!

2011-07-15T05:01:00.000-07:00

Capture those special moments before they've passed you by...

July is a big month at the Holt house, we are expecting our baby girl and it marks 10 years for my husband and I on our adventure of marriage and family together. So as much as I'm not thrilled about my pregnant body, my husband loves it! So with Chelse's help from EIEIOphotography.com I decided to venture out and do some solo maternity shots. I didn't get many with Landon, our 2nd, because I thought I had too many stretch marks. But as you can see Chelse works wonders with photo shop and even has great techniques on how to stand to get the best angle of your belly...or face for that matter :)

I was amazed at how she knew just how to tilt your hips or arch your back and overall made the experience so relaxing and comfortable I almost forgot someone I barely know is taking pictures of me in not much more than my underwear (I won't post everything here but you can have a lot of fun at a boudoir session and your spouse will love it :)

I wanted to include a couple pics of my stretch marks to encourage moms to not miss out on capturing this beautiful time and allowing yourself to look back at these pictures when your child is 4,5,6 even 20 and have that rush of emotion that comes when you remember that precious life inside of you. You can wear your stretch marks proudly or choose to have them smoothed out, whatever makes you feel great looking at your pictures!

Thank you again Chelse for such amazing pictures to capture our baby girl before we meet her face to face. I hope many other moms find you and are able to cherish these times and feel gorgeous in the midst of so much change.

Chelse does on location photography as well as offering several different rooms and back drops in her studio. She specializes in maternity, newborn, family and even weddings. She books up FAST so if you are interested in getting some great shots with Chelse contact her soon!

You can also become a Fan of EIEIO Photography on FaceBook where you will get to see previews of all her latest projects and she'll keep you up to date on any current specials or promotions.

Luvaboos 3rd Consignment Sale! July 24th from 12am-5pm

2011-07-14T12:38:00.000-07:00

Gently Used Sale!

Sunday, July 24th from 12am-5pm

Tuesday, July 26th from 1pm-6pm (50% off sale!)

How do you sell your diapers?

1. Email us right away! We will send you a form to fill out with your diapers, name, price and REDUCE to include in the 50% off sale if they do not sell on Sunday.

3. Print your tags on card stock, tag your items. Small gold safety pins work great or you may use our Tag Gun for $1.00 (You must arrive at least 1 1/2 hours before close to use our Tag Gun).

4. Contact us for drop off hours! We'll organize them, answer questions and hopefully sell them all for you :)

5. Any remaining items and your 60% cash back or 80% store credit will be available for your pick up. You MUST pick up with in one week or we will assume you don't want the remaining items and we will donate them.

*Like to earn more commission? You can do so by volunteering before, during OR after the sale. Volunteer shifts are 4 hours and you will receive an additional 10% back in either Cash or Store Credit.

NOW, go get your stuff out and get ready to free up some cash, tell all your friends, post on your mommy/daddy groups, craigsist, blogs, facebook, twitter, wherever! We want to see you destash and know there are lots of parents already looking forward to snagging some good deals for little ones to come. Let's save everyone some time and money, shop local and have a fun day :)

We will also be having a good amount of items on sale in the store because we are making room for even MORE new stuff...my personal favorite...diaper bags! (my hubby totally makes fun of my bag addiction :)

Here is the email again to contact us! Rita is heading up getting your labels to you so all emails will be directed toward her! (thanks Rita :)

Winner of the Piggy Paint Gift Set is...Entry 420, Brassy of StudioBrassy.com!

2011-07-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

How cool was this giveaway? We were so honored that PiggyPaint agreed to sponsor, we just love their products so much and it was fun to give you all a chance to win some!

There was a great response, as usual, and according to Random.org, the lucky entry was #420 which belonged to Brassy! She's the mama behind the website StudioBrassy.com!

Brassy, please check your email for a notification from us and to claim your prize!

If anyone would like to purchase Piggy Paint you can shop online at Luvaboos.com or in person at Luvaboos in Rochester, NY!

Celebrate your pregnancy with Luvaboos! Belly Casting, Henna, Photography and more!

2011-07-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

While it may seem like you've been or are going to be pregnant forever, your nine months will fly by and it's often an afterthought that you wished you'd cherished that baby belly a little more.

At Luvaboos in Rochester, NY, we have a ton of fun things you can do to celebrate that beautiful belly, stretchmarks or not, and create memories your child will surely cherish in the years to come.

Belly Casting- Create a one of a kind piece of artwork, starring your belly! Belly casts can be left natural and displayed in the babies nursery or they can be painted and hung like a beautiful piece of artwork. You'll forever have preserved in time the size and shape of your body while little one was waiting comfortably inside.

Henna- Henna is a natural, plant based dye. The practice of decorating the skin in intricate, beautiful patterns originated in countries like Morocco and India. Painting these beautiful ornate patterns on the belly of an expecting mother is relaxing and a way of pampering a mom-to-be. Henna can provide you with a great opportunity for photos and also a great excuse to show off that glowing belly of yours!

Belly Painting-Similar to the art of Henna, belly painting provides a unique way of honoring the mom-to-be. You can take this process as serious you want, or just have fun with it and let babies siblings decorate moms tummy. Belly painting also provides another great photo opp as seen in the photos below by Lora Ann Photography.

Photography-At Luvaboos we know all the great local photographers you can hire to capture your beautiful pregnant figure. Lora Ann Photography of Rochester specializes in baby and family photography. For more details visit her website. Also, keep your eyes peeled, we'll have a great contest soon and you could win a session with Lora Ann!

Morgan Dawson Photography, Rochester NY

2011-07-07T12:37:00.001-07:00

Today I thought we'd feature Morgan, the fabulous photographer behind our Cake Smash sessions. At Luvaboos we're a huge fan of Morgans. You might have noticed that the Cake Smash sessions have inspired our current photo contest. Submit photos of your messy eaters and then get your friends and family to vote. If you win you could have your very own session with Morgan!

A little about Morgan Dawson Photography...
Morgan Dawson is a photographer in the Rochester, upstate New York, and Finger Lakes area specializing in newborn, children and family portraiture. She also offers maternity, corporate, and senior portraits.

Morgan is well loved and clients can't help but rave about their photos and session experiences. She's known for her ability to capture candid, real-life shots, shots that reflect the child or family's true personality or attitude. She's not going to ask you or your family to say cheese.

From weddings, graduations, birthdays, maternity, events and more, Morgan has your family or business covered.
To connect with Morgan and/or to check out her portfolio and pricing please visit her at the links below.

http://www.morgandawson.com
http://www.mdpseniors.com
http://www.winebottlepix.com
http://www.blog.morgandawson.com
http://www.twitter.com/mdawsonphoto

Giveaway: Enter to win a Piggyy Paint Gift Set valued at $24.99! CLOSED

2011-07-05T09:29:00.000-07:00

Remember last week's post when we talked about Piggy Paint and how awesome it is? Well the fabulous folks over at Piggy Paint have agreed to give one lucky Luvaboos Fan a Piggy Paint Gift Set of their choice valued at $24.99!

Win this Gift Set and your little one will be ecstatic. Or, with the holiday's fast approaching you can save it for a Christmas gift!

Want a chance to win a Piggy Paint Gift Set totally Free? Enter our Giveaway below!

The Prize:
(1) Piggy Paint Gift Set of your choice valued at $24.99!

Details:
Open to participants in the USA and Canada.

Date: Giveaway is open through July 12, 2011. The winner will be announced on the Blog and FaceBook and will also be notified via email. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen in their place.

Rules: For each entry you must comment on this giveaway post. Please make sure we can either contact you via email through your profile or leave your email address with each entry.

*You must first complete the mandatory entry. All other entries are optional.

