happy new year

only a couple of minutes to write before the little one wakes from her nap.

spent an amazing 5 hours at the spa this morning. am rested up and now i'm more in nap mode than party mode (story of my life!). looking forward to the canada game tonight and a few drinks with friends afterwards. will see if i actually make it past midnite this year!

happy new year everyone! all the best in 2010!

j

i did go!

sorry for the confusion. just wanted to clarify...i DID go shopping on boxing day! my BFF and (shopping) partner in crime said she read my post and was surprised that i didn't go. i did go and i spent way too much money!! i even went shopping yesterday and managed to buy a chair for our bedroom. perry's response was, "do we need a chair for our bedroom?" my response, "no, but i think it's perfect!" I DON'T NEED ANYTHING! i think i should repeat this over and over and over...something has to work!



wasn't able to spend a full day at work. came home to look after the kids while perry goes to the canada game. hoping to make it in tomorrow. still doing paper work from trade shows in october. it never stops! 2010 trade shows start in january so we better get this stuff done before we have our next round of purchase orders to enter in to our system!

someone is pulling on my arm to get me off the computer and watch hannah montana!

gotta run,
j

boxing day

who was brave enough to face the crowds today? i'm not sure that i've missed a year of boxing day shopping since i was 13 (maybe younger?!). even when i worked boxing day, i managed to scour the stores for the best deals during my break! i did find some really great things that i definitely don't need! the crowds certainly don't scare me...i guess you could say i was born to shop!

tomorrow is another day...another few stores i wouldn't mind hitting that i didn't make it to today. perry & i have "an agreement" over the holidays as he has tickets to ALL the world junior games. i'm sure you know where i'm going with this!

aside from shopping, i have been enjoying season 5 of LOST. i bought it for perry and we're almost done! i think we've watched in 3 nights. so addicting! anyone have a suggestion for the next series we should watch? i've heard dexter is really good.

going to bathe the kids and get them to bed- so i can watch the rest of LOST and rest up for tomorrow's activities!

j

disgraceful

i feel horrible- haven't written for so long. things have been so busy this holiday season. the store has been hopping, our online store is up & running and we've been filling orders, we had our staff holiday party on saturday night and now all i can think about is how i am going to relax over the holidays.

we don't celebrate xmas so the 25th is always a low key day for us...highlight being an annual "shopping trip" to the 24 hour shoppers on 8th! i did get a gift cetificate for a day at the spa so i am trying to figure out when i can use it (that doesn't conflict with my husband's junior hockey games he has tickets for).

i did want to mention that we are giving away a $50 gift certificate (in-store www.cravingsmaternityandbaby.com or online www.shopcravings.ca) to one of our facebook fan's if we reach our goal of 838 fans by december 31st. help us reach our goal and you will have a chance to win!!

wishing everyone who celebrates, a very merry christmas!! thank you for your business this year!

j

website down temporarily

wonderful world of computers...our store website seems to be down. sorry for the inconvenience. hoping to get ALL of our computer problems taken care of this week!

in the meantime, you can still check out www.shopcravings.ca for all your maternity & baby needs!

j

interior deign

check out the interview with atmosphere interior design (saskatoon's leading interior designers) and pics of my house (the black & white one)!

www.meadedesigngroup.blogspot.com

continuing on with the interior decorating of our home, i've just ordered a dining table & buffet...could be 4 months before i receive them as they make their way from italy to saskatoon.

j

www.shopcravings.ca

www.shopcravings.ca is up and running!

we are experiencing some technical difficulty with our TREATS coupon with mac users...so sorry about that! please just mention the coupon in the comments section when ordering.

we are hoping to get all the bugs fixed this week...thanks for your patience as we perfect out site!

j

SHOP CRAVINGS ONLINE!!

better late than never! only 8 days overdue...visit our new "baby" online 24/7!

www.shopcravings.ca

use the coupon code "TREATS" for 10%OFF your first online order!

valid until december 31st, 2009

j

a night off

i am so tired and can barely keep my eyes open...but i don't want to go to bed because i am enjoying the peace and quiet in my house. i don't often have time to myself so i have to savour every minute! i am seriously so sleep deprived i am forgetting conversations i have had with people. that's usually becca's specialty, not mine! anyway, i am feeling a bit recharged this evening as i have refused to do very much work (it is never 'no work'!).

back to the grind tomorrow and sunday, in hopes of finally having this project completed. we are so ready for this phase to be done. sorry for keeping you in suspense for so long! we hope you're not disappointed!

some exciting developments with our dining room. i think we've decided on a table. perry & i both love it. now we're on to chairs. i think we're going custom. there are a few features i would like in a chair and can't find anything perfect. i can't wait to finally have a dining room!

i am looking at the clock realizing that it is probably in my best interest to go to bed.

have a good weekend!

j

holiday shopping party!

i seriously don't feel like i have a minute to write this blog. we have been working around the clock to get this project done that are are hoping to announce VERY SOON! i haven't come out from behind a computer for days...argh!

actually i guess that's not true...becca & i managed to tear ourselves away from the project for 2 1/2 hours last night to enjoy our annual holiday shopping party! we had a blast....line-up started 15 minutes before we opened and we had a wait at the till for an hour at one point! i just about fell over when saw the line go all the way back to the end of store and wrap around. thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our fabulous customers. enjoyed seeing you all again (now that we spend most of our time in the office)!!

have a good night!
j

holiday shopping party!!

cravings' annual holiday VIP shopping party is this week! it only happens once a year...almost everything in the store is on sale!!!

20% OFF most items!
30% OFF maternity, baby & toddler clothing!
40% OFF select promotional items!
50% OFF clearance items!

