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

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! 

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Luvaboos Instructor Interview with Linda!

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

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Luvaboos Instructor Interview with Emily!

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/

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Two Steps Forward...

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.

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

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!

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

 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!

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

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!

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