Entry Methods:

Mandatory 1st Entry- Visit Piggy Paint and then come back to comment here with which is yours or your daughter's favorite color.
(1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of PiggyPaint on FaceBook and commenting on their wall that @Luvaboos sent you.
(1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of PuppyPaint on FaceBook and commenting on their wall that @Luvaboos sent you.
(1) Entry for Following Piggy Paint on Twitter
(1) Entry for Subscribing to Piggy Paint's Newsletter (sign up on their site, bottom of left sidebar)
(1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of Luvaboos on Facebook
(1) Entry for Following Luvaboos on Twitter
(1) Entry for leaving a Luvaboos Product Review on Luvaboos.com (visit the item you'd like to review and look for the link to leave a review under the products description. Come back and leave your name and the name of the product you reviewed with your entry) *Limit 5 product reviews per giveaway.
(3) Entries for sharing the link to our Giveaway on FaceBook or your Blog. (limit 1 x per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting about this Giveaway. You must Tweet this "Enter to #win a @PiggyPaint #nontoxic nailpolish gift set from the @Luvaboos Blog! Click here to enter--->http://ow.ly/5x59S" (limit 1 tweet per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting this "Visit @Luvaboos for all your Natural Parenting & Cloth Diapering Needs! #clothdiapers --->http://ow.ly/5dj85" (limit 1 tweet per day)
(10) Entries for Contributing an article/blog post to the Luvaboos Blog! Please email submissions to shethinksmedia(at)gmail.com
(5) Entries for placing the code for our Luvaboos Blog Button (located on the right sidebar of this blog) onto your Blog or Website.
(5) Entries for making a purchase at Luvaboos during the giveaway. Please leave your invoice or date of purchase with each entry.

Good Luck!

*All winners entries will be verified. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize before an alternate winner will be chosen.

High Chairs...You can have too much of a good thing!

2011-07-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

Less is more!

For today's blog post I thought I'd share my experience with high chairs and why I believe less is more. As a mother to three kids, I've owned multiple high chairs in various styles and brands. I've also known plenty of other parents and have seen their high chairs and have heard about their experiences.

So what's this about? What have I learned? Well what I have learned is that the simpler the high chair the better. We all know that feeding time happens multiple times a day, plus there are snack times, plus there are times when you put baby in the high chair while you do the dishes or mop the floor. High chairs get used a lot!

What I've seen is that there are high chairs that essentially look like huge car seats up on a stand . They have padding, and even their padding has padding. There are snaps, belts buckles, sliding locks, tray adjustments and toys. The more fancy gadgets and padding you have the more you have to clean. The more you forget to clean. The more bacteria and other funkiness has a chance to build up.

Food and germs get trapped in all those fancy cracks and crevaces, under seat cushions and many places where they have the perfect opportunity to breed. I've read about people's high chairs attracting bugs and who knows what else.

My advice is to keep it simple. After all, the point of a high chair is not to make it so fancy and so comfortable that baby will spend all day in it just because they're content.

Keekaroo makes awesomely simple, easy to clean, easy to use and very easy to store high chairs. They won't take up their own 10x10 space in your dining room, they fit nicely and look nice.

Want to learn more about Keekaroo?
Wooden High Chair from Keekaroo grows with your child! From 6 months up to adult! If your toddler can comfortably sit upright and balance him or herself, expect them to be ready for a Height Right Wooden High Chair.

And as they grow, the Height Right Wood High Chair grows with them. Completely adjustable to each child’s needs, the wooden highchair adjusts in height and depth of the seat and footplate. This allows every child the perfect seating position.

NEW! Comfort Cushions from Keekaroo enhance your child’s sitting experience. Allowing your child to be comfortable during mealtime is now easier than ever! NEW! Comfort Cushions are made from a soft-to-the-touch material that lets your little ones settle in to the perfect spot. NEW! Comfort Cushions are made with an exclusive process made in the USA and offer comfort and style. Click here for more details.

The Wooden Tray can be added to the Keekaroo Height Right Wood High Chair when used away from a tabletop surface if trunk support for younger toddlers is required. If a tray surface is not needed, you can use the optional Wooden Baby Grab Rail that provides an additional level of comfort and security for younger toddlers. The strap belting must always be used per instructions in your User's Manual. For increased cushioning and support against the back and seat platforms, the Optional Comfort Cushions can be purchased once your child outgrows the Infant Insert.

Is the Keekaroo Height Right Wooden High Chair right for your child?
The Wooden High Chair includes:

3-Point removable Pelvic Belt
Adjustable Foot and Seat Plate
5 year warranty
Easily cleans with warm water and mild soap
Wooden Tray with Removable Plastic Tray Cover that is dishwasher-safe
Available accessories include wooden grab rail and cushion sets for added comfort
Height adjustable in seat plate and foot plate
Depth adjustable in seat plate and foot plate

Visit Luvaboos for all your Keekaroo needs!

A 100% packaging free grocery store! How much greener can you get!?

2011-06-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine shared an article with me from Time Magazine just the other day and it's so cool that I must share it with you all.

The article is about a new grocery store, one-of-a-kind, located in Austin of course! (aren't all the cool things in Austin? so, not, fair...) The grocery store will be called in.gredients and it will sell only 100% package free products. They hope to open in October but are still trying to meet their fundraising goals.

The TIME Magazine article points out...

Americans throw away 1.4 billion pounds of waste every day, and 40% of it comes from one-time packaging. But it's hard trying to be a conscious recycler after a while because of the double or triple wrappings for every product.

I think this is exciting news, a great step, more of a leap in my opinion, in the right direction. Green concepts like these really get me excited about the future for our children and their children and I look forward to more innovative business concepts such as this one.

To learn more about in.gredients please watch this nice little youtube video about them and/or read the TIME Magazien article linked to above.

Winner of the Wahmie's Wetbag Giveaway is...Kate, clothmamak8!

2011-06-28T11:39:00.000-07:00

A BIG thanks to Wahmie's for sponsoring this great giveaway! The Givaway has closed and Random.org has chosen the winner. The lucky entry was #173, that entry belongs to Kate, @clothmamak8! Congratulations Kate! Please look for an email from us to claim your pirze.

If you didn't win but need to purchase a cloth diaper wetbag, visit Luvaboos.com for a great in-stock selection.

Luvaboos Smashing Birthday Bash Photo Contest! Ends 07/24/11

2011-06-25T15:44:00.000-07:00

Help us celebrate Luvaboos 3rd Birthday Bash with a Smashing Photo Contest!

For this Photo Contest we want your little one to give us all they've got! Submit the messiest photo you've got of your little eater. Cake, spaghetti, pudding, yogurt...Surely you've been privy to those overwhelmingly messy yet irresistibly cute meal time disasters!

Email your messiest and cutest photo to Julie at shethinksmedia@gmail.com, put "Luvaboos Smashing Photo Contest" as the subject and attach your photo. Please also make sure to tell us the name you use on FaceBook so that we can appropriately label the photo entries when we upload them to FaceBook.

After you email your photo please also complete this entry form. Per FaceBook rules and regulations, entries may not be collected via FaceBook and winners may not solely be notified via FaceBook.

After we receive your photos, we'll upload them to our Smashing Photo Contest album on FaceBook. (Please allow 3-5 days for your photos to be uploaded) After you see your photo appear in the album you will then be able to "share" the link to your photo where it is located on our FaceBook Page and encourage your friends and family to vote for you by visiting Luvaboos Fan Page and "liking" your photo. Voting ends July 24, 2011 at midnight.

You may also blog about the contest and share the link to your photo, tweet about it, email the link to your friends and family and more!

The smashing prizes for photos most votes are....

Grand Prize: Free Cake Smash Photo Session (Value $100) or Family Week Day Photo Session (Value $150) with Morgan Dawson, a Rochester area photographer and a $50.00 Luvaboos Gift Certificate.
Runner Up: $100.00 Print Credit with Morgan Dawson and a $25.00 Luvaboos Gift Certificate.

Additional prizes, chosen at random from our entry form...

(3) Random Winners will each receive a $10.00 Luvaboos Gift Certificate.

Additional methods of entry?

(1) You automatically get 1 entry for submitting a photo. *After emailing in your photo please fill out the official entry form below.
(1) You get 1 extra entry for becoming a Fan of Morgan Dawson Photography on FaceBook. *Afetr liking her page you then submit the entry form again.
(1) You get 1 extra entry for Following the Luvaboos Blog. *After following this blog you then submit the form stating that you did so.
(1) You get 1 extra entry for Subscribing to the Luvaboos Newsletter Mailing List. *After subscribing you then submit the entry form stating that you did.