2009 peg perego strollers on SALE!
select floor model furniture on SALE!

tuesday, december 1
6:30- 9pm

hopefully you are signed up for our VIP newsletter or are a cravings facebook fan...you get a little something extra in your inbox!

please bring 2 non-perishable food items with you to receive our exclusive VIP discounts that evening!

see you tuesday!
j

3 more days?

are we going to pull it off? hours and hours and hours of work to do this weekend to try and complete our secret project. it is looking amazing- we are so thrilled so far! now if we can just get everything to go smoothly so we achieve our deadline, that would be fantastic! a long weekend it will be...i'm already tired...or could that be from our cravings gathering last night (ha, ha)!!!

she's back

between the website, facebook, tweeting and blogging...one always seems to suffer! i am back and more importantly, becca is back from her vacation!! so glad she is rested up...someone needs a fresh brain! it's down to the wire now for the preparation for our new project! this is so out of our realm that it is pretty overwhelming for us! we are confident that you will be as thrilled about it as we are! still hoping for a december 1 completion date...that's only 1 week from today!!

aside from that, i've been diligent going to the gym and am already starting to feel stronger. i've started reading fitness books and magazines again to find some find some additional motivation. i do, however, already feel like it's part of the routine for me. it's a little tricky to find time some weeks with our hectic schedules, but i seem to be managing to get the work outs in. very happy about that!

on the home front, i am just waiting to get quotes back on some custom dining tables. i think i know what i want so it's just a matter of figuring out the price my husband wants! once we have that picked, we'll take a look at chairs. i am super excited to get this room completed. it will definitely have a huge impact on our main floor overall.

that's it, that's all. just work, work, work! oh ya, we are still looking for people to fill part-time & full-time positions at our store. if you, or someone you know, is interested, please drop off a resume! we're looking to fill these positions soon as we lose jaclyn to maternity leave in january!

j

it's been awhile so i thought i would give you a quick rundown of what's been happening. H1N1 hit us at the store but thankfully it has only infected 2 of us. nicole, our manager, has been off for a week and a half with her her illness and both her kids caught it too. our book-keeper heather has been off as well and her eldest has also been sick. hopefully this will be for illnesses. still using the hand sanitizer every 30 seconds! nicole should be back tomorrow so things should return to normal soon! becca has also been away in mexico for her brother's wedding. she's back this weekend...so looking forward to having her back!! it's strange not to have the person you talk to 3000 times a day around! the store has been super busy this week too...always happens when you're short staffed!

i was actually also away for 3 days. flew to seattle with a girlfriend from high school. we went to visit another friend who just moved there with her husband. we had an absolutely amazing weekend of shopping, eating, drinking and chatting. i can't believe it had been 7 years since we were together without kids! picked up right where we left off!!

aside from that, i have been working hard on our secret project. i am keeping my fingers crossed that we can meet our deadline of december 1st! there is still so much to do, but really we always seem to get it done! have i mentioned how much i am looking forward to having becca back?!

i wanted to mention again that cravings is hiring! we're looking for full time and part time positions. if you, or someone you know, might be interested, please drop off a resume to nicole!

anyway, my plan is (was) to sit and NOT WORK tonight...so i'm off!

j

we're hiring!

cravings is looking for you to join our award winning team! part-time & full time positions available! please drop off a resume to nicole.

facebook fan page

have you signed up to be a fan of our facebook page? please do! we will be sending out coupons exclusive to our fans!

stay tuned for the reveal of our latest project...only 2 more weeks...i hope!

darn flu

call me paranoid, but they are saying 1 in 3 people are going to get H1N1 in varying degrees. my daycare provider now has pneumonia (stemming from the flu). they are not sure when she will be well enough to start up again. i feel so bad for her. i am scrambling to try and make things work. we have a training session thursday afternoon and i while i thought the kids had somewhere to go- it might not be "flu free". where do you run? i am also supposed to be going to seattle this weekend with a couple girlfriends and only today found out that perry could get his shift covered. so, looks like i am ok to go...as long as i don't come down with anything in the meantime. would sure suck to get sick in the US.

our manager's eldest has the flu now so she's been at home, becca is away in mexico next week, i don't have child care...the store might have to close at the rate that people are getting infected! AHHHHH!!!

ok, enough...i am getting ready to go the germ infested gym!!!

stay well,
j

so tired

i am completely exhausted right now. went in to work last night and ended up getting everything accomplished...but was up WAY TOO LATE!!! 7 hours later...anyway, felt good to get some things checked off the list- especially now because i don't have child care. unfortunately our day care provider has come down with the flu, which they believe to be H1N1 after she made a visit to the hospital last night. she is just awful and i feel so bad for her. she never gets sick. not one sick day in the 4 years i have been going to her. she is really rough and won't likely be back to work for another week. i just pray that my girls don't get it.

today was also a busy day. met with atmosphere interior design about our dining room this morning. we have to pick a table. this will help set the direction for chairs and wallpaper, etc. perry and i are disagreeing, but i think i've come up with a solution...custom made...go figure! they are going to get us a quote, but this way i will get a unique table that we both like. it was a good meeting...always nice to see curtis & trevor and catch up.

after our meeting, perry & the girls met me downtown. layla is horrible to take out now. it's that age. we shopped for a total of 20 minutes, ate in 10 minutes at the food court and went home...boy that was fun!

got her home for a nap and i went to the gym. i'm already feeling great about things. familiarizing myself with the equipment, feeling good about the work outs. i just feel like i appreciate the 1 hour i am taking to work out so much more than i did before kids. i better make it worth my while if i am going to take my (very limited) "me" time at the gym. i actually surprise myself that i can still lift a bit of weight. definitely not at the level i was when i first started working out about 12 years ago, which surprised me. i thought i would have to start all over again. i was assessed too. got to see how much weight is muscle vs. fat, etc. this gives me a good idea where i need to focus my attention. it was a real eye opener.

