happy new year!

happy new year's everyone! we're staying in tonight...becca & her family are coming over and we're putting the kids to bed at our place. we have a full menu of extremely unhealthy appetizers, followed by a bernard callebaut chocolate fondue...makes me think about setting new year's resolutions.

i don't know if i ever have ever set a new year's resolution for myself. i do set goals often throughout the year, but it seems that most of those goals are not related to my well being. i am thinking this year is the year to get a few things back on track. i don't want to be unrealistic and say that i am going to get up at 5am every morning (like i used to pre-ryan) and go to the gym. i think i would like to take up yoga...a little r&r for my brain! i am too darn wound up all the time...don't tell my husband that i am admitting that! anyone know of a great (beginners) yoga class? it has to be somewhat challenging or you will lose me after the first class. it also has to be in the evening. let me know if you have anything to recommend. i also want to drink more water...i know, lame right? but it's true...i used to drink 12 glasses a day, now i drink an average of 3 (i'm drinking water right now...although i know the martini chasers are on the way!). fresh start tomorrow!

anyway, i just want to say happy new year and thank you to all who read the blog and support our store!

here's to an amazing year ahead!

cheers,
j

getting out!

we had a fabulous dinner out last night. the time flew by and the next thing we knew we had been sitting for 3 hours (enjoying adult conversation!). i had to admit though that i was quite disappointed with our server. i don't want to bad mouth the restaurant on my blog, but when we asked him to split our bill for us (there were 9 of us), his response was that he could do it, but it would take him 15 minutes...he sounded so inconvenienced and was rude about it...i'm pretty sure we won't be back to that restaurant- there are many other great ones in saskatoon that i would prefer to dine at. anyway, it was nice to get out. ryan loves having the babysitter to play with and layla slept the entire time (she even slept in for me this morning!).

so, we had a huge breakthrough yesterday. layla took her first bottle from me. it is actually stressing me out quite a bit. she doesn't always take a bottle and now that we are introducing formula, she is being even more particular about when she'll take it. we are heading to toronto in a few weeks for a trade show and perry & the girls are coming (his brother lives in TO). layla has to take the bottle regularly by then because i will be busy. i am sure things will work out as they always seem to, but it's just one more thing to think about.

i know it's long overdue, but i thought i would post a few pics from our staff party (hopefully you'r reading, kristan!).

j

off to use my gift certificate from the cravings gals for an anti-stress massage this morning...SOOOOOOOOO looking forward to it!!!

sophie

one more thing i forgot to mention...last week's US weekly magazine, page 1...nicole richie and daughter, harlow, holding on to sophie the giraffe. sold at cravings! check it out...

http://www.sophiegiraffe.ca/

layla absolutely loves hers...one of the only things she will actually chew on while she is teething! oh, also forgot to mention, she has 4 teeth now!!

have a good one
j

SLEEP!

super busy day at the store yesterday, which was great! i apologize to those of you that had to try on maternity clothing in the washroom. we promise this won't happen in our new space!! i went to bed at 7:45 last night...i got 10 1/2 hours of sleep! that is the earliest i have gone to bed since i can remember. i obviously needed it. my body just doesn't seem to handle too much of waking up at 6am and working until midnite every night...and kids & running around in between! today is a new day. perry is working and then has hockey so i can't go in to work...a good excuse for a day away!

tomorrow is full force ahead with our leasehold improvements! can't wait for the paint and to get rid of that hospital green they had going on in there. can't believe we're almost in january and our move is fast approaching...lots of work ahead! we have ordered quite a few new lines for the new store- super excited for the expansion and to mix things up a bit!

anyway, off to watch hannah montana (ryan's new favorite show) and then i think we'll head to the book store...in a few hours when it opens!

have a great day!
j

happy boxing day!

well, my boxing day shopping was anti-climactic. i really didn't find much...maybe i just wasn't in the mood shop today (very unlike me!). i went early this morning and then enjoyed the rest of the day with perry home. i even managed to get a nap in- something i haven't done in months.

the store is open tomorrow from 12-4 so i will be there. it'll be nice to get a few hours in during the day instead of at night. i've been working pretty much every night that perry doesn't work and i find it so much more difficult after taking care of the kids all day, cooking, bathing, bed time...and then work begins...despite the fact that i'm not at the store during the day, i am still managing to put in some good hours....just not much "me" time right now. it is worth it though. i still feel that layla is too little for daycare. i'll probably start layla mid-late february. we'll start with one day a week and work up from there. it'll be good timing with the new store opening.

anyway, off to relax and enjoy a quiet evening at home

j

a very long day

when you don't celebrate christmas there isn't much to do on the 25th. i have both kids tomorrow and perry is at work. he works every christmas to give those that celebrate the holiday the time off. for me it means a LONG day of nothing! we'll probably go to shoppers at some point for an "outting"! i've been going with ryan every year just get out of the house. layla's turn to share in the tradition! we rented a few movies as well so that will help. i'm not sure why tomorrow seems longer than any other day of the year???...maybe because boxing day can't come soon enough! i am a HUGE boxing day shopper. i haven't done too much damage since ryan was born and we stopped going back to alberta over the holidays. one of my best friends in calgary and i would go every year...we even had a system in place for the stores that had hour long line-ups. i'm not scared of the crowds, in fact i would probably say it makes it more fun for me! i am going to venture out for a bit on the 26th (sans kids) to see what i can find and maybe use a few gift certificates!

well, i wish you all a merry christmas...i am sure you won't be bored tomorrow!

j

cooking & baking

thought i would write quickly while perry & ryan get groceries, layla is sleeping and i am enjoying my first cup of coffee of the morning (one of my favorite things). i have a full day ahead of me- cooking & baking. tonight is the first night of chanukah. we are off to becca's place, which relieves me of cooking a big meal (thanks becca!). i am not, however, dismissed from making potato latkes and for some odd reason, i feel like making challah (bread). maybe it's the weather? i figure if i'm spending the entire day in the kitchen, i might as well make a real mess! i am actually looking forward to it and ryan is super excited to help me...we'll see how long that lasts!

aside from that, everything is going well at the new space! our flooring should be arriving at the beginning of january- we were a bit worried about that. just need to find a bathroom light fixture, a few mirrors and a couple more display tables (so excited to have so much more space!). becca and i have spent quite a bit of time seeking out some great new lines and have placed numerous orders over the past couple weeks. i don't want to give it all away now so watch your inbox for announcements over the next month or so!

i'm off to download pictures from our staff party...apparently a few people are waiting to see them!

have a great day and happy chanukah!

j

thanks so much to all of you who participated in this year's C95 food bank challenge. C95 filled a city bus (plus several other vehicles) with food on thursday at the co-op on 8th street! it is so great to see the generosity of people in our community!