Voting ends 07/24/11, Grand Prize and Runner Ups will be announced and notified via email. Our three random winners will also be announced and contacted at that time.

Piggy Paint! A safe, non-toxic nail-polish for kids! It's as natural as MUD!

2011-06-23T04:47:00.000-07:00

Have you heard of Piggy Paint? It's a non-toxic nail polish that's safe for kids. You might be wondering...Does it work? Yes! It's safe and it works just like regular chemical based nail polishes.

Piggy Perks:

Non-toxic
Low Odor
Water-based formula
Hypoallergenic
Fun, vibrant colors
Dries to a hard, durable finish
Cruelty-free
Safe for use during Pregnancy!

Want to read about how Piggy Paint was born? Read the excerpt below from Melanie, the founder of Piggy Paint!

One day while we were painting nails over a foam plate, my daughter dropped a glob of her solvent-based polish onto the plate. Shortly after, the paint began to bubble and “ate” through the plate. I looked in dismay at the hole in the plate and decided to test all of her other “kid” polishes on the foam. Within minutes, ALL of the solvent-based polishes began to bubble and eventually left big holes in the plate (Click to see plate). From that day on, I decided that any flammable substance that could eat through foam was unacceptable for my children’s fingernails, which would inevitably end up in their mouths.

My quest was on, and Piggy Paint was born. As you may have guessed, our polish is NOT flammable and sits beautifully on the unaffected foam. We hope you enjoy this water-based polish that is specially formulated of natural ingredients. Finally, a kid-friendly polish without the accompanying drawbacks of traditional polishes. It is free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone... and made in the USA!

Luvaboos is proud to carry Piggy Paint, both online and in our store! Visit us today and you'll have pretty piggies in no time!

Winner of the Baby K'Tan Carrier Sweepstakes was...Entry 36, Jessica Bull!

2011-06-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to Baby K'Tan for sponsoring this great giveaway! We were excited to offer such a great baby carrier to our fans and from the looks of it, you all really were excited about winning!

According to Random.org the lucky entry was #36 and that belonged to Jessica Bull! Jessica please check your email for a notification from us and to claim your prize.

To purchase a Baby K'Tan carrier please visit Luvaboos.com!

Giveaway: Enter to win a Wamies Cloth Diaper Wetbag! CLOSED

2011-06-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

This week's Luvaboos Giveaway is a great cloth diaper accessory! You can enter to win a Wahmies Wetbag!

The Wahmies Fun Prints wet bag will hold your dampest diapers without wicking! Cute outer print with inner layer of PUL waterproof fabric. Bag closes with a zipper to keep smellswhere they belong. Constructed with the two layers sewn separately, heat bonded and hidden seams. Fun Prints wet bags are now available in three sizes!

Want a chance to win a Wahmies Wetbag totally Free? Enter our Giveaway below!

The Prize:
(1) Wahmies Wetbag, in a random print according to availability at Wahmies.

Details:
Open to participants in the USA and Canada.

Date: Giveaway is open through June 26, 2011. The winner will be announced on the Blog and FaceBook and will also be notified via email. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen in their place.

Rules: For each entry you must comment on this giveaway post. Please make sure we can either contact you via email through your profile or leave your email address with each entry.

*You must first complete the mandatory entry. All other entries are optional.

Entry Methods:

Mandatory 1st Entry- Visit Luvaboos and comment here as your first entry with a non-cloth diapering item you'd like to have that we carry.
(1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of Wahmies on FaceBook and commenting on their wall that @Luvaboos sent you.
(1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of Luvaboos on Facebook
(1) Entry for Following Luvaboos on Twitter
(1) Entry for leaving a Luvaboos Product Review on Luvaboos.com (visit the item you'd like to review and look for the link to leave a review under the products description. Come back and leave your name and the name of the product you reviewed with your entry) *Limit 5 product reviews per giveaway.
(3) Entries for sharing the link to our Giveaway on FaceBook or your Blog. (limit 1 x per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting about this Giveaway. You must Tweet this "Enter to #win a @Wahmies #clothdiapers Wetbag from the @Luvaboos Blog! Click here to enter--->http://ow.ly/5mdKH" (limit 1 tweet per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting this "Visit @Luvaboos for all your Natural Parenting & Cloth Diapering Needs! #clothdiapers --->http://ow.ly/5dj85" (limit 1 tweet per day)
(10) Entries for Contributing an article/blog post to the Luvaboos Blog! Please email submissions to shethinksmedia(at)gmail.com
(5) Entries for placing the code for our Luvaboos Blog Button (located on the right sidebar of this blog) onto your Blog or Website.
(5) Entries for making a purchase at Luvaboos during the giveaway. Please leave your invoice or date of purchase with each entry.

Good Luck!

*All winners entries will be verified. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize before an alternate winner will be chosen.

Winner of our LunchBots Giveaway was...Rachel P, Comment 71!

2011-06-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Rachel P, entry 71! You're the lucky winner of our Lunchbots Giveaway. You'll receive a fabulous Lunchbots Stainless Steel Lunch Container! Please check your email for a notification from us and to claim your prize.

To those of you who didn't win our Lunchbots Giveaway, please visit Luvaboos.com where you can shop our selection of Luncbots for just $14.99each.

Thanks for making this another great and successful giveaway. Stop back on Monday and check out our next giveaway!

Enter to win a Baby K'Tan Baby Carrier. CLOSED

2011-06-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

Luvaboos is proud to offer you a chance to win one of our favorite baby carriers, a Baby K'Tan!

The Baby K'tan® Baby Carrier (patent pending) is a uniquely designed soft cotton carrier. It can be worn in all the same positions as a wrap, without the hassle of wrapping! The K'tan is made of two loops of cotton which are connected by a third smaller loop called the Back Support Band. This ergonomic and stylish design allows the carrier to be worn in multiple positions, all without any complicated wrapping or buckling. It is a cross between a sling and a structured front baby carrier, offering the positions and benefits of both! The Baby K'tan Baby Carrier is sized according to the wearer and is available in 5 basic t-shirt sizes: XS-XL. See our Sizing Information for more details. The Baby K'tan offers unparalleled comfort, safety, and convenience and comes in hip neutral colors.

Want to win one of your very own? It's easy! Baby K'tan is sponsoring this giveaway and they've made it super easy for you to enter to win!

Here are the THREE simple steps to follow in order to be entered into the Baby K'Tan & Luvaboos Giveaway June 15-16!

Be a Fan of Luvaboos New Page on FaceBook.
Be a Fan of Baby K'Tan on FaceBook.
Visit Baby K'Tan's website and submit your official entry through their Contact US form. Put your name and email address and then make sure that in the "comments" field you put "Luvaboos & Baby K'Tan Giveaway." Then click submit and you'll be officially entered!

*No purchase necessary in order to win. Winner will be chosen via Random.org and notified within 5 business days of the end of the promotion. Winner will also be announced via FaceBook. For a complete list of the Sweepstakes rules and disclaimer please contact Luvaboos.

Luvaboos is Celebrating our 3rd Birthday! Join us June 25 11-5pm!

2011-06-14T09:38:00.000-07:00

Luvaboos has officially been open 3 years and we couldn't be happier! Thank you for your loyalty and patronage, we have been honored to serve the community and look forward to many more years to come!

Join us!

Staurday, June 25th from 11-5pm

Luvaboos Natural Parenting Store & Baby Boutique

683 N. Winton Rd. Rochester, NY

585-319-4981 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 585-319-4981 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

*Fun for the whole family! We'll have activities, giveaways and demonstrations throughout the day!

Visit us on FaceBook and RSVP! You can also help us spread the word by inviting your friends and sharing the link to our event!

Importance of Protecting Your Child's Eyes from the Sun!

2011-06-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

There are a plethora of good and bad habits are kids are bound to learn from us. Some are accidental, some intentional, some we may even go to great lengths to teach. From hygiene and manners to healthy eating habits, the list of lessons we hope to impress on our little ones is endless.