after the gym, i came home and got ready to head out to get my hair done. it was about time! i still need to color it, but at least it's cut now! i almost fell asleep in the chair. drained from lack of sleep, lots of activity and working out...and probably from being able to sit and do nothing for an entire hour...when does that ever happen?

tomorrow i am going to check out overhead storage. yes, i am admitting that we are already running out of space in our new space. becca, if you are reading this, please don't leave me...it could be worse...we could have too much space and not a need for all our product!!

i think i am going to settle in for some tv i pvr'd over the week...if i can keep my eyes open long enough!

have a good weekend,
j

carseat season!

i didn't think there was such thing as carseat season, but apparently there is. and this is it! over the past couple weeks, we have had sooooo many customers inquiring...and purchasing carseats & boosters!! maybe it's in preparation for the bad driving conditions we are sure to have in the near future here in saskatchewan - some sort of parental protective instinct?!?! not sure, but very interesting!!

come check out our fantastic selection of the cutest, comfortable and super safe carseats for infants, toddlers & kids - newborn to boosters!

immunizations

took the girls to get their immunizations today. i felt like such an inadequate mother at pre-school this morning when 3/4 of the parents drove to smaller centres yesterday to get their kids immunized so they wouldn't have to stand in line today. we had plans to take them thursday but the panic set in when i heard there were lines that required parents and kids to stand outside for 2 hours or more. RIDICULOUS!! perry got a tip from a resident this afternoon- his wife took their kids to a mobile immunization station and the line was only 5 minutes. so perry gets home from work and we head over there. super excited because there were only 2 other groups of people ahead of us....then a woman came over to us and asked us where we lived...WHAT? SERIOUSLY? i told her and she said we were not permitted to get the girls immunized there and we had to go to prairiland park. I WAS SO ANGRY!! we decided to head right over there and it turned out we didn't have to wait in line anyway and the first of the two shots is done.

rushed to feed the girls and get ryan off to swimming lessons, but it all worked out. bath & bed for both and now i am settling in for the biggest loser...finally i can feel good about getting my butt off the couch this week while i am watching the episode!

have a good night!
j

i'm committed!

i got the gym membership. i have made the commitment now for one year and i'm really excited! now i just have to try and organize my life so i can make the membership worth it! i can't wait to get assessed so i can set some concrete goals and have something to attain. i love a challenge!

working hard on our project this week, amongst everything else. paperwork is still plentiful as we receive boxes and boxes of clothing, toys and more toys for the holiday season!! did you see the train set we have assembled in the store? it's been a hit with all the kids...kinda hard to get them out of the store sometimes! we have something for everyone, including doll houses for the little princess. holiday gifts will be arriving for the next few weeks so make sure to come by and check us out!

anyway, off to watch desperate housewives and brothers & sisters!

have a good night!
j

back to the gym...

i did make it to the gym yesterday and it felt great! new environment but it wasn't so intimidating at all. i was actually surprised that i was able to do as much as i did. i'm ready to get a membership and commit to this. i think i'm going to sign up for personal training sessions as well so i can get assessed and get put on a training program. they have this crazy machine that measures body fat, etc...so curious!

anyway, am going to try and get there again tomorrow if i can manage a 1 hr break from the kids!

have a happy halloween tomorrow!
j

today's the day

is today the day? if all goes well and my friend, heather, doesn't bail on me...i'm going to the gym! it has been almost 5 years since i worked out and i have been dying to get back at it...but have never found the motivation to actually get my butt there. i am super excited though. even bought a new lulu outfit (ha, ha, any excuse i can get!). i'm so excited to feel healthy again. wish me luck!

j

you're gonna love our new radio ads!

i just got back from C95. for the past couple years, i have been the voice of cravings (jordana is the face)! at first i was really nervous to voice our ads! now i must be a real pro because i'm not scared to do it at all. when i'm in my groove, i can usually do the ads in a couple takes. once in while it takes me soooo many times to get it right though! today i had to voice 5 new radio ads, which will air over the next few months! luckily i was able to do them right the first couple times (or i would have been there for a long time - i've never had to do 5 at once before)! since our move in february, we have been using the rhyming fairytale theme for all of our radio advertising - written by the amazing allison at rawlco! they are all super cute and creative! for our big announcement, coming up in december, we are going with a completely different theme - you're gonna love it. and i think it will definately get everyone's attention! the new style ad will air december 1st - in conjuction with our exciting announcement!! stay tuned...

r.

lou lou magazine

thought i would write while i am work today. have been on the computer for hours so what's a few more minutes. exciting news- lou lou magazine stopped by and interviewed me. the gal said she is hoping her team will include a maternity & baby boutique in an upcmoning issue. that would be fantastic if we make the cut! very exciting!

worked hard on our secret project today...although not so secret as i hear my husband has been telling the inquiring minds! anyway, we are excited to share with everyone soon. things are moving along! can't believe it's almost november, which means we have about 4 weeks left to get everything together...which i know we can do!

a few new products have arrived this week- car seat and stroller covers from 7am Enfant, Wonder Bumpers crib bedding, Kushies layette and the Phil & Teds Vibe cushy ride. can't wait to add the pink cushy ride to my black stroller...afterall, my girls LOVE pink!