here at cravings we will be collecting non-perishable food items and cash donations until the end of the month. we will be making the draw for a $100 cravings gift certificate on december 31st.

http://www.c95.com/c95-christmas-food-bank-challenge

staff party

last night was our annual staff holiday party. we had a great time at Wild Serendipity. we made holiday appetizers under the instruction of the owner, michelle, and was quite relieved that she did most of the work while we chatted away! so nice to get together socially instead of at a staff meeting...although we always seem to have a good time no matter what setting we are in. becca and i are so lucky to have a great team working with us. it's going to make the transition to our new & improved space to much easier.

http://www.wildserendipity.com/

we actually took the staff on a tour of our new spac last night and it was great to see the excitement on their faces as they walked in and saw how much more space we will have...kristan and lindsay (our "warehouse gals") were also pumped about our dedicated space for receiving merchandise and the abundance of onsite storage! we've been renting an off site storage facility for about a year and now it's full too! we'll have plenty of space to store everything and becca won't have to make trips to storage anymore!

anyway, gotta run (layla woke up). i will post pictures of our party when i get them off my camera!

have a good night!
j

monte chair & belle carrier

i forgot to mention, two products that we carry at cravings were featured in this week's Star magazine (yes, i love my gossip magazines!)

the monte glider & ottoman

www.montedesign.net

belle baby carrier

www.bellebabycarriers.com

have a good one!
j

drywall!

so excited to see drywall up this morning! i found becca at the space and we marked out where all our light fixtures will be. hopefully we've got it right! first thing she said to me was, "look at our office!" clearly we are excited about this new space, but not sure if we are as excited as our bookkeeper, heather, who has to work in our small hole and can't stand enclosed spaces! sorry heather- you will have your own desk soon!!

not sure what else is happening this week besides electrical and drywall, but i think some painting is scheduled for next week!

excited about our staff party tonight! we haven't told our staff what we're doing yet...we like surprises...but will let you know all about it tomorrow!

off to have a latte and keep warm!

j

pictures!

well, spent another few hours at the new space yesterday finalizing electrical and watching the progress! framing is done and we are so excited as we imagine how the space will be transformed in to our beautiful new store! i think rebecca and i are most excited about having our own office...we are currently sitting in a 2'X 5' space and it is not unlikely that a box or two will fall on our heads! our new office will accommodate 2 desks, book shelves, even a separate spot for our printer/fax! we are moving up! i have to say there are quite a few details that i am excited about, but i can't reveal it all on here...we need you to come and see for yourself when we open!

here are a few pictures....some from the first time we looked at the space (as you can see it used to be storage for another business) and others more recent since construction (below). after this, it'll all be left up to your imagination. but don't worry it won't be long, we plan to open in february!

have a great weekend!

j

our amazing staff...after our amazing holiday shopping party!

from left to right: lindsay, nicole, kaeli, meredith, kristan

becca, allison, me (jordana)

was at our new space today!! becca and i could have stayed there all day watching the progress. it is gutted now and the framing has started. framing should be done by monday and the walls will start going up! so exciting!! it seems like yesterday that we were doing this at preston centre, but at the same time we've grown so much over the last 3 years. the batteries in my camera were dead so i didn't get any pictures of the space today...but will tomorrow!

j

NEWS, NEWS, NEWS!!!

ok, i can't feel my feet. our holiday shopping party was a HUGE success!! there were people pulling on our door a half hour before we opened as we were rushing around trying to get things organized! the last person left at 9pm and was gracious enough to take our first staff picture before we closed our doors. i worked the till and didn't get a break until about 20 minutes before we closed. thank you, thank you, thank you to our customers for your continued support!

...and our other EXCITING NEWS...WE ARE EXPANDING!!!!! due to move in february 2009 to our new and improved and much larger location!!! no more walking down the aisles sideways, you can wheel your stroller around no problem, there is plenty of parking!!!! we are so excited for this move and have many new and exciting lines to showcase! oh, i guess i should mention where we're going...we are going to be located in the grosvernor park shopping centre, 2 bays down from the Real Canadian Wholesale Club...3000 sq ft!!!

i'm off...so exhausted from tonight...gotta toughen my feet up in heels again! will post our staff picture when i get it off becca's camera!

good night
j

more projects

really looking forward to our holiday shopping party! i guess the word is getting out as we've been getting phone calls from people asking to be added to our database. don't worry, we'll be clearing some stuff out of our store so you can actually move around!

another busy day of running around. will fill you after our big announcement! rebecca and i are obviously project junkies! i guess having a baby, selling our house and building a new house in one year wasn't enough for me!

just waiting for layla to wake from her nap so we can get going. did i mention tooth #2 has almost come through! she's been so good with it...just like her big sis was...

j

those of you that receive our emails know that our shopping party is fast approaching!! we've decided to announce our news at our party so hope to see you there!

we had a great night out on friday. i had 2 glasses of wine and felt hungover the next morning. is that possible? anyway, great food, great friends, great time! perry and i have said that we really need to make a point of going out a couple times a month...for sanity's sake! ryan loves the babysitter so that makes it easy and layla was asleep before we even left...

i am completely exhausted from the party friday and then work last night...i think becca and i finally left around midnite. layla is getting another tooth and was up at 4am...PERFECT!!! funny how they know when you REALLY need to get sleep. at least she went back to sleep relatively quickly and didn't get up until 7am.

gotta get to bed at a decent hour tonight...busy, busy, busy day tomorrow!

have a good night
j

EXCITING NEWS!!!

....but it's a secret and i can't tell you...not yet anyway...and NO i am not pregnant!! if you want to find out what the exciting news is, make sure you receive our emails. if you would like to sign up, go to

www.cravingsmaternityandbaby.com

....our VIP members will be the first to know!

j

not "work"

stopped by the store today for a meeting and it was so nice to see so many familiar faces. i truly miss the socializing in the store. it seemed like one after another, people came in that had had babies that i didn't know about or people brought their babies in and the last time i saw them, they were pregnant. i love getting to know all the people that shop in our store. it is one thing that makes my job so great.

i got an email from a friend today that said she could not imagine being back at work yet (her daughter is 4 days younger than layla). all i could think about is that cravings is not "work". don't get me wrong, life is chaotic right now, but i love what i do.

on another note, i am getting very excited for friday. perry has his staff x-mas party and it will be our first night out since layla was born! will be so nice to get dressed up and have somewhere to go!

j

holiday shopping party!!!