One seemingly unimportant and often completely forgotten practice, is teaching your children the importance of protecting their eyes from the sun. If you start early, your better off, not just because your child's eyes will be protected, but because they'll be used to and accustomed to wearing sunglasses and are more likely to use them later in life.

The suns powerful ultra violet rays are most powerful between 10am-2pm and so these are the ideal times to teach your children to wear their eye wear. Ultra violet over exposure is even more common in high altitudes, sandy beaches, snowy areas and near bodies of water which can reflect the suns harmful rays. It's common to believe that as long as your child is in the shade of a stroller or umbrella that they're not at risk, but this is simply not true.

Fair skin and light color eyed children are more at risk than darker skinned, dark eyed children, but it's equally as important for all children to have their eyes protected.

Over exposure to the sun's harmful rays can cause cancer, cataracts, loss of vision, unsightly sun spots on the eyes, infection and more. Onset of these problems is not limited to the elderly, young people and children are susceptible as well.

What about cheap sunglasses? Cheap sunglasses are not a good idea. Simply wearing dark plastic "toy" sunglasses can actually leave little kids worse off then wearing none at all. The dark coating can cause pupils to dilate and if not properly protected they can be more more "open" to exposure from the the suns rays. Sunglasses must block 99-100% UVA or UV400 rays.

Luvaboos is proud to carry children's sunglasses that are sure to be comfortable, affordable and protect your little one's eyes. Visit Luvaboos today and check out our selection.

Sources:
http://www.allyoursunglassinfo.com/?p=205

Father's Day Gift Ideas on a Budget!

2011-06-10T09:29:00.000-07:00

Fathers' Day is just around the corner, that means it's time to buckle down and do some crafting with the kids! There are tons of inexpensive and many free craft and gift ideas you can do that daddy's sure to love and cherish.

Just to get your creative juices flowing here are some quick and easy ideas I've come across from around the world wide web!

Photo Courtesy of Kaboodle.com

Homemade #1 Dad Trophy
This is an absolutely darling idea that is super easy to do and the kids will have fun making it. Kaboodle has shared this pic and also step-by-step instructions.

Family TV Photo
Another great and super quick project that you can do with found objects from around the home. Make a Family TV Photo Box!

Photo Courtesy of Kaboodle.com

Duct Tape Wallet
Silly, yes. But will your kids love making this duct tape wallet for dad? Of course! Visit Disney Family Fun for this great tutorial.

Eco-Freindly Crafts for Dad
Mother Nature Network has a great post on their site with 9 eco-friendly crafts for dad that can be made mostly from recycled and repurposed materials. Make sure to check out Mother Nature Network for more details.

More Handmade Gift Ideas
Tip Junky also has some great gift ideas you can make on your own. They're mostly super easy to do, some do involve baking, but overall you'll save a ton of money by making dad gifts that he'll love just as much as any store bought ones.

Craftster
Craftster is a humongous resource for all things sewing and crafting. You'll find a ton of free patterns, tutorials, photos and ideas galore. Make something out of recycled neck ties, old t-shirts, golf balls...You name it and Craftster has an idea for it!

Etsy
Last but definitely not least, make sure you check out Etsy! You can get some inspiration by checking out others handmade items or if you don't have time to make something or just aren't that crafty, you can buy a nice handmade gift for dad.

Do you have any links to any other great sites our readers can check out? Please share them here or leave a comment on our FB Wall!

Toxic Toys: Should you worry?

2011-06-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of Phthalates? I bet you have. Phthalates, pronounced "thal-ates," are chemical substances found in the obvious plastic toys, feeding utensils and many many more items designed for use by and with children. They're also found in a lot less obvious products like shampoos, makeups, sunscreens and other consumable products.

From Wikipedia,
Phthalates are used in a large variety of products, from enteric coatings of pharmaceutical pills and nutritional supplements to viscosity control agents, gelling agents, film formers, stabilizers, dispersants, lubricants, binders, emulsifying agents, and suspending agents.

They are also primarily used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity).

Phthalate Exposure,
Phthalates are easily released into the environment because there is no covalent bond between the phthalates and plastics in which they are mixed. As plastics age and break down, the release of phthalates accelerates.

Phthalates, now banned from use in toys in Europe, have been thought to be linked to infertility in boys as well as putting the general public at risk of many other health problems due to exposure.

So, although brief, it's obvious just from the above known uses of and exposure to phthalates in our every day lives, it doesn't make sense to knowingly purchase toys which contain phthalates.

Because the risks of phthalate exposure are becoming more and more well known and publicized, there are now more phthalate free toy options than ever before.

Companies like Plan Toys, HABA toys, Green toys and more have really gone above and beyond to provide parents with a healthy more natural alternative with phthalate-free toys. Now toys, just as cute and fun as their toxic alternatives are being made with recycled plastics, natural woods, non-toxic paints and more.

Visit Luvaboos today for a great selection of natural, eco-friendly and non-toxic toys for your little ones.

To learn more about phthalates and other toxins known to be found in toys and other household products please visit the resources below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalates
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/412/
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/412/video.html

Giveaway: Enter to win a LunchBot Stainless Steel Lunch Container! CLOSED

2011-06-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

This week's Luvaboos Giveaway is a great eco-friendly and kid-friendly accessory! You can enter to win a LunchBot Stainless Steel Reusable Lunch Container!

LunchBots are stainless steel lunch and snack containers that are healthier than plastic and better for the environment. Both the container and the lid are made from the highest quality, 18/8 stainless steel. LunchBots are safe, eco-friendly, and durable.

The LunchBots Uno is the perfect container for packing a sandwich, sushi, burrito -- your favorite lunch to go.
To purchase a LunchBot you can shop Luvaboos online or in person if you're a Rochester NY local.

Want a chance to win a LunchBot totally Free? Enter our Giveaway below!

The Prize:
(1) LunchBot Stainless Steel Lunch Container in the color of your choice (subject to availability)

Details:
Open to participants in the USA and Canada.

Date: Giveaway is open through June 17, 2011. The winner will be announced on the Blog and FaceBook and will also be notified via email. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen in their place.

Rules: For each entry you must comment on this giveaway post. Please make sure we can either contact you via email through your profile or leave your email address with each entry.

*You must first complete the mandatory entry. All other entries are optional.

Entry Methods:

Mandatory 1st Entry- Visit Luvaboos.com and tell us what other item you'd like to try from our Feeding Supplies section. Come back and comment here with the size and color ad your first entry.
(1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of Luvaboos on Facebook
(1) Entry for Following Luvaboos on Twitter
(1) Entry for Liking LunchBots on FaceBook and commenting on their wall that you were sent by @Luvaboos
(1) Entry for leaving a Luvaboos Product Review on Luvaboos.com (visit the item you'd like to review and look for the link to leave a review under the products description. Come back and leave your name and the name of the product you reviewed with your entry) *Limit 5 product reviews per giveaway.
(3) Entries for sharing the link to our Giveaway on FaceBook or your Blog. (limit 1 x per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting about this Giveaway. You must Tweet this "Enter to #win a @LunchBot Stainless Lunch Container from the @Luvaboos Blog! Click here to enter--->http://ow.ly/5djcC" (limit 1 tweet per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting this "Visit @Luvaboos for all your Natural Parenting & Cloth Diapering Needs! #clothdiapers --->http://ow.ly/5dj85" (limit 1 tweet per day)
(10) Entries for Contributing an article/blog post to the Luvaboos Blog! Please email submissions to shethinksmedia(at)gmail.com
(5) Entries for placing the code for our Luvaboos Blog Button (located on the right sidebar of this blog) onto your Blog or Website.
(5) Entries for making a purchase at Luvaboos during the giveaway. Please leave your invoice or date of purchase with each entry.

Good Luck!

*All winners entries will be verified. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize before an alternate winner will be chosen.

Winner of our Knickernappies Custom Fit Diaper Giveaway is...Entry 63, GraceInk!

2011-06-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

According to the powers that be over at Random.org, the lucky winning entry from our Knickernappies Custom Fit Diaper Giveaway is #63! That entry belongs to GraceInk!

Thanks to everyone who entered, with over 500 entries, this giveaway was definitely a success!