candy

k, my 4 year old just caught me sneaking candy! what's wrong with that picture?! my entire plan all day was to go the gym and try it out...get used to the gym environment again. well, at 4pm, i realized i had pre-school toy cleaning. unfortunately part of me was actually excited that i had an excuse not to go...not a good sign, i know! so, instead of going to the gym, i am eating candy?! i just think i really need someone to go with the first time. once i get started, i know i'll be ok (or i hope i will!). i went to the gym 5-6 days per week at 5am pre-ryan. i ate so healthy and felt great. i don't eat horribly now, but i was so strict before. at my peak, my body fat percentage was 9.89%...crazy, i know. i definitely don't want to go too crazy like that again, but i do want to be a healthier person...and i did lift some heavy weights (for those of you that think i'm a wimp!). anyway, tomorrow is a new day...i will plan for the gym tomorrow!

anyway, i'm back from toy cleaning and i'm going to curl up on the couch and watch some tv (with my bowl of candy!).

have a good one,
j

long day

whew...what a day. seemed to last forever. layla woke up sick today and had hives all over her body. here we go again. she always seems to pick up what's going around. ryan is so different. she rarely gets sick. poor little one was miserable today. i managed to get out for a couple of hours to go down town which was a nice break. i finally got them to bed and now i'm watching desperate housewives. love sunday night tv.

so, i'm thinking i am going to use the free passes i got from world gym. i so want to get back to the gym. i know how good i will feel when i do...it's just the commitment and the amount of money that goes along with it. it's definitely not inexpensive to sign-up and i have to commit to a year. i just need to get my mind set to get off my butt and do it...maybe tomorrow will be the day.

i'm hoping layla feels better tomorrow so i can go to work...already sending myself email reminders so i make sure i get through the to-do list!

have a good night!
j

busy day

it was appointment after appointment today for becca & me. it started out first thing this morning. i rushed around to get the kids to dayare and then went back to our house to meet curtis & trevor of atmosphere interior design www.atmosphereinteriordesign.net . had a dining room cunsult...officially my new project! can't wait to see what ideas they come up with. they are always better than i could possibly imagine! so excited to get this started. will keep you posted! hey, forgot to mention our kitchen is the ones used in the yellow page ad this year...check it out!!

ran back to the store to pick becca up and then we unfortunately had a funeral to attend. grabbed lunch on the way back to the store...had a meeting regarding our new project. we are pretty much on schedule for a december 1 launch!!

right after that meeting, we headed to the circle at centre & eigth mall (is that what you call it? when i lived here about 20 years ago, it was called circle park mall...much easier to remember!). anyway, the C95 radio marathon for breast cancer was live at the mall. cravings' goal was $2000 this year and we are almost there! we are still collecting donations until the end of the month, so please stop by!

ran back to the store (well, after checking out a few things at the mall!) to try and get more of this project done...and that was the day. oh, forgot about picking up dinner because we forgot to figure it out last night, rushing home, feeding the kids, bathing the little one, putting her to bed, sending perry & ryan to the synagogue for a celebration and finally spending a solid 2 hours on our employee hand book!!! who knew that we would grow big enough to need a handbook?! it's all good!

having a glass of wine and will finish off the night by tweeting and checking out facebook!

good night!
j

C95 radio marathon for breast cancer research

really should be getting ready for the day, but am actually enjoying my second cup of coffee in my pyjamas. perry took ryan to pre-school this morning and layla is down for nap #1. it's crazy how much i appreciate a little help! i think i'm going to try and take them for lunch. we'll see if i actually get a chance to eat or if layla decides she doesn't want to sit in the high chair!

hey, becca and i will be at the C95 radio marathon for breast cancer at circle centre mall tomorrow to announce our donation total. listen for us at 3:30 or better yet, come on down and make a donation! we are still accepting donations at the store as well!

busy day scheduled for tomorrow...follow-up meeting about the new project...moving right along!!

have a great day!
j

work, work, work

ha, ha, becca...nice post! enjoy your chili!

just a quick one as i begin to start dinner prep. ryan has swimming tonight and then perry has invited a colleague and his wife over to see our home- they are thinking about building. i find it nearly impossible to keep our place clean. i am looking at the mess trying to figure out how i'm going to get it presentable in the 15 minutes i will have between the kids going to bed and the company arriving. am feeling quite guilty right now as i really feel like i should be going to work. we have so much on the go right now. i think i placed 15 orders yesterday and there are many more that need to get done. paperwork has mounted as thousands and dollars of merchandise arrives. also, can't forget the new project. because becca and i enjoy immediate gratification, we are trying to accomplish this in record time. it is so much work. so......REALLY feel like i should be going in instead of entertaining...just have to remind myself about having a balanced life. oh, and where the heck am i supposed to fit exercise in? i really want to get back at it...sigh...

anyway, off to get dinner ready before ryan & perry take off for swimming...and i'll be back at work tomorrow (and probably all night after company leaves!)

j

chili tonight

what is it about this weather makes me want to make and eat comfort food? tonight's pick - chili. my mother-in-law gave me her famous recipe. (i have modified it a bit - ground turkey instead of beef). it is so tasty, hearty and comforting on a cold gloomy evening! i usually make a huge pot so that we have left-overs for a couple meals - it actually tastes better reheated!! the only down side to lots of beans, meat, spices, garlic & onions - farting boys! our house may be smelly for the next few days - a small price to pay for some delicious home cooking! oh well.

product review

saturday already. what a beautiful day outside today. stopped by the store to find out that even though we got a HUGE shipment of stonz in on friday, we need more! if you have have never heard of stonz, they are truly amazing!

- designed with a wide opening to slip on easily over bare feet, socks, sleepers, shoes or the Linerz.

- have a durable coated nylon that is water and wind resistant to keep babies feet warm and dry.

- have two toggles at the calf and ankle for a custom fit and ensuring the booties stay on.