another weekend has passed...seriously where does the time go? it's december 1st tomorrow! our holiday shopping party is approaching so make sure to check your inbox for the announcement. as a thank you to our customers for truly an amazing year, we will be having our BIGGEST SALE EVER! if you don't receive our newsletters, sign up now as we will be sending out a little something extra to our VIP members!

you can sign up on our website:
http://www.cravingsmaternityandbaby.com/

also wanted to let you know that for the month of december, we are participating in the C95 Food Bank Challenge! bring in a non-perishable food item or make a cash donation and enter your name to win a cravings gift certificate!!

well, it's time to bathe ryan and get her off to bed...desperate housewives & brothers and sisters tonight!!

j

a tooth!

layla got her first tooth! i couldn't believe it. she's only 4 1/2 months afterall. she seems a bit cranky (who wouldn't be), but it hasn't seemed to affect her sleep...keeping my fingers crossed. she just seems so little to be getting teeth already...they grow up so fast!

staying home tonight...first night this week without working...ok, i take that back. i spent a couple of hours doing payroll tonight. it was my first time doing it, but everything seemed to work out fine. it's nice becuz i can do it at home. i'll be heading to work tomorrow for a couple of hours as well. i'm sure staff would like to get their cheques!

so, i was thinking, i'm not sure if we've ever advertised that we carry Matt & Nat handbags. sorry, the diaper bags have all sold (we'll bring in tonnes more for spring/summer), but we also carry their handbags. Matt & Nat have downsized the number of stores that carry their bags in saskatoon so we feel privileged to be one of those retailers.

www.mattandnat.com

well, that's it for tonight. i am so darn tired...now that the kids are asleep, i am going to have a glass of red and sit in front of the tv!

j

busy, busy

well, layla got her shots and although she doesn't seem 100%, she doesn't seem to have a fever. she is in the 50th percentile for weight & height...a far cry from being in the 98th percentile when she was born...although she did weigh over 9 lbs at birth!

after her shots, becca and i had a meeting and then we attended the Rawlco Radio x-mas party. had a great time...always nice to network with other business owners. then it was off to work! by the time i got home, i was completely exhausted. layla slept in until 7 am this morning so i got some extra sleep which was nice. the next month or so are going to be busy, busy with shopping parties, staff parties, etc etc.

the store has also been busy, busy and once again, we are looking for a sales associate! if you are outgoing, energetic and dependable, please drop off your resume in person to Rebecca. can't believe we could have a staff of 10 some time soon...is that possible??? seems unreal to me!

today is going to be more low key. the girls and i went shopping for gifts for the kids at an inner city pre-school. ryan was very excited to pick out the gifts for other little girls (pretty much all princess stuff!) and i had a great time teaching her about helping others. we've watched the biggest loser ( a favorite show of ours) and now i've got to come up with this afternoon's activities because i don't feel like leaving the house again.

have a great day!
j

nothing to watch

i was so looking forward to sitting on the couch and watching tv, but the usual shows aren't on this week becuz of thanksgiving...such a disappointment. so instead i thought i would do a quick blog and work on some stuff for our next staff meeting. i remember our first "staff meeting"...there were 3 of us...now there are 8! crazy how much we've grown in 2 1/2 years!!

so, tomorrow layla goes for her 4 month immunizations. a little late but i had to arrange it when perry is post call so he can go in with her. again, i will be the trembling "baby" in the waiting room! i REALLY don't like needles and it's my husband's specialty! i'm just hoping she doesn't spike a fever this time. it really makes me nervous. i am anxious to see how much she weighs now. i have a feeling that she's about the same as ryan at this age...and ryan was 2 1/2 pounds lighter at birth! i think layla started out bigger but i'm not sure that she's grown at the same rate as ryan did...thank goodness! anyway, will look forward to having that over with.

also have the rawlco radio christmas party tomorrow evening. that means i don't have to cook dinner and i get to leave perry with both kids!! love it!

this time of year sure gets busy. watch out for an announcement about our annual holiday shopping party at cravings! check out our website at www.cravingsmaternityandbaby.com or wait for a special invite if you are a member of our VIP club and receive our emails. we might actually have a little something extra for our members this year!

have a good night!

j

jessica & honor

looks like jessica alba's daughter, honor, has been photographed with two more items that we carry at cravings. check out in touch magazine, page 45. honor is shown wearing organic cotton socks from baberoo. they are super cute and come in a variety of colors and patterns!

http://www.baberoo.com/

jessica was also carrying honor's soothie pacifier. cravings carries them in 2-packs now!

http://soothie.respironics.com/

back to reading star gossip!

j

i've decided i should just stay home! i was feeling house bound becuz i have been sick for the past few days so layla and i went shopping...and i bought an area rug! i mean when does this end?! decorating and furnishing a house has become an addiction for me! i see how nice one room looks completed and i want to do it all! perry, on the other hand, does not feel this way! don't get me wrong, he loves the way things look, but he definitely doesn't feel the sense of urgency that i do to get it all done!

aside from that, i am feeling better...still coughing like crazy though. i have high hopes for a strong return to work this week. i'm ready to tackle the next stack of papers!

not much else happening this weekend. i think i might finish my holiday shopping tomorrow at our store. i think i've decided to get layla the monte love seat to match the chair i bought ryan...it will make such a cute little seating area in the girls' toy room!

www.montedesign.net

oh, i also wanted to mention a new line of boy's clothing that we are carrying

www.knuckleheadsclothing.com

"almost" makes me want to try for baby #3! we do carry the skivvies for girls though and they are soooo adorable...definitely a must-have for the girls!

have a good weekend!
j

the flu

so much for a balanced life! i have come down with the flu. guess it's my body's way of telling me to slow down. i just got so excited that i was accomplishing something at the store that i kept going back for more! well, today is going to be a lazy day for me...no plans to get out of pj's today!

perry just came home from picking up our new end tables! very exciting to see our house transform with our new furnishings. the end tables are too heavy for me to pull out of the boxes so i'll have to wait until perry gets home to see what they look like. now i'm just waiting for my sofas.

oh, i wanted to mention, did anyone read US Weekly this week? On page 28, you will see Jessica Alba wearing a Belle Baby Carrier and on page 29, you will see Dennis Quaid and his wife strolling their twins in Phil & Ted's strollers- obviously both amazing products we carry!!

check them out

www.philandteds.com
www.bellebabycarriers.com

or visit out website

www.cravingsmaternityandbaby.com

j

good to be back

well, i've been back to work for a week now...a few hours here, a few hours there. feels like i'm training my brain again! it's all good. just re-affirms for me that opening my own business was the right decision. i love being with my kids, but i also love being at the store- it's all about the balance and that's what my ultimate goal is.

errands today, exercise while the babe is napping, maybe a little shopping (probably shouldn't!)...work later...

enjoy the day!