Grace, please check your email for a notification from us and to claim your prize!

For a great selection of in-stock cloth diapers and natural parenting accessories please visit Luvaboos.com!

GroVia's Gro-To-Go Summer Kit is a Sale you don't want to miss!

2011-06-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

With Summertime comes great family adventures! You'll be out and about, taking road trips, camping, and enjoying yourselves outdoors. You'll also have less time for laundry and want to be able to pack less in your diaper bag when you're leaving the house.

The GroVia Gro-To-Go Summer Kit is a perfect summer essential. For just $49.99 you'll receive (3) GroVia One-Size Shells, (50) GroVia BioSoakers, & (3) Cloth Diaper Detergent Samples! Everything you need in a a hybrid system to cloth diaper with ease.

Gro Baby™ Bio Soaker Pads are a perfect solution for cloth diapering on the go. Use when on vacation, at day care, or running errands.

Biodegradable & Compostable
Breathable & Hypo-Allergenic
Fragrance & Dye Free
Plastic Free
Chlorine Free

Fun with Feeding: Tips, Tricks and more!

2011-06-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've heard of the Sneaky Chef, Missy Lapine and her book Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in your Kids Favorite Meals. Her work has been featured on tv show after tv show and her book is a bestseller and favorite among moms everywhere.

It's true. Sometimes, perhaps most of the time, you need a gimmick to get kids to eat healthy, this includes going to great lengths to disguise your healthy ingredients among other things.

Applying some of Missy's brilliant recipes and secret ingredients to your everyday foods will get you a leg up on your picky eater, but there are other tips to getting your kids to eat as well.

Try a special bib or placemat, that they get to pick, and save it especially for dinner time. Or opt for a special plate and bowl set or unique and fun eating utensils like the Constructing Eating Utensils we carry at Luvaboos.

Use a food dehydrator to turn those healthy fruits and veggies into crunchy or chewy snack-like finger foods. Apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, pineapple and more dehydrate in just hours and your kids won't be able to resist.

Turn healthy treats into frozen delights by freezing them! Fill your basic ice tray with yogurt, leftover smoothie mix, natural juice and more and give to your little ones when they're looking for a desert. I guarantee they'll love these yummy new popsicles you've invented.

Let your little ones help in the kitchen! Often just allowing them to crack an egg, stir or pour some ingredients, etc. will give them that extra desire to try something new, especially if you remind them that "they made it!"

Well these are just a few of my easy tips and tricks for getting little ones to eat. Do you have any advice you'd like to share?

Luvaboos Gently Used Sale! Sunday June 26 & Tuesday June 28th!

2011-06-01T10:15:00.000-07:00

Gently Used Sale!

Sunday, June 26th from 12am-5pm

Tuesday, June 28th from 1pm-6pm (50% off sale!)

How do you sell your diapers?

1. Email us right away! We will send you a form to fill out with your diapers, name, price and REDUCE to include in the 50% off sale if they do not sell on Sunday.

3. Print your tags on card stock, tag your items. Small gold safety pins work great or you may use our Tag Gun for $1.00 (You must arrive at least 1 1/2 hours before close to use our Tag Gun).

4. Drop off your items June 24th-27th during store hours OR ship them and we'll take care of the rest! We'll organize them, answer questions and hopefully sell them all for you :)

*Like to earn more commission? You can do so by volunteering before, during OR after the sale. Volunteer shifts are 4 hours and you will receive an additional 10% back in either Cash or Store Credit.

Here is the email again to contact us! Rita is heading up getting your labels to you so all emails will be directed toward her! (thanks Rita :)

Get Back to Basics with Charlies Soap!

2011-05-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

Changing detergents? Seems like no big deal right? But what if you're thinking of switching from a popular scented store bought brand to an unscented brand?

You might be skeptical as to whether you'll like it. You might even subconsciously associate a fragrance with being clean and therefore think that you need or want your laundry soap to leave your clothing scented. The truth is, you don't need a scent, you just need clean.

Charlie's Soap truly is a marvel. Charlie's is a family-run company that knows how to get your laundry clean in the most basic (yet brilliant) way possible, without all the additives, fragrances, dyes or fancy packaging.

Want to read the story behind Charlie's Soap? Visit their website and read all about them.

Here's a little more about the Soap, why it works, and why I think that once most people try Charlie's they never go back!

80 full sized loads of Laundry at less than 20 cents per load. New recyclable and reusable jar!

Thats just pennies per load! Needs only 1 TABLESPOON per large washload - That's all! This is not an additive. All of the features of Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid but more concentrated! Hypoallergenic - leaves no residue - perfect for babies and those who have sensitive skin Dissolves completely / biodegradable More convenient and portable than a liquid Front-loader / HE compatible.

Our Laundry Powder is a revolutionary approach to laundry care. It does not cover up stains and odors with scents and brighteners - it really cleans. It is made with a unique blend of biodegradable coconut-based detergents and high-grade, completely soluble, Green River washing soda.

Directions:
(For First Time Users) Run an empty load (or perhaps some old rags) with the recommended amount of Charlie's Soap Laundry Liquid or Powder.

*This will clear your washing machine of any residue left by previously used detergents and keep them from redepositing on your clothes.

*Charlies is intended for use as your exclusive detergent, not to be used back and forth. If washing cloth diapers, use with caution. If any redness or irritation occurs please discontinue use. Use of Charlies may void your Cloth Diaper's Warranty, check manufacturers warranty's to be sure.

To purchase Charlie's Soap please visit Luvaboos.com or shop in person at Luvaboos in Rochester, NY.

Learning to love your post-pregnancy body

2011-05-30T09:35:00.000-07:00

Loving your children is the easy part, learning to love the body they gave you...is another story.

I can admit it now, both to myself and others, I have "twin skin." Throughout my twin pregnancy I discovered these unfamiliar little squiggly lines on my belly, I was curious but confident that those were not stretchmarks. After all, I carried my daughter and didn't get one stretchmark, they're just not in my genetics I silently told myself.

My denial continued postpartum as well. My deflated, saggy and stretched out tummy hung over the waist of my jeans. I told myself, it's normal, it's only been a few weeks, it's definitely going to shrink back down. Luckily motherhood kept me busy and kept my mind off of things.

Not long after my sons births I discovered a moms of multiples message board online and to my horror found out that there was a name for this saggy stretched out thing that I had yet to admit to anyone existed on my body. It was referred to as "twin skin" by mothers of multiples. This "twin skin" does not go away. Yes, deep down I think I already knew that but I had been in denial.

Why or how it happened, I can't be sure, but somehow I decided my "twin skin" was something to be ashamed of. It was ugly and embarrassing, and I concluded that I would not show it to anyone. I lived three years keeping my secret from friends and family. With the help and encouragement of my husband, after the third year I decided that I would, for the first time, attempt wearing a two-piece bathing suit again and show my motherly shape to all the world with confidence.

I can admit now, at first that confidence was fake, I was pretending and at times it was really hard to. However, after pretending for a while and realizing that people weren't staring or pointing, no one was running away disgusted, it dawned on me that I looked normal. Looking normal is nothing to be ashamed of and showing the shape, stretchmarks and scars that come along with motherhood, is something to be proud of.

Have you ever visited the website "The Shape of a Mother"? It's an awesome, uplifting, inspiring and very liberating website for mothers. It's purpose is to help encourage mothers to love and appreciate their bodies, both with and without clothes on. There is nudity, so be forewarned, but it's beautiful.

Know that you are not alone. The Shape of a Mother encourages you to join, and either anonymously or publicly share your story, your photos, and appreciate others who's bodies are just as beautiful and as normal as your own.

Please share this with anyone you know who is a mother. Let's help each other learn to love our bodies. Has The Shape of a Mother or simply seeing the shapes of other mother's worn with confidence helped you learn to love yourself more?

Sincerely, Julie aka the Cloth Diaper Geek

Cloth Diaper News! World's First Cloth Diaper Addicts iPhone App scheduled to hit the App store today!