- Linerz that can be worn inside booties for extra warmth

- matching Mittz now available

Just purchased Girl Gotch for my 4 1/2 yo. I LOVE THEM!!! Cravings carries the brief- inspired by the original ”tighty whitey“, they have taken the style and made it to be all girl. They feature a one inch covered elastic waistband and material binding around the legs. The best thing is that they are super comfy and they don't ride!

Also just tried out the Buncha Farmers stain remover and it worked so well! 2 day old fushia pink icing from kids b-day party...out in seconds!

- All natural stain remover
- Made with all-natural, biodegradable ingredients, and enhanced with borax to soften the water and aid in the cleaning process
- No artificial dyes or perfumes

off to bed

i'm looking at the clock trying to convince myself i should get to bed. i felt really crappy today. went home for a couple of hours and returned to work after i felt a little better. not sure what that was all about, but i'm still not feeling 100%. there really is no time to be sick!

been working hard on our new project. i know i keep saying that, but the more we get it to it, the more i realize really how much work this is going to be! we have set a december 1 deadline for ourselves and the rest of our team...keeping my fingers crossed that this is realistic. when it comes down to it, becca and i always get things done. it's just a bit overwhelming right now!

can't wait to share!

ok, going to bed. i am the snack parent at pre-school tomorrow so i have to feel better!

good night
j

happy thanksgiving!

just enjoying a bit of alone time here at cravings. we are closed today, and thought i could get a few things caught up - without interruption! steven took the boys to the fun factory so they could burn off a bit of excess energy ... and let me have a little break - i am thankful for that! i am also thankful for so many other things - healthy kids, a loving husband, a great family, wonderful friends, an amazing business partner, a successful business ... etc., etc.

thank you, thank you, thank you!!

hope you are enjoying this thanksgiving weekend with family, friends & food - my three favorite "F"s!!

happy thanksgiving

love, love, love having my parents visit. perry and i were able to go out for dinner last night and didn't have to spend a fortune on a babysitter. it is so rare that we go out without the kids! i think the girls are going to go through withdrawal when they leave!!

woke up this morning to make a big pancake breakfast for everyone. it is one meal i know my kids will eat. did the dishes and then started on the turkey prep. this is only the second turkey i have ever made and it was so long ago that i made the first one, i don't even remember doing it! glad to have my mom around to assist. perry has decided to make a homemade chicken soup as well so it'll be a fun filled day of washing dishes! i think i've got 8 dishes planned so wish me luck- i will need it!

happy thanksgiving to you & your families!

j

new project

friday night. sitting by the fire with a glass of red, visiting with my parents. this is it for work for me today. i have spent hours and hours working on our new project...made it my goal to get one big piece of it completed today and i did! handed all the information over to allison and i think i'm free & clear from working on it this weekend. i even took my first night off last night. went for drinks, a movie, and then coffee with a good friend and a few of her friends. i had a great time. a MUCH needed break after working every day for the last 2 weeks. i am definitely ready to relax!

have a great long weekend. just a reminder that we are closed monday!

...and my day of working is now over!

have a good one,
j

halloween

a few days ago we got the cutest baby halloween costumes at cravings...very anne geddes-ish! i picked up the monkey costume for my little monkey, adam! adam tried on his lil monkey today, and loved it! he looks sooo cute in it and will sure to be a hit while trick or treating!! these costumes are adorable and so cozy & soft - perfect for a really cold night! we still have a few left - monkey, bumble bee, lion.

it is hard to believe that we had 30 degree weather just a few weeks ago! i was really discouraged this morning when i had to scrape ice and snow off my van windows!

this month, shop at cravings...and support a great cause!!

for the 4th consecutive year, cravings maternity & baby will be participating in the c95 radio marathon for breast cancer research! once again, for the entire month of october, a portion of every single sale will be donated to this amazing fundraiser! and just like last year, you can make a donation in-store.

this year's C95 radio marathon is october 22 & 23 at the centre. rob, shauna and rambling dave & the C95 team will be broadcasting live, raising money for the C95 radio marathon for breast cancer research. the money raised stays in saskatchewan and goes directly towards funding numerous research projects. every year about 640 saskatchewan women are diagnosed with breast cancer- it’s one of the most common forms of cancer, and very treatable if detected early.

to date, the radio marathon has helped raise well over a million dollars! thank you so much for your generous support again this year!!

shop at cravings...support a great cause...guilt free spending :)

















http://www.lisarendall.com/

all stocked up!!

just received huge shipments of baby bjorn, trunki (kids ride-on luggage) , jj cole, go-go babyz (car seat travel bags and car seat pulleys) AND much more!! check out these great links to see all the great new stuff!!

http://www.gogobabyz.com/

http://www.trunki.co.uk/

where has the week gone?

is it seriously thursday already? what a busy week. have been at the store so much as becca is away for another week or so. going back in tonight and then i've got tot pack for our buying show in edmonton. nicole (our manager) is coming with me. should be a nice time away. i lived in edmonton for 4 years while perry went to the u of a, so it's kinda nice to go back and visit the city. another weekend of shopping for me...and then this is it!

just spoke to the store and i guess it's been super busy today. who knew? it's so cold and rainy outside. i definitely don't feel like shopping with the kids, but thank goodness not everyone thinks like me! have a HUGE to-do list so hopefully lindsay and i will be able to scratch a couple items off tonight!

word is that we got a huge shipment of britax car seats, baby bjorn and noppies...the shipments keep piling in! the girls will have many calls to make to people waiting for these items!

secret project is going well! next meeting is wednesday and then we'll have some realistic time frames! hoping to announce soon!