J

first day back at work!

well, layla is now 4 months and i returned to work last night...a glorious 4 hours of paperwork! it felt good to use my brain in that way again, but i came home so exhausted from a full day of kids, exercise, cooking dinner, tidying the house, etc...and then work...this should be interesting!! these full days will last until layla is older and i start taking her to daycare. until then, i will be a walking zombie!

still in my pj's this morning and think we'll stay that way for awhile! i was supposed to go in to work today because perry was going to be home...well, he's now working so i'll head in there when he gets home. i think we might make a trip to michael's...ryan loves doing crafts. i bought her some paints and canvasses and she painted a couple of pictures! i love them! i'm going to hang them in our hallway upstairs. they are abstract pictures of nothing- which is what i like- and in bright colors which will looks great against the white walls. put frames around them and you'd never know they were painted by a 3 year old! it kept her busy for 45 minutes which was also an achievement!

gotta run...layla just woke from her first nap!

j

weekend getaway

just got back from our overnight weekend getaway to our family cabin at candle lake. we had a relaxing 24 hour mini-vacation with our boys and my parents. watched 3 movies, ate lots of junk, played hide and seek, built cool space ships with lego, cozied up in blankets and sat around the fire - what a nice break from our usual go, go, go. noah has tomorrow and tuesday off school, so he ended up staying one more day with my parents. our car ride home with just adam was a bit stressful - he doesn't like traveling and tends to scream a lot! but we're home now, and he's sleeping happily in his crib. good night!
R.

ready for work!?!

thought i would write quickly while i am waiting for layla to wake for her next feed. my babe is 3 1/2 months already and my return to work is approaching. the time has just flown by, although so much has happened since she was born. i am looking forward to tackling the paperwork and helping becca climb out from behind the back log! i am not however, looking forward to juggling life with 2 kids, work, decorating our new house, finding time for myself, etc, etc. this will be yet another challenge...but one i think i am "ready" for!

our house is coming along one room at a time. so many loose ends are being tied up which is really nice. had no idea how much work there would be after we moved in. this was our first build and an eye opener. i am not one for waiting (on anything) so i am anxious to have everything just so. we are off to the furniture show in january so i am hoping to find some great pieces for my dining room (one room i haven't done a thing with yet). i always seem to have a project (or 2 or 3) on the go! hope to have more project announcements soon!

j

breast pump rentals

cravings is an official MEDELA BREAST PUMP RENTAL STATION (and has been for a couple years). but the new news is that we have expanded our rental station. we currently have 4 hospital-grade breast pumps in-stock and available to rent (as of today, october 29th). with the mini baby boom that's going on in the city, i know it has been very difficult for people to find rental pumps - hopefully this will help!!

we won!!

still seems crazy that we actually won the ABEX award for service this past weekend in regina. i'm still not quite rested up - i'm much too old to stay up sooooo late!!

just wanted to send out a big congrats to ali, russ & big brother jamie on the arrival of another boy - charlie. he weighed a whopping 9lbs10oz!! what's with all these huge babies?!?!?!

ABEX award for SERVICE

WE WON!!!! i woke up this morning wondering if it was a dream! becca and i went to the ABEX awards gala in regina last night and we won the award for service! there were over 800 people who attended and the award finalists included business people from all over saskatchewan. what an honour to be recognized by the saskatoon and provincial business communities!!

aside from being on a high from winning, i feel like crap becuz we didn't get back to saskatoon until 2:30am! layla finally took to a bottle so both girls stayed with perry last night. i had to wake at 7am to feed layla this morning but went back to bed at 8am until she woke again at 10am. i'm feeling much better after that little nap, but am keeping my fingers crossed that perry will feel some compassion and will let me go back to bed!

j

lazy days

this was one of the laziest weekends i've had in years! although i feel gross (no shower today), it was a nice change from our usual chaos! my wonderful husband gave me break both saturday and sunday - i stayed in bed until after 10:30am both mornings, and i even took afternoon naps with the kids! i accomplished very little, which would normally frustrate me, but we definitely needed a couch-potato weekend!! with me working everyday and noah, my 5 year old, going to kindergarten every morning, it seems like we are always rushing around. i think most parents, especially mothers, find their lives flashing before their eyes. our kids are always busy with extracurricular activities and play dates, every minute from the time we wake up until bedtime seems to be scheduled! once in a while, it is great to stay in pjs all day and do nothing but hang out!
R.

sleeping beauty

good morning (er, afternoon!),

i am still in my pyjamas and am loving it! there is something to be said for sitting around all day and doing nothing! well, i guess i haven't done nothing. i made pancakes this morning, have done a few loads of laundry, emptied the dishwasher, etc, etc but i love the feel of this lazy day.

i am actually feeling quite refreshed after my "sleeping beauty" (nickname ryan gave layla) slept for 12 hours again last night!!! that's 4 nights in a row now! i was determined not to make the same mistakes that i did with ryan (rocking her to sleep and so on). i actually consulted a sleep specialist to help me with ryan and i used her techniques with layla from day one...and it looks like it's paid off! it's definitely not for everyone, but for those of you at your wits end that are feeling desperate for a good night's sleep, it is worth looking in to.

i am off to do some more "lazy day" activities. i really want to hang at least one picture today!!

have a good one,
j

foogo back in stock

foogo sippy cups and straw bottles are back in stock!

buying shows and babies don't mix

well, we just got back from edmonton last night. we purchased our maternity clothes for spring/summer 2009! there are SO MANY great pieces- especially the dresses! that took all of saturday. layla was with me in the morning so i got my workout....bouncing and walking around in circles for 3 1/2 hours. she does not sleep outside of her crib. it really makes things difficult. she does, however, nap really well in her crib which makes me very happy. after the trade show, we went to west edmonton mall. i went a little crazy. purchased up a storm at H & M. nicest surprise of all was the handbag that my hubby bought me! i kinda mentioned that i liked it a thousand times....just enough to persuade him that i should have it!! sunday, rebecca and i went to ikea and the big kids (all of them!) went back to the mall. now ikea was a gong show. both of our kids decided it was a good time to throw fits. layla was crying so hard from being overtired and was literally purple from crying. don't you just love it when every single person stares you down like you are purposefully torturing your kid. adam (rebecca's youngest) also decided he wasn't in the mood for shopping and was having a few fits of his own. i am SO GLAD no one knew us there! i am sure we aged 10 years in the 2 hours we were there! overall, the weekend went better than i thought it would and it was nice to get away!

just keep thinking of next year in vegas for the ABC Show with NO KIDS!!!