2011-05-25T09:13:00.000-07:00

Fluff Stash
The World’s First Cloth Diaper Addicts iPhone App
Scheduled to hit the App Store today!
Official Press Release

Introducing the very first of its kind, Fluff Stash, an iPhone app just for cloth diaper fanatics! In this easy to use and navigate app you’ll have so much fun snapping pics of all your diapers, categorizing them by brand, color, size, style and more! Sort, organize, and share your stash with the click of a button.

We know just how addicted cloth diapering moms are, not just to their cloth diapers, but to their smartphones and their social networks. That’s why we’re giving you the best of all your favorite things by allowing you to satisfy your craving to talk about cloth, use your phone, and share photos of your entire stash all in one convenient place!

What’s the best part?

It’s totally affordable, just .99 and it’s easy to use! No gimmicks, finally an app that you can use on a daily basis for practical or totally impractical reasons, you decide!

Download Fluff Stash from the App Store today and take your cloth diaper addiction to a whole new level!

Make sure you also “LIKE” Fluff Stash on Facebook where you can connect with other Fluff Stash users, ask questions, participate in promotions and more!

Like what you’re reading?

We need your help spreading the word about this new app! Please copy & paste this press release and post it to your blogs, facebook, twitter, message boards and more! Don’t keep this exciting news to yourself, the more who use it the more fun we all can have!

Why I think the Medela Pump in Style is a must have!

2011-05-24T06:29:00.001-07:00

You might have read my post about pumping while at work where I mentioned how much I loved my Medela Pump In Style. I seriously could not have lived without it. I'm going to highlight for you the reasons why I loved it so much and the reasons you should consider investing in one.

It's fast! With the Pump In Style you can adjust the suction and the speed to get just the right results. This really helped me make my pumping sessions efficient and make the most of my let-downs when the milk was really flowing.
It's dual action! Being able to pump both breasts at the same time was a lifesaver. I can't even imagine having to do it manually one at a time. That would have meant that I would have needed three times as much time when I went to pump and it's exhausting. Not to mention, what happens if you're pumping one side and the other starts to letdown?
It's quality made and a well-known brand. This means that if a part breaks, you lose it, you need new replacement accessories or pieces then they'll be easy to find. Not only does Luvaboos carry some of the spare parts, you most likely can find them other places locally and/or online. If you were using a no-name brand the chances of you finding spare parts in a timely manner are not great.
It's super easy to clean. When you're at work you need to clean your pumps pieces after you pump so it will be ready to go for the next session. The Pump In Style comes apart easily so you can quickly and thoroughly clean it between pumping sessions.
You can pump hands free! Withe regular Pump In Style or the FreeStyle you can pump without using your hands. This means if you need to, you can tend to baby, answer phones, work on the computer and multi-task in other ways. Being able to do other things while your're pumping allows you to take your mind off of it and often helps you express more milk, unlike when you feel you're in a hurry or having to watch the clock.
You can save it for use with future children! Because they're so well made you can save them and reuse them next time you have a baby! Worried the parts have gotten old? Just buy new accessories for it and you'll be good to go!

Overall, yes it's an investment, but if you are going to be pumping at all then I highly recommend you purchase one or register for one. It's a breastfeeding accessory that is an absolute necessity. You won't regret having a Medela Pump In Style!

Giveaway: Enter to win a Knickernappies Custom Fit Diaper! CLOSED

2011-05-23T07:39:00.000-07:00

This week's Luvaboos Giveaway is super cool! You can enter to win a Knickernappies Custom Fit Diaper! They come in a variety of great, bright colors and three sizes to ensure that you'll get the perfect fit. Knickernappies diapers are also made in the USA. They carry a lifetime warranty on snaps and are very well made quality cloth pocket diapers.

To purchase a Knickernappies Custom Fit you can shop Luvaboos online or in person if you're a Rochester NY local.

Want a chance to win a Knickernappies Custom Fit Pocket Diaper totally Free? Enter our Giveaway below!

The Prize:
(1) Knickernappies Custom Fit Pocket Diaper in the size and color of your choice (subject to availability)

Details:
Open to participants in the USA and Canada.

Date: Giveaway is open through June 5, 2011. The winner will be announced on the Blog and FaceBook and will also be notified via email. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize or an alternate winner will be chosen in their place.

Rules: For each entry you must comment on this giveaway post. Please make sure we can either contact you via email through your profile or leave your email address with each entry.

*You must first complete the mandatory entry. All other entries are optional.

Entry Methods:

Mandatory 1st Entry- Visit Luvaboos.com and tell us what size and color Knickernappies Custom Fit you would choose if you win. Come back and comment here with the size and color ad your first entry.
(1) Entry for Becoming a Fan of Luvaboos on Facebook
(1) Entry for Following Luvaboos on Twitter
(1) Entry for Following Knickernappies Blog
(1) Entry for Liking Knickernappies on FaceBook
(1) Entry for leaving a Luvaboos Product Review on Luvaboos.com (visit the item you'd like to review and look for the link to leave a review under the products description. Come back and leave your name and the name of the product you reviewed with your entry) *Limit 5 product reviews per giveaway.
(3) Entries for sharing the link to our Giveaway on FaceBook or your Blog. (limit 1 x per day)
(3) Entries for Tweeting about this Giveaway. You must Tweet this "Enter to #win a @Knickernappies #clothdiapers from the @Luvaboos Blog! Click here to enter--->http://ow.ly/50LHK" (limit 1 tweet per day)
(10) Entries for Contributing an article/blog post to the Luvaboos Blog! Please email submissions to shethinksmedia(at)gmail.com
(5) Entries for placing the code for our Luvaboos Blog Button (located on the right sidebar of this blog) onto your Blog or Website.
(5) Entries for making a purchase at Luvaboos during the giveaway. Please leave your invoice or date of purchase with each entry.

Good Luck!

*All winners entries will be verified. Winner has 7 days to claim their prize before an alternate winner will be chosen.

Breastfeeding and Pumping while at work? It can be done. Read my tips for success!

2011-05-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

When I found out I was pregnant with my first child, my daughter, I was employed full-time outside of the home. My job was the usual 9-5pm variety. I was on my feet all day and often even missed lunches and other breaks due to the hustle and bustle, multi-tasking that ensued daily.

Having been a child of the 70's, my mom had been a La Leche League leader and I myself was nursed until about age 4. Nursing was a non-issue, just the way you feed your baby after it's born, and nothing I ever worried about or considered a choice, it just was what I was going to do.

After my daughter was born I made arrangements to return to work part-time, three full days a week, after she reached 6 weeks old.

My Medela Breast Pump became my best friend, co-workers used to see me with it and make jokes about me going to pump, AGAIN!

I pumped 3 days a week, while at work, for a year until I decided to become a stay-at-home-mom. Here are some things you should consider when taking on pumping while on the job.

Buy an electric, dual breast-pump! It's important to remember that you need to pump as often as you can to simulate natural nursing patterns and with the hustle and bustle of being on the job, you may not have time to manually express milk. Also, depending on the stresses involved your milk might not let down right away. My electric, dual breast-pump was a lifesaver and allowed me to take more frequent trips to express milk.
Make sure you have a peaceful place to pump. The only place I had to pump was the break room and it always seemed like my pumping sessions were inconveniencing someone. As soon as I began to stress or worry about inconveniencing someone then my milk would take forever to let down. Having a stress-free zone is important.
Use a nursing cover when pumping. I worked in an all female workplace, so I quickly learned that the only way I could nurse without worrying about other co-workers needs was to cover up and pump while still allowing them access to the break room. Actually, chatting with them while pumping often helped me take my mind off things and make for a faster pumping session.
Have some photos of your baby in your breastpump bag. Often looking at photos helped get me i the right frame of mind and helped me relax,etc.
Consider a special bra like Easy Expression, to allow you to work or eat while pumping. My job involved answering phones and booking appointments so I was often able to work while pumping in the break room.
Use Milkies Milk Savers! I can't tell you how many times, while at work, I got so busy that I literally could not get away to pump. Next thing I knew I was getting that tingly let-down feeling and just knew all that precious milk was going to waste, getting absorbed by my nursing pads and often my blouse. Milkies are great for that and will save you from wasting any of that precious breastmilk.
Have a backup manual pump. There were a few occasions that my pump would not work or malfunctioned for whatever reason, maybe the outlet didn't work, or I realized I left the power cord at home. Make sure to have a backup for those emergency situations, like having to pump in the car, etc.