have a great evening!
j

fall

good morning,

had a pancake breakfast and perry & the girls are now grocery shopping. ahhhh, a moment of silence! a few minutes to write!!

went to the store yesterday after my big trip to costco. the store was SOOO busy. i truly love the vibe of our store when you walk in and there are so many people you have difficulty counting. i love seeing our sales gals running around trying to get to everyone to help them find what they need (or want!). i know our staff love it too!

fall is settling in and we see more and more people getting ready for the cooler weather we know is going to come. i can't believe we're already stocking up for the x-mas season...can't wait to set up the new toy displays!! ph yes, i almost forgot about hallowe'en...we have the cutest baby costumes that should be arriving within the next week or so!!!

i think i hear the garage door opening...guess i missed my opportunity for a shower without interruption!

have a great day!
j

quick update

still not feeling so hot, but it's still morning and by the afternoon yesterday i was feeling much better. perry is on call today so that means it's just me and the girls. going to head to costco this afternoon for our bug outting! now that fall is coming i feel as though i need to fill my freezer...strange, i know!

had a great night last night at the simpson's. it was noah's 6th birthday. kids birthday party isn't for a couple of weeks but glad we could celebrate with the family last night on the actual day. can't believe noah is already. he was just 2 years old when becca and i started planning cravings!

had a great meeting with the technical brains behind our new project yesterday. becca and i are really excited to launch this new phase of cravings. we've got lots of people working hard to make it happen. our launch date of december might actually be realistic!!

have you been in cravings lately? we have so much great stock right now! i am seriously IN LOVE with the noppies line NB-4T right now and up to 6T next season! we do have 6T in MEXX and Blu right now! i have picked up so many cute outfits for the girls this season! our new Corky and Company coats for girls are absolutely to die for!

anyway, guess i had better shower and get ready for the day!

have a good one,

j

i'm not sick

i'm not getting sick, i'm not getting sick, i'm not getting sick...if i say it enough, will i feel better in the morning? i woke up with a super sore throat this morning and i got worse as the day progressed. i have NO TIME to be sick!! i just sent myself a note of a dozen things i want to get done at the store tomorrow...on top of the usual ordering and paperwork...we'll see how i feel in the morning...

was helper parent at ryan's pre-school today. all the kids were asked to fill out a family page for their memory books. when asked what our family enjoys, ryan replied "going to the mall, starbucks & winners"...i am still laughing! kids are too cute!

just got off the phone with becca, talking about our to-do's for tomorrow...i am now heading to bed so i have the energy to tackle our list!

j

happy birthday perry!

just finished some weeding outside while layla is napping and ryan is at pre-school. supposed to be 30 degrees today...so wishing the spray parks were still open. we actually have to run out and buy a little something for perry's birthday- which is today. he's getting some road bike gear with a gift certificate, but i want to get him a little something to open as well. hopefully we have some success finding something.

going to fuddruckers for his b-day dinner with the simpsons. hopefully layla cooperates so we can spend more than 10 minutes wolfing down our food! she's at that age where she doesn't want to sit still and being tied down makes her mad! she actually took 7 steps last night after i bribed her with an oreo cookie ice cream sandwich! the girl just doesn't want to walk and she's 14 months already.

new cravings project is underway. have our crew of people tackling things and we're hoping for a december or january launch. so excited for the new phase of cravings!! it was this time last year that we were solidifying the deal on our current space. can't believe it's been a year already (and can't believe we've managed to fill up 3000sq ft of space with product!). we just keep growing and growing!

enjoy the sunshine!
j

merchandise arriving by the truck loads!

busy day at the store today! the fall & winter merchandise just keeps pouring in! we also received our belly bandits for those of you who have been waiting!! have you seen the new Robeez booties? i have my eye on 2 pair for layla...they are TOO CUTE!!!

our replenishment of maclaren and uppa baby strollers should be in this week too. we just can't keep those strollers in stock!

j

fall & winter merchandise arriving now!

just put layla down for her nap and i thought i would write quickly before i shower and get ready for the day.

big plans for the weekend? can't believe it's 30 degrees outside! i wonder if the store will be busy today or if everyone will be outside enjoying the sunshine? despite the fact that we are FINALLY enjoying some summer weather, we have been receiving boxes & boxes of fall and winter goods! we have amazing winter coats, toques and scarves from MEXX, Noppies and Appaman. We have also received our super popular Stonz booties. you can even purchase liners to winterize them now and they have matching mitts with the same innovative design! they have already been selling like crazy!

well, i guess i had better shower...it's already almost 11am. i love weekends and not having to rush around :)

have a good one,
j

SALE!!!

we are passing some savings on to you!

britax boulevard CS in cowmooflage print is now on SALE!

buy 1, get 1 free summer baby & toddler clothing & shoes!

at least 50% OFF summer maternity clothing....some pieces are as low as $15!

remaining stock of Gdiapers now 50% OFF!

back from vegas

back from vegas all shopped out...did i just say that? bought some great stuff for the store and for ourselves. i think we shopped for 14 hours straight one day and i have the hugest blisters to prove it! anyway, we had a great time even though it was completely exhausting!

lots of strategizing today. getting to work on some great new projects! had a very productive staff meeting tonight as well. some new faces at cravings- welcome to jaclyn and krystal!

off to catch up on some tv i missed while we were away. so nice to sit and do NOTHING!

j

ABEX FINALIST!!!!

so proud to announce that we are a finalist for the 2009 ABEX provincial award for marketing!!! awards gala is on october!!

off to vegas tomorrow morning...looking forward to doing some shopping for the store (and myself!)

j

vegas

getting ready for las vegas this weekend! 3 more sleeps! so excited to get away for a few days, although i know it'll be hard work as well! have a few stats to run and reports to print off before the show so we can see what we need!