j
j

C95 radio marathon for breast cancer research

during the entire month of october, cravings will be donating a portion of every sale to the c95 radio marathon for breast cancer research! plus, we will be collecting toonies for the c95rmfbcr - with every $2 donated, enter to win a cravings gift certificate!!

new petunia bags are here

oh my goodness! we just got our shipment of PETUNIA PICKLE BOTTOM diaper bags and they're all sooooo gorgeous! my husband may shoot me if i bring another diaper bag home, but i need one! it will be difficult to choose just one though! their signature chinese brocades & chenilles are to die for and the new glazed fabrics are also beautiful - and easy to clean! come in and check them out!
R.

new arrivals

lots of new stuff coming in! this week's arrivals include: skip*hop diaper bags & accessories (including the long awaited "BIN-GO"), spanx, the belly bandit, 2-pack soothies pacifiers, nummies bras and more!! come in and check it out!
R.

introducing GAVIN WALTER

just wanted to update everyone on robin's baby. his name is GAVIN WALTER and he was born on friday, september 19th at 5:05pm. i actually had the opportunity and honour to be there when he was born - what an amazing experience (so glad it wasn't me this time)!!! they got home from the hospital this evening and they seem to be settling in quite well. we'll see when their lack of sleep sets in! i can't wait until little gav is big enough for me to spoil him like crazy - and then send him home - oh, the benefits of being the auntie (and not the mom)!

the photo is of gavin sleeping in his miracle blanket . . . zzzzzzzzzzz!!

R.

time for a nap

took layla for her shots yesterday. she seems to have come down with a cold and had a fever last night. needless to say, we didn't have a good night...she was SO CLOSE to sleeping through the night and last night seemed like we were back at square one. someone please tell me she is going to feel better and her normal sleep patterns will return!! shots never phased ryan...she never reacted, her sleep was not affected...i wasn't prepared for this!

anyway, both kids are down for naps and i only have one contractor left in my house (had 5 at one point) so i am going to try and get a nap in myself!

j

another cravings baby

just wanted to let eveyone know that robin had a baby boy today...name unknown at this time! mom and babe are doing well!

not looking forward to first shots

we are off to get layla's first shots today. i'm dreading it. perry is post-call so he's going to take her in...i can't even get my own shots without crying...how could i possibly hold my baby while she gets hers? i'll sit in the waiting room on the verge of puking while i listen for her screams...augh...

i hope layla feels ok tonight...i am actually off to get my haircut this evening. i booked it for 8:15 as her last feed seems to be around 8 or so...will have to make it a bit earlier tonight. i am SO excited to get my hair cut- it needs it so bad. i think i'm going to have to resort to purchasing hair dye in a box and do it myself cuz i definitely can't get away for 2+ hours yet. we haven't introduced a bottle yet, but i am thinking we should soon- especially with the awards coming up in regina. maybe this weekend...

anyway, off to get ready for the day- have a good one!

j

new clothing at cravings

lots of great new clothing is arriving every day! this week, we got shipments from mexx (baby & toddler), olian & ripe (maternity). all of it is fantastic!! i actually bought adam, my little guy, every single piece from the mexx collection!
a gal came in today and was trying on quite a bit of our new maternity clothing - all of it is sooooo gorgeous. i'm always excited when customers don't mind giving us a mini fashion show! come in and check out all the new stuff - you won't be disappointed!
R.

ABEX award finalists

becca beat me to it...was going to announce that we are an ABEX award finalist! what an honour! now i'm just going to have to figure out how to make it to the awards ceremony when my husband is on call friday and sunday (awards are saturday) and i'm breastfeeding. hmmm...this wouldn't be such a difficult thing to figure out if my little princess would sleep when we're out. i just don't think i'll be able to bounce her around for 3-4 hours during the ceremony! i'm keeping my fingers crossed that he'll be able to find someone to cover sunday's shift...or at least a couple hours of it in the morning so we can stay the night in regina.

anyway, we'll figure it out and for now i'll just focus on this achievement!!

j

SERVICE award finalists

wow! we just got word that cravings is a finalist for the ABEX award for service - the saskatchewan chamber of commerces' business awards. the awards galla is on october 25th, in regina. wish us luck!!
R.

time flies...

wow- another week has passed. seriously where does the time go? becca is back from vegas and now we have 2 weeks to recover before we are off to purchase our spring & summer maternity clothes. we're bringing the families with us this next trip...should be an interesting time!

so we celebrated nicole's 1 year anniversary with cravings today. seems like yesterday that she started with us. we are so fortunate to have her and the rest of our amazing cravings team! it was a nice excuse to enjoy some sweets and visit the store.

speaking of the store, have you checked our new arrivals? blu has some adorable pieces! i picked up the cutest sleeper for layla and an outfit for ryan. this collection goes up to size 4! of course it didn't stop there, also bought a jj cole urban bundle me in hot pink. they are too cute and with fall/winter right around the corner, i purchased now!

http://www.jjcoleusa.com/


j

back from vegas

just got back from vegas - am i ever exhausted!! i did two 9 hour days of shopping around for baby stuff. (i wish i would have worn one of those pedometer things to see how far i walked - judging by the blisters on my feet, i walked a LONG way)! it is amazing to see all the new inovative products out there for babies & toddlers! exibitors included huge big-box companies like fisher price and graco, but also included small mompreneurs showing off the products they created from home. booths ranged in size from a 10 x 10 area to ones that were bigger than our entire store! what an experience!! it was a bit more stressful having to make decisions without the other part of my brain (jordana), but i seemed to manage! i can't wait for next year when the two of us can "do vegas" again together (and without any babies)!!! you will be able to see some of the new products i found starting in the next couple of weeks, while others will be arriving at a later date and into the new year!
R.

the products i love

sorry, it's been awhile. becca and i were at a trade show all weekend in saskatoon and as you see, she is now off in vegas (so sad i couldn't be there). this is always an exciting (and exhausting) time- buying for the next season.

so, layla is 2 months tomorrow! ryan asked if we could get layla a princess cake for her birthday tomorrow- so cute! i seriously don't know where the time has gone. i can't believe it's been 2 months already. i'm still exhausted and one day seems to blend in to the next...so i know i'm not ready to get back to work yet! it did feel good to get out this weekend and use a little bit of my brain that is functioning though. i couldn't tell you what we ordered for next season, but i had fun!

wanted to tell you about a few great products that i have been making use of...the hooter hider is a MUST if you are breastfeeding. i LOVE it! http://www.bebeaulait.com/ i also made great use out of my new mei tai carrier by babyhawk. very comfy and fashionable at the same time! http://www.babyhawk.com/

j

ABC kids expo

hi from vegas!! i'm just waiting outside the doors to get into the biggest baby show in the world! i've quickly looked over the show guide and it looks like there are thousands of booths - i'm glad my shoes are comfortable! this year, i'm here all by myself ( jordana wasn't quite ready to "do" vegas yet). my main goal is to order new product from our current accounts, but i'm also on the lookout for some amazing new things as well. wish me luck - i will keep you posted!
R.

there sure is a lot of stuff at cravings!!

i can't beleive how much stuff we have crammed into our cozy 1215 square foot boutique! lindsay, meredith, nicole and i spent 15 hours at the store doing inventory (plus jordana came in between layla's feeds) - and we're not quite done yet!

it was so great to be working with such enthusiastic, driven and positive people - even after midnight! we are so fortunate to have such a loyal and hard working group of gals on the cravings team!! thanks so much - we are so grateful to have you!

so more counting, and some cleaning tomorrow - and then we'll be done inventory for another year!

hope your long wekend was as enjoyable as mine (i'm actually not being sarcastic for once - i had so much fun!!!!)