These are just a few of my suggestions. Pumping at work does have it's issues, depending on the job and workplace atmosphere. There were days where I couldn't seem to pump a drop and had my husband or mother running the baby up to my work so I could nurse because I hadn't had enough milk to leave for them. There were also days where I was frazzled and spilled my stored milk at work, forgot to put it in the refrigerator and definitely days where my co-workers were none too thrilled with my constant need to pump while they're eating their lunch in the break room!

Ultimately, it's your right to pump while at work, but it's also most beneficial to you if you can find a comfortable and harmonious way to go about it without causing yourself or your co-workers too much distress. A stressful environment is counterproductive and could result in less milk production and issues with pumping.

Do you have any suggestions for pumping breastmilk while at work? We'd love to read them.

Let baby ride in style with the Beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier!

2011-05-19T06:12:00.000-07:00

The Beco Butterfly 2 baby Carrier is an absolute marvel. You can rest assured that baby is comfortable and secure. Adjust to fit just your size and carry your little one on your front or back!

With the Beco Carrier you'll never need another, they work perfectly from Newborn through 45lbs! They're super easy to take on and off by yourself, no more worrying that you'll need an extra set of hands to fasten buckles or hand you the baby.

Beco carriers are super versatile and perfect for light day to day use around the house or for heavy duty trips like hiking outdoors, grocery shopping, vacations and more. You'll no longer have to worry about painful straps or aching backs, the Beco Butterfly 2 is just as comfortable for you to wear as it is for baby to ride in.

Here's a brief rundown of the features and specifications!

PRODUCT FEATURES

newborn to toddler (7-45 lbs/3.5 - 20 kg)
front and back carry
easy On and OFF features
high quality tested materials
machine washable
DVD instructions included
made in USA and China

PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS

body 13" wide x 16" tall
shoulder straps 23" (can be adjusted up to 22" LONGER for a total of 45")
waist belt 28"(size 0) can be adjusted up to 57"
weight capacity of the carrier: 7-45 lbs
weight of the carrier: 1.8 lbs

To purchase the Beco Butterfly 2 Carrier please visit Luvaoos.com. If you're a Rcohester, NY resident you can shop in person and we'll even help you try on the carrier and see how it works!

The many benefits of Babywearing

2011-05-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Babywearing is an age old tradition spanning cultures worldwide. Not only are there huge emotional and physical bonds created through babywearing, the act of babywearing allows a parent or nurturer to provide for their own needs, the needs of their family and more while caring for their baby at the same time.

Babywearing is great for dads too! Once baby is accustomed to being "worn" you'll find that since daddies who may not have had an active role in feeding baby, if their breastfed, he can now create a close bond with the baby through babywearing.

Here are some other great benefits of babywearing:

The closeness and secure feeling provided by babywearing and keeping your baby close is great for those fussy, hard to console babies who seem like they never want to be put down.
Also perfect for babies or toddlers with special needs.
Great for when your little one is sick and needs constant affection and attention.
Keeps them cozy and allows them to sleep while being worn.
Perfect for breastfeeding. You can often nurse while wearing your baby, depending on the wrap or carrier used.
Ideal for when you have more than one baby, like twins, or when you have other children in the household that require your attention.
Eliminates the need for those bulky baby carseats that you'd otherwise need to place in your shopping cart, stroller, etc.
Many can be used through toddlerhood.
Each provide a variety of styles and methods for use. Different wrap styles, techniques, front carry, back carry, hip carry and more!

The list of benefits to babywearing is endless. It creates and builds a bond with your child while allowing you the freedom and mobility you need to take care of any other day to day activities and family needs.

Luvaboos has a great selection of babywraps, carriers, slings and more! Shop online or visit our store. Not sure which one is right for you? We can teach you the different techniques and help you choose the perfect baby carrier to suit your needs!

Winner of the BumGenius 4.0 Onesize Pocket Diaper Giveaway is...Comment # 238, Kristina S!

2011-05-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who entered our very first Blog Giveaway! It was a huge success and there will be many more giveaways to come.

According to Random.org the lucky winner was Comment #238 which is Kristina S! Kristina please check your email for a winners notification from us and to claim your prize.

SALE:
If you're interested in purchasing these great diapers, don't forget they are on sale through the end of the month, Buy 5 BumGenius 4.0 OS Diapers Get 1 Free! A great time to stock up and build your stash or buy for that little one who's on the way.

The plastic bag tax: Going green too extreme?

2011-05-12T09:31:00.000-07:00

Came across a really interesting blog post today, "My county Finally Did It! What About Yours? Our New Plastic Bag "Tax." This article brings to light the fact that over 1 trillion throwaway plastic bags were consumed worldwide in 2010.

If you've been to any grocery stores lately you've probably noticed that although plastic bags are being used, often they are overused. Cashiers have seemingly been instructed, only three canned goods each bag, don't put cleaners in with food, large items that shouldn't even require a bag get squeezed into a bag, and some items even justify double bagging.

Fifteen minutes later when you're at home unpacking your groceries it really hits you just how many disposable baggies you were the recipient of. You want to reuse some but often the opportunities for reuse is no where near the amount of baggies you have accumulated. Just purely for lack of space, most of these baggies get tossed and end up in the local landfill.

Many families in an attempt to "go green" have opted for reusable bags. Often kept in their car, they bring them in to the store with them when they shop and no longer require the use of the store's grocery bags. There is some effort involved in remembering to bring your bags in and in the initial investment of purchasing them, but in the long run you are better off for having used them.

Local municipalities are now exploring the use of bag "taxes" or fees related to the use of the non-reusable grocery/shopping bags. Would you agree to these? Imagine having a choice, bring your own bag or be charged .05 cents per plastic or single use bag that you leave with.

Would a nickel be enough to cause you to take action or is it just cheap enough that it would still be worth it to utilize the store's bags?

My thoughts are that if this tax were imposed where I live many people would begin to realize just how many bags they consume and that this would have a great impact on our unnecessary waste production.

What are your thoughts? Is this tax a good idea or a green concept that's gone too far? Would you pay the tax or begin using your own reusable bags?

Cloth Diapering Basics, What do you need?

2011-05-11T05:33:00.000-07:00

Cloth diapering really can be simple. Everyone can agree that there are a lot of choices, styles, brands and tons of accessories, but there really are basics and once you have them you'll be cloth diapering before you know it.

The 1, 2, 3 most basic things you'll need in order to get started with cloth are...

1. Cloth Diapers of course! You need to decide what type of diapers you'll want to use. Since we're talking about quick and easy cloth diapering in this blog post, getting the basics for cloth diapering without over-thinking or over-complicating things, we'll suggest you use One-Size Pocket Diapers.

One-Size Pocket Diapers generally are designed to fit babies from birth through potty-training. You change the entire diaper at diaper changes and replace with a clean one. The younger the baby the more diaper changes per day, the older the baby the less. So for little ones you can count on needing about 8-12 per day to be safe.

One-Size Pocket Diapers generally also come with two inserts each. You can use one insert when needed and for nap times and overnight add the second to make the diaper more absorbent.

2. A Pail Liner or Hanging Diaper Pail! Since you won't be tossing diapers in the trash after their used, you'll need a waterproof place to store them until laundry day. For tight living spaces, bathrooms, etc. a Hanging Doorknob Pail or Hanging Wetbag are recommended. For baby's room or places where you can fit your average kitchen garbage pail size diaper pail, a Diaper Pail Liner works perfectly.

Pail Liners and Wetbags can be washed with your diaper laundry. You might want to consider having two so that you'll have one to use while the other is washing.

3. Cloth Diaper Friendly Laundry Detergent! One of the first things anyone new to cloth diapering or considering cloth diapering should know is that you CAN NOT use fabric softener in the dryer or washer and you must make sure that your detergent is additive free. Many of today's laundry detergents contain brighteners, fragrances and built in fabric softeners that can coat your diapers causing them to leak and/or repel liquid and this can also lead to odor problems.