i'm really tired tonight. didn't come out from behind the computer screen for more than 15 minutes at a time today. working hard on getting our new orders in to our retail system and also working on our new project! yes, becca and i are starting yet another project. when it seems like things are slowing down, we need to get it going again...that's what we do best! not revealing what our next big project is, but we are hoping to unveil it in december. keeping my fingers crossed that this is a possibility!

aside from that, ryan started pre-school this week. she LOVES which is so nice! she loves being a "big girl", dressing up, getting her hair done, pretending to put make-up on. a real girly-girl. layla seems to be following her lead as well. she is obsessed with jewelry and barettes in her hair! so cute!

anyway, i am supposed to be cleaning the kitchen while perry is picking up our new camera! better go before i get caught...not to mention that i am seeing double from staring at a monitor all day!

have a good night
j

video

very informative...check out the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMUlY1F1JBQ

britax is available at cravings maternity & baby

www.cravingsmaternityandbaby.com

j

one busy week

just waiting for perry to get home so i can run out to the pre-school meeting. ryan starts her second year of pre-school next week. she is so excited and asks every day when school starts. thanks goodness perry was able to get someone to cover his shift for an hour so i could go without kids this year. last year i had both of them. layla was 6 weeks old and screamed the entire time. this year i can go by myself and actually listen!

this week has been crazy busy. i feel like i've hit a wall. inventory monday night, trade show and dinner with doug & loretta (of fulton sales), wednesday at the trade show and out for dinner with jeff swartz and his gang (another vendor). had lots of fun, but too many late nights and now i am paying for it. back to work tomorrow and then i plan to relax this weekend.

count down now until the big trade show in las vegas. can't wait to go but know it's going to be a crazy busy 3 days.

if you haven't stopped in the store lately, we have received so much amazing fall & winter merchandise...maternity, baby & toddler. all new diaper bags have arrived and so much more!

hope to see you soon!
j

buying show

getting ready to head to the midwest market. we have a 6:30 appointment with doug & loretta. they are such sweet people. take us out for dinner when we go to vancouver, are bringing in dinner for us tonight while we order up a storm for next spring/summer. they also have the best coffee so i keep going back for refills! we usually end up spending a few hours with them so it'll be nice that this is our only appointment of the evening.

we have the buying show all day tomorrow too. it'll be much busier with appointments back to back all day. it is definitely one of my favorite things to do for the business. i love seeing what's new for the next season and all the great new products on the market for moms and babes.

anyway, i better start getting ready or i'll never get out of the house!

j

oh, forgot to mention that inventory went SOOOO well last night. they did it in 2 hours...can't believe it!!

winding down, winding up

just catching up on canada's next top model and enjoying a glass of wine. winding down from a busy weekend. my parents came in which was awesome. even though they are a huge help, the girls (mostly ryan) seem to have an extraordinary amount of energy...i'm tired! looking forward to being back at work tomorrow...even if it will be chaotic.





tomorrow is inventory night. starts when we close tomorrow night. the company thinks it will only take about 3 hours but i honestly can't see how that can be done. i guess it will depend on how many people they bring with their team. whatever the case, i am happy to NOT be counting! we also have a trade show starting tomorrow, however i doubt that we will get a chance to check it out until tuesday. we'll see how it goes. the next little while is going to be very busy!





things are finally looking like they are coming to a close with the landscaping. the fence is being finished tomorrow and i think the last of the planting is going to be completed tomorrow as well. the only thing left is the lighting. they have been ordered, but it's going to be another 3-4 weeks until they arrive. i'm super excited! check out the lighting that is going down the stone staircase

i think that's it for tonight. gotta shower cuz that just doesn't happen with 2 kids in the morning!

have a good night!
j

where has the week gone?

is it seriously friday tomorrow? it has been such a busy week at the store. we hired another great employee, have done a bunch of prep for inventory on monday and the sales floor has been hopping...love it! we had a great night out with the cravings gals on tuesday night. i think we stayed out for 5 hours just chatting. i love that becca & i have found such a great group of people that we enjoy spending time with! was also out last night for an overdue birthday dinner with 2 great friends. only downside was waking up this morning so tired from 2 late nights and feeling blah from eating out so much. it made me remember how i used to feel when i would be on the road for 2 weeks at a time with my previous job. eating out all the time can sure get to you. i enjoy not having to cook but hate how it makes me feel.

working tomorrow and then my parents are coming in for the weekend! super excited to have them around. perry is off to a wedding in laurentians so it'll be nice to have another set of hands around here.

so tired- off to bed!

j

long day

was such an exhausting weekend and it didn't help that we had some computer glitches today. my brain is fried. i feel like i need vacation and i know that the next few weeks will be far from that! maybe i am anticipating all the work ahead.

on a bright note, i bought the boots today! went back and tried them on again and it took me less than 1 minute to get them on and off...much improved from my first few attempts...who knew trying on boots could be a sport! so happy with them and they will look great with my new grey skinny jeans (couldn't find faded ones)!

have the day off tomorrow, but have an eye appointments & dentist appointment and i really need to get down to the passport office. so many things to get checked off my list. we will definitely need passports if we are going away this winter. i have decided we really need to...i'm just not sure where to go that is kid friendly. please, if you have any great suggestions, pass them along!

off to sit and do NOTHING for awhile!

have a good night,
j

shopping

chaos in the house! perry's brother and our niece are here from toronto this weekend and it's been non-stop go, go, go! just when i've finished cleaning up from a meal, i am thinking of starting the next one! this morning menu included daisy shaped pancakes (coincidentally our cravings logo!), hashbrowns, bagels & lox, fruit, etc, etc. i am full and am hoping the kids (including the big kids) won't be hungry for lunch. tonight is dinner a la fuddruckers!