R.

inventory time - yuck!!

well, this is definitely a procrastination post! i'm supposed to be do computer/paperwork in preparation for our year-end inventory . . . but i'm sick of it!! i have about a million more vouchers to update before sunday am - this may be a long night!! who does inventory on the last long weekend of summer?!?!?! WE DO - we're crazy! in some ways, it actually works out well - we don't have to close the store any extra days and our inventory count is at our exact year-end. so, i, along with our dedicated and loyal staff, will be here counting, and counting, and counting some more while you and your family are enjoying a few days off!

****just a reminder that CRAVINGS will be closed on monday, september 1st for LABOUR DAY/INVENTORY!!

more home organization

well, the office is now finished- yay! i need a few more decorative pieces, but i am pleased overall! now on to my next project- tackling the shoes and purses in my closet. it would be too embarrassing to report just how many of each i have, but i will say that i don't have enough space! when i was designing our home, i made certain that we had enough closet space so my husband and i each have our own walk-in closets. he has 2 shirts on each shelf, an entire empty hanging section and space for at least another dozen pair of shoes...and i haven't even unpacked a third of my shoes and have run out of space. i'm going to have to get creative with this one or just steal some of my husband's empty space!

went to the mall (again) today sans kids! fed layla, put her down for a nap, my husband put ryan down for a nap and they all slept while i shopped! what a great feeling to get out on my own. so much easier to do with baby #2. i don't think i left ryan for a couple of months. anyway, it was a nice break and got me ready for a night alone while my husband is on call!

j

organizing our new home

ok, i am still organizing the books in the office. i thought i wanted my husband's help, but he doesn't know how to make the shelving look "pretty" so i banished him from the room! i have, however, made 5 piles of stuff for him to go through so i can replace medical journals with picture frames! he took ryan to the park which i guess is as much help as i could ask for!

so, ryan, layla and i went to the mall today. we were there for a total of 1 hour...i couldn't even tell you what we did (oh, i did buy 2 decorative vases for the built-ins in the office!)...i think i strolled them around in circles just praying layla would fall back asleep. she is just like ryan was- won't sleep outside her crib/bassinett. this makes it very difficult to go out- epsecially with a 3 year old too. i feel like i am bribing ryan all the time to be a "good big sister and listen to mom"...oh the joys of having 2...and i thought 1 babe was a handful!

anyway, just waiting for layla to wake for her next feed...but i am SO ENJOYING the silence right now!

j

time for a break

i am taking a break from organizing the books in our new office. it's taking longer than i anticipated and i am getting more tired every minute. no nap again today as trades people were in and out of our house tending to little things that still need to be done. i love getting things off my "to do" list though so it's a good trade off.

i am writing to let you know that cravings maternity & baby is hiring. we are looking for an outgoing, energetic and reliable individual who is interested in part time employment. the store is getting busier every month (which is amazing!) and we definitely need more sales associates! please let rebecca or me know if you (or someone you know) is interested.

j

what a great weekend!

what a great weekend...only wishing our deck was finished so i could've sat outside a bit more. i did enjoy the sun when we took ryan to the pool (no, i didn't get in a bathing suit...not yet!). they are stuccoing (is that a word?) our house right now and the deck is next...would love to have a few days & nights out there before fall/winter.

going to head to cravings tomorrow to get a baby gift (and chit-chat a bit!). my brother-in-law and sister-in-law had a baby girl...now what to get them?? should be easy when you own the store, but i'm not sure what they have (they live in TO) and they won't tell me what they need. also need to pick up another FooGo straw cup for ryan to take to pre-school (can't believe we are there already...but she's SOOOO excited to go). better start making my list as i am bound to forget to pick something up.

also have my (almost) 6 week doctors appointment tomorrow. i'm honestly just curious how much more baby weight i have to lose. i SQUEEZED in to my pre-pregnancy jeans today which is so exciting!!

anyway, i think i might turn the tv on for a bit...haven't watched in about, oh, 6 weeks or so!

j

layla's first road trip

thought i would write quickly before i head off to bed. had a nap between 7 and 8:30 this eveing so i'm actually feeling somewhat awake right now! had our first road trip and overnight stay with baby layla. spent 2 days and a night with becca and her family at their new "cabin" in candle lake. we had beautiful weather, although i only enjoyed bits and pieces of it between napping, feeding, etc. layla did pretty well for her first trip. she slept most of the way in the car and slept well half of the night. i really can't complain- she is only 5 weeks afterall. thanks becca for having us!

looking forward to a weekend of great weather...hopefully i'll be able to enjoy some of it!

can't believe the summer is almost over :(

j

yeah, we're getting spanx!!

i just got off the phone with a very friendly guy from the company that distributes SPANX in canada. i have been trying to get a hold of them for several months - and this time, someone actually answered the phone!! our catalogue & order form is getting put in the mail at this very moment and hopefully, i will be able to place an order early next week. depending on ship times, we should have SPANX here at cravings within the next few weeks! will keep you posted - i know a lot of people have been asking for these!