Free & Clear Detergents may work or you can purchase a cloth diaper friendly specialty detergent like Rockin' Green Soap, Tiny Bubbles, Thirsties and more.

And so those are the three basics of cloth diapering! All you need to get started, the rest can be left to decide upon after you've gotten the hang of the basics. So what do you think? Ready to give cloth a try?

Have you considered setting up a Luvaboos Gift Registry?

2011-05-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Luvaboos has an awesome Gift Registry? You can use our registry for your baby shower, birthday's or just for fun to create a wishlist for yourself.

We know it can be uncomfortable to ask for gifts but the truth is, people wouldn't buy you gifts if they didn't want to and with today's economy...they definitely don't want to think they're wasting money on gifts you don't need or want.

Do yourself, your family and your friends a favor by creating a registry. Registries help them shop with confidence knowing that they aren't buying you a duplicate gift, plus it gives them an idea of your tastes and preferences.

Since Luvaboos carries such a wide variety of baby and parenting items, you can register for everything from baby clothes to cloth diapers, high chairs to baby carriers, breast pumps and much more!

Also, the fact that Luvaboos has a website means that your friends and family can shop from home or out of state and either choose to have the gifts sent directly to you or to them.

So what are you waiting for? Setup your Gift Registry today!

Nursing Covers make the perfect gift for the New Mom-to-be!

2011-05-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing I know, it's that new moms can be a little shy when it comes to nursing in public. It's totally normal to want to be discreet and it's perfectly appropriate, especially when you consider that a new breastfeeding baby can be hard to latch on, squirmy, fussy, and require both your free hands. The last thing you'll have time to do is try and keep a blanket from falling off your shoulder or make sure your blouse is in just the right position.

That's where the Hooter Hiders and Bebe Au Lait Nursing Covers come in. They stay put and allow you to nurse comfortably in public without feeling uncomfortable or worrying that you're making anyone else uncomfortable.

You be able to use both hands, adjust your baby, your breasts, and even tandem nurse if needed without feeling exposed.

Nursing Covers are also great for those curious babies who are easily distracted from the breast. Being covered will help them feel cozy and secure and allow them a more comfortable and peaceful place to nurse. This is especially handy when you're trying to nurse baby to sleep.

Every mom should own at least one Nursing Cover and they also make the perfect gift for those new moms whom you just don't know what to buy.

They come in a variety of stylish prints and materials and are very affordable. Visit Luvaboos for a great in-stock selection or put one on your gift registry today!

How to pack a Cloth Diaper-Diaper Bag!

2011-05-07T05:28:00.000-07:00

Guest Post by Laura

There are many similarities between packing a cloth diaper bag and packing a disposable diaper bag. First, you will want to consider what will you be using the bag for? Will it be for just the basics, or will you be toting around a bag of cheerios, toys, a sippy cup, your wallet & keys, etc.? If you’re going to carry around a lot of those items, you’ll want to purchase a diaper bag with extra pockets. Mesh outer pockets work very well for bottles and sippy cups!

To start out, you will want a clean bag. If your diaper bag is lined with a polyester liner, I suggest wiping it out with a washcloth with some mild soap. Get out all the crumbs, receipts, gum wrappers, etc. If it is washable, go ahead and toss it into the wash! You won’t want to start out with a diaper bag that isn’t clean-trust me; you don’t want crumbs in your clean diapers! Once your bag is wiped out, or while it is in the wash, I suggest laying out the items that are on the “must-have” list. I like to lay them on top of my bed, this gives me plenty of surface area to see what I have, and it is high enough that my toddler can’t reach everything and throw it onto the floor.

The Basics: What’s the number 1 most important item?

Diapers, of course! Most newborns use 8 to 10 diapers per day, but as they get older that number can decrease to 4 to 6. My 7 month old is exclusively breastfed, and she uses 6 diapers a day, on average. I always have a minimum of 3 diapers when I leave the house, that’s half a day’s supply for her. Try to figure out how many hours you will be gone. Then, count how many diapers your baby will normally use in that amount of time. It’s a good idea to add 2 extras just incase! **This is why I recommend having extras: When my first daughter was only 4 months old, she was exclusively breastfed and we were using disposables on her (we didn’t make the switch to cloth until our 3rd daughter was born). We went out to eat with my family to celebrate my birthday and my sister’s birthday. As soon as we sat down, she went poop in her diaper. I told my husband to order my drink, went to the restroom and changed her diaper. When I got back, and as soon as I sat her down, she went poop again. This time, my husband said he’d take care of it. Well, I am so grateful he did! We got our drinks and ordered our meals. Our meals were about to arrive and I sent my brother in law to the men’s room to check on my husband. It had been over 20 minutes and I was getting concerned. 10 minutes after my brother in law arrived back from the restroom, my husband returned to the table. Our daughter went through 7 more diapers (for a total of 8 changes), pooping enough to fill each one of them up and make a mess of the changing table! So, although these instances don’t happen often, they DO happen.

Wipes- whether you’re using disposable or cloth wipes, these are another must-have. When I’m out of the house, I use disposable. I am in the transition of starting to use cloth wipes and finding a routine that works for us. For disposable, I use a travel-sized wipes container full of wipes. If you’re using cloth, average the number of wipes you’d use for the amount of time you’re gone, and add a few extras. You can either wet them with plain water before you pack them into your wipes container, or you can soak them in a store-bought, or homemade wipes solution. The only problem is that depending on how often you use the wipes that are in your diaper bag, they tend to dry out before they’re used, wasting the wipes solution you’ve used. I recommend wetting them with water before packing them into your bag, and if you use a wipe solution, put that into a spray bottle. That will help to minimize wasting your solution.

Wet Bag-These are so important to have. You won’t want to stick a yucky diaper down in the bottom of your bag, only to have it stink up your bag and all of your clean diapers. I have a small wet bag that is recommended for 3-4 diapers. I can fit 5 in it (and I use pocket diapers). You’ll want one that closes securely and has a good waterproof layer to it. If you are in a pinch, you can always re-use a plastic grocery bag.

Changing pad whether you use cloth or disposable, you’ll need a good changing pad that’s easy to wipe down and sanitize. These will protect your baby from unwanted bacteria and germs, along with protecting the table (and other babies) from your baby’s germs-and potential diaper blowouts! Consider purchasing one that’s able to be put in the wash right along with your cloth diapers.

An extra shirt for mom/dad it’s nice to have one of these, especially for formal occasions. You can change out the spare shirt before each outing if you’d like, or pack one that matches most of your wardrobe. You never know when your baby’s diaper might overflow with poo, or when your baby might vomit. You’ll be relieved to have a clean shirt to change into should this ever occur!

An extra outfit (or two) for baby just as it would be nice for you to change if your shirt got wet due to an accident, your baby would appreciate having a clean set of clothes to change into. My favorite ones to pack are the one-piece outfits. No need to match up shirts and pants/ shorts! A couple pairs of socks, and an extra hat are good to have on hand as well.

Burp rag Always a must-have. If you use a prefold for burp rags, they can double as a diaper, and even a changing pad should you forget to pack yours!

Once your diaper bag is clean and dry, neatly place the items in the bag. I like to start by putting in the items I’m least likely to use first. So I would start with a shirt for mom/dad, then the extra outfit for baby. The burp rag would go next on top of that. I would stack each item on top of eachother, then place that stack inside the diaper bag. I like to put my diapers in so I can see the crotch of the diaper sticking up. Some people prefer to stack them one on top of the other, but this is just my preferred method. On the outside edge ot the bag, I place the plastic wipes container and my neatly folded wetbag.

Those are the very basics of packing a cloth diaper bag. Of course, depending on the number of children you have, you may have to add more diapers or cloth training pants (as I do). Depending on the age of your baby/children, you may want a sippy cup, bottle, bib, toys, or snacks. Outside pockets are great for these items! I make great use out of the outside pockets on our diaper bags!

Laura’s Bio: Laura is a wife and stay-at-home mother to her 3 daughters. She enjoys cloth diapering, bike riding, reading, walking, and arts & crafts.