R.

i love my new peg perego stroller!

i just realized that i haven't written anything about my new stroller. peg perego generously gave me the new 60/40 stroller as a baby gift- thanks again, i love it!!! i wanted to let all you moms (and dads) out there know that it is a perfect stroller if you want the convenience of clicking in your car seat and having a seat for your toddler. ryan is three, but my princess still enjoys being strolled around so it really is perfect for us. it maneuvers very easily, it is lightweight and fits through doorways. i would highly recommend it!

http://www.pegperego.com/

j

more unpacking

well, i'm making my way through boxes...slowly. most say that we've made great progress in the week we've been in our house but progress isn't good enough...i want every box unpacked, our house decorated, pictures hung...i have NO patience!

went back to the store to pick up layla's crib bedding today. very excited to see how it's going to look! i think my next decorating project is going to be the toy room. i'm going to enlist becca to help with it as she seems to have some grand ideas about building my girls a stage...a childhood dream of hers!

anyway, it was nice to be in the store today and check out all the new stuff...great maternity clothes...BUT VERY GLAD NOT TO BE PREGNANT!!

j

great new maternity clothing arriving daily!

some of our new fall maternity clothing has arrived . . . and it's gorgeous. this season's hottest colours include charcoal, teal & purple - colours that look good on most complexions! it might be just me, but i LOVE fall shopping! it reminds me of the back-to-school mini-shopping sprees of my childhood - and i'm partial to the darker colours (ie. black - but i'm willing to step outside my comfort zone and try some charcoal).

have a great weekend!!
R.

check out of great selection of nursing bras

did you know . . . CRAVINGS carries a fantastic selection of nursing bras & tanks for mommas 32A - 42H? in the last few weeks we have received several new bra styles. check out Bravado!'s new Sugar & Spice microfibre bras (super cute & fun) and the Cassandra Lace nursing bra by Condessa (sexy). all of our skilled retail staff would be pleased to assist you in finding the perfect nursing bra.

busy day!

wow! what a busy day at the store! the day after a long weekend is usually a bit crazy, but today was nuts!

just wanted to remind everyone that all remaining SUMMER maternity clothing is BUY 1, GET 1 FREE, CLEARANCE MATERNITY CLOTHING is 75% OFF, summer BABY & TODDLER clothing is 25% OFF, retired ROBEEZ are 25% OFF . . . plus more clearance items up to 40% OFF. help us make room for all our FALL merchandise that's arriving!! see you soon!

busy long weekend!

hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend! i actually left the house for the first time today. we moved on friday and have been unpacking boxes ever since. the move went much better than i anticipated and my parents were here to help set things up. we have much more to do, but at least our main floor and kids bedrooms are set up (well almost). my husband still has to put layla's new crib together (rossport by college woodwork) but the combo unit is in her room and looks fantastic! i am excited to finally get everything together and organized. i will post pictures of her cravings nursery when it's complete!

aside from that, just busy being a mom of two (still can't believe i have 2 kids!). will see what this week brings when my husband is at work and my parents aren't in town to rescue me!

j

are you ready for the long weekend?

Make sure you're ready for the long weekend! We have lots of summer essentials in stock!

• SALUS PFDs - including the Bijoux baby life vest for infants 9-25lbs
• BABY BANZ - sun glasses, swim suits & hats with UV protection

Plus more!! Stop in on your way to the lake, paddling pool, or the neighbour's backyard!

Lots of Great Stuff

Fall merchandise is starting to arrive! Crazy to think that Fall is just around the corner - we've hardly had a summer! But, we have some great new arrivals! For Mom-to-Be: fantastic fashions from Olian Maternity. For Babies & Toddlers: Cool clothing by Appaman, including puffy vests and graphic long-sleeve tees! New stock will be arriving daily, so come check it out!

ps- word is that a box from MATT & NAT arrived today - can't wait to see all the new diaper bags and purses that we ordered back in March!!

we're looking for a sales associate

Our Sales Associate Robin will be going on Mat. Leave in September . . . so once again, we are looking to fill this position. Pass this on to anyone you think might be suitable & interested!

CRAVINGS MATERNITY & BABY BOUTIQUE is looking for a hard-working, outgoing, friendly and reliable SALES ASSOCIATE to work 3 days per week (including at least 2 Saturdays/ month).

Suitable & interested candidates should bring in their resumes to Rebecca at CRAVINGS - 8th & Preston.
Thanks!!

retired ROBEEZ 25% OFF

some of the new fall 2008 collection soft-soled shoes & TREDZ from ROBEEZ came in this week. in order to make room for these new styles, all the 2008 spring & summer styles (that haven't been carried over to next season) are 25% OFF. hurry in - at this price they won't last long!!

2 weeks already!

well today layla had her first doctors appointment. she has gained 2 oz since birth and everything looks great! i can't believe she is almost 2 weeks old already. somehow things seem easier this time around. don't get me wrong, i am exhausted...and my husband is still at home to help out with our 3 year old daughter, ryan. next week will be a true test for me (not to mention that we are also moving in to our new home next week...why do we do this to ourselves?). i am just far more relaxed with things, which i am extremely happy about!

i'm off to enjoy a few minutes of reading us weekly while my husband takes the girls for a walk!

j

some new products

Just thought I'd let you all know about a few new things at CRAVINGS!
- Contessa nursing bras - super sexy (and practical)
- Baby Banz UV swimsuits in 3 new adorable styles - diva camo, nordic camo & aqua
- Drip Sticks - popsicle/ice cream cone holder that keeps kids mess-free while enjoying a summer treat
R.

my new favorite thing

ever tried lily padz? i didn't know about them while i was nursing my first daughter, but had heard so many positive comments from customers in our store that i thought i would give them a try. i love them! i'm not sure how well they would have worked for me when my milk was coming in, but now that i am somewhat stabilized, they're working great! i love that they are re-usable and provide a seamless look. definitely my new favorite thing!

off to get some rest before the next feeding!

a good night's sleep

well, we had another good night last night. i'm always afraid to say that becuz the minute you say things are going well, it turns around! i'm feeling pretty good, but probably overdoing it a bit. we're moving in 2 1/2 weeks and there is so much to be done before that. guess i don't have to have all of my bathroom accessories before we move in, but us type A people can't leave anything until the end. i was out for 3 hours shopping when layla was 4 days old and i'm paying for it now. i need to learn to sit for awhile...something i have never mastered. but on the flip side, that's how cravings was born. my first daughter was 4 months old when becca and i started planning...so good things do come of my neuroticism!

we're off to get photos done today. better start getting ready to go now, it seems to take 3 hours to get out of the house now...my new reality!

j

another buying show

Well, I'm off to Regina first thing in the morning to buy our Baby & Mini MEXX for the Winter months. It's kind of depressing having to think about the cold winter months, when we've hardly had much of a summer. But, the upside is getting to check out all the hot new styles & colours in the baby fashion world! It's exciting to get a glimpse into the upcoming trends.
I'm flying down to Regina for the day courtesy of WestWind Aviation - they gave us a complementary return ticket in honour of our SABEX awards. It was so thoughtful & generous of them - I really appreciate it!
R.

another must-have

Went to the store (again) today...picked up a second Miracle Swaddling blanket. For those of you with a newborn or looking for the perfect gift, this is definitely a must-have! Also picked up our Peg Perego bouncy chair. Haven't set it up yet, but will let you know what I think.

www.miracleblanket.com

Layla is 4 days old today. I'm thinking the exhaustion is now setting in. A little more sleep would be great, but all in all everything is going well!

Off for another feed!

sunshine - where are you?!?!?!

What's up with our weather?!?!? This morning was beautiful - and now there's a storm warning in effect!! I'm hoping summer comes any day now - I need some Vitamin D!
R.

Our store re-organization continues! This afternoon I met our handyman Steve at Cravings and we moved a few things around and put up a new wall system for our bras & nursing tanks. We are trying to do whatever we can to maximize our space and make our store as customer-friendly as we can! We hope to have this project completed in the next few weeks - please bear with us as we move things around.
R.

well, night #1 wasn't so hot. i'm actually feeling pretty good considering i didn't get much sleep. little one has decided to fall asleep while i'm feeding her...i thought bigger babies were supposed to be more alert and feed better? i have high hopes for little layla. after all, during the latter part of my pregnancy, i was in complete agony. makes sense now that i know she was 9 lbs! so...i figure she owes me!! we will see about that!

i do have to tell you about my favorite purchase from the store. my monte luca glider chair is AMAZING!! i have seriously never sat in something so comfortable. i sold a tonne of them in the store, but now i could sell twice as many now that i've actually used it. A MUST HAVE! the great thing about this glider chair is that i will easily be able to use it in my home afterwards...no garage sale or consignment for this chair.

off to get ready for a bbq tonight. have to introduce my little pricess to our friends!

here's to a (hopefully) night of zzzzzz!

finally at home with babe!

just a quick note before i head off to bed to try and get some sleep...not sure what the first night at home will be like with our beautiful baby girl!

so far so good. things feel so familiar even though my oldest daughter is already 3.

look forward to keeping you updated!

good night!

I can't believe how busy it is with babies right now! At least 3 new mommas stopped in to Cravings on their way home from the hospital today! A gal whose mother works on labour & delivery told me that 44 babies were born yesterday!?!?! No wonder Jordana had to wait to get a room!

Jordana and baby Layla are now settling in at home - I'm sure the nurses were happy to see her go . . . so they could give her bed to someone else!!

The baby is here . . . all nine pounds of her!
Jordana had a little (well, not so little) girl early this morning - Layla Dylan. Mom and baby are both doing great!

More great stuff at CRAVINGS:

Sweet Pea Glass Bottles with Neoprene "Pea Pod" Sleeve - 5oz. & 10oz. bottles and sleeves now available!

This was one of the first days in a long time that I wasn't at the store - even to stop by! Word is, that the highly anticipated KLEEN KANTEENS have arrived!!!

• The reusable, lightweight, and risk free stainless steel Klean Kanteen® was introduced in 2004 to encourage better health, hydration, and environmental responsibility.
• Better Health: Klean Kanteens are made from #304 stainless steel, the material of choice in the food processing, dairy, and brewery industries. Stainless steel is easy to clean, durable, inert, sanitary, toxin-free, and non-leaching.
• Hydration: It’s vital for life.
• Environmental Responsibility: Klean Kanteens are the stainless steel alternative to plastics. Plastics in landfills and oceans are one of the most alarming of today’s environmental stories.
• The Klean Kanteen has won over thousands of people concerned with making healthy choices for their bodies and natural environment. Join them in their efforts and try a Klean Kanteen. Stainless steel Klean Kanteens outlast their plastic counterparts and drinking water from a stainless steel Klean Kanteen tastes clean and odor free, unlike drinking from plastic which often makes water smell and taste undesirable.

Meredith, Lindsay & Robin were busy today at the store rearranging everything. Come check out the new and improved layout - it looks great! Thanks girls!

Still a work-in-progress though - hopefully we'll have everything re-organized soon!

The Ehrenberg showhome in Stonebridge that featured a CRAVINGS nursery has been sold. So, we have an antique black crib and matching designer chest (from College Woodwork) available immediately - both pieces for $1250! Let us know if you are interested - I think these will go quickly!!

Another busy day at CRAVINGS!!
- a huge order arrived from Peg Perego (strollers, carseats & highchairs)!
- Pella LeDrew, from the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, came to check out and take photos of the 3 new BRITAX carseats.
- lots of customers loving the air conditioning (and all the great stuff at the store, of course).
- a tonne of telephone calls
- but . . . NO BABY yet!

Today I spent the afternoon at MD AMBULANCE on Melville St. (near Stonebridge) at a carseat clinic. These monthly clinics, which are now by appointment only, are a great way to have your carseat checked by a certified carseat technician. The purpose of these free clinics is not simply an easy way to have your carseat installed by someone else, but intended to teach parents and caregivers how to properly use and install their restraint systems and safely secure their children in their vehicles.

I am happy to report that the majority of carseats I checked were being used for infants and children of the appropriate age and weight, and within the recommended time period (carseats do expire - most between 6 & 8 years from the manufacture date). Most of the parents and caregivers that I met with today had done a fairly good job of installing their carseats themselves and were very receptive to the suggestions we made.

It is amazing how every combination of carseat and vehicle is different. Because of this, the very best thing you can do when installing a child's restraint system is to refer to both your vehicle's instruction manual and the carseat's instruction manual.

TRANSPORT CANADA
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/menu.htm

SASKATCHEWAN PREVENTION INSTITUTE
http://www.preventioninstitute.sk.ca/home/Program_Areas/Childhood_Injury_Prevention/Child_Passenger_Safety/

SGI (including list of upcoming carseat clinics)
http://www.sgi.sk.ca/sgi_pub/road_safety/child_restraints.htm

SAFE KIDS CANADA
http://www.sickkids.ca/SKCForParents/section.asp?s=Safety+Information+by+Topic&sID=10774&ss=Child+Passenger+Safety&ssID=11330

last week we got our very first shipment of the new TSIP (true side impact protection) carseats from BRITAX. they are selling very well already!

a few people this week have been torn between the MARATHON carseat and the new BOULEVARD carseat. both are designed to be used rear-facing for infants 5-30lbs and forward-facing for toddlers 20-65lbs (at least 1 year old & can pull themselves to standing). and of course, both are fantastic, nice looking and SAFE seats. BUT . . . for only $30 more, the Boulevard offers the TSIP and you can adjust the strap height without having to unthread the straps (a great feature, especially for our weather when your child may grow or shrink depending on the weather). the downside of the new BOULEVARD is that it doesn't come in the adorable cowmooflage, ashley floral or crocodile prints.

come and check them out for yourself!!

hope everyone was able to stay cool today! 36 degrees celsius - can you believe it?!?

just a reminder that cravings will be closed tomorrow for CANADA DAY!