so, i went boot shopping yesterday. i really needed my BFF and shopping partner from calgary yesterday. i just couldn't decide. i went to 2 higher-end independent shoe retailers yesterday...have to support the small businesses in saskatoon :) anyway, was disappointed with the first store because of their lack of selection. didn't have much in my size but i did find one boot i could special order in which was great. went to the next store and i have to tell you...the customer service has steppedd up a notch. i was completely blown away. not sure if it's because there is more competition in saskatoon now? i guess there could be a number of reasons, but i did get great service. i fell in LOVE with a pair of boots...only one small problem...it took me half an hour to get them on & off. now i know i am pretty much the last person you would call "practical", but with 2 children....i can't spend 15 minutes getting my boots off :( i guess this has been a problem for most trying them on. so i came home and went on the internet...problem solved...apparently they break in and this tug-of-war will end! going back to get the boots on monday :) i even dreamt about them last night!! that's when you know you NEED the boots. my b-i-l says that when you know you are CRAZY...i totally disagree!

anyway, i have now decided that i need a new pair of faded skinny jeans...my mission for today!

j

around the house

seems like we can't get a project finished around our house...finally got the front step tiled and now i noticed that the grout kinda bubbled in a few places. gotta call the guy back. our yard is still not finished...don't even want to discuss that! our 2 week project turned 3 months in a blink of an eye. it's looking great, the workmanship is superb, but it is taking forever! perry is outside building our shed right now so we can get all our "junk" out of the garage. can't wait to be able to open my car doors properly again! we decided that the play structure he put together last week could wait on all it's aesthetic additions so we can get the shed completed.

we have company coming- my BIL and my niece from toronto- this weekend. i'm hoping to get out for a bit. i am dying to do a bit of boot shopping. we'll see what plans perry has. layla isn't such a great shopper these days so i'm thinking she's out for the boot shopping!

aside from that, plan to relax this weekend. still can't shake this cold. busy week ahead so i need to be clear headed! count down to inventory...yay! can't wait for it to be over :)

have a great night

j

our to-do list

can't believe the sun is actually shining today. apparently we are going to be getting a few nice days of weather...we'll see...i'm already in fall mode so i guess a few nice days will just be bonus now.

so much going on at the store these days. our to do list is growing by the minute. our year-end inventory is coming up and there is so much to do to prepare for that. it will be nice when that is over. we have a trade show in saskatoon the same week as inventory and then becca and i head to vegas for the ABC show. i'm so NOT complaining about that. i actually can't wait. we are far more efficient at spending thousands of dollars in a limited amount of time (ha!) so i'm hoping we'll have some time for shopping and maybe even the pool. we have lots of other projects underway as well. our new gift cards should be ready soon...along with our custom gift card wrapping. can't wait to see how everything turns out!

anyway, i am exhausted just thinking of everything that needs to be done!

have a great day!
j

quick edmonton trip

not surprising at all that i would get sick after the busy schedule i've had lately. i'm actually feeling a little better today- yesterday was the worst and we had a super busy day at the alberta gift show in edmonton. we shopped the entire day, found lots of great new products for the store (and ourselves!) and flew back last night.

the hour flight to edmonton was just enough time for becca and i to think up a dozen more things to add to our "to do" list. lots of things to accomplish in the next little while, including one big project that we're hoping to get started right away. stay tuned for details!!

off to get cup of coffee #3!

j

chaos

i'm back...at least i hope so! the last week has been chaotic and it ended with a bbq that i was intending to have outside for 30+ people...it ended up being inside as the rain started to come down while the guests arrive. it was an extremely challenging day trying to cook 7 dishes, appetizers, stock a bar, etc with 2 kids right beside me begging for attention. i typically wouldn't do this on a day perry is at work but literally it was the only day left this "summer" that we could manage it. it ended up being a great evening...my house still shows evidence of the fun. that will be tomorrow's project!

becca and i are off to the alberta gift show tomorrow. it's going to be a crazy trip. wish we could have planned to be away for 2 days, but it's just too difficult with perry's schedule and not having family around. we've managed to plan out our vegas trade how/trip well so i'm hoping to get in some serious shopping while we are there!

i'm off to bed as i have had very late nights the last little while....and i've got the girls to myself all day again...thank goodness for coffee!

have a good night
j

busy week

wow - super busy week at cravings! can't believe how much traffic we've had these past few days! on sunday, jor and i go to edmonton for the alberta gift show. should be fun - looking for some new unique items for the store...and maybe some things for ourselves :)

we still have a few racks of summer maternity & baby clothing: BUY 1, GET 1 FREE!! come in and take advantage of these fantastic savings...and help us make room for all our new fall stuff!

have a great weekend!!

r.

new arrivals

hi! i haven't written for ages...and jor has been too busy to write since sunday. super busy times for both of us! we have started getting tonnes of our new arrivals for fall. sad to think that summer is almost over :( but...the new stuff is gorgeous! this season both baby and maternity is featuring charcoal, grey, purple & jewel tones (and my favourite, black)! i LOVE fall and winter clothing - hate the cold, but love cozy sweaters, dark colours etc, etc.

gotta run...shuttle van is here to pick me up and take me to my clean car. had it detailed today!

r.

quick calgary visit

just got back from a quick weekend away in calgary. was so great to see so many friends that i haven't seen in years. did some great shopping yesterday with my bff and then had dinner at her place afterwards. her husband cooks the most amazing meals! she has two little girls as well so ryan and layla were entertained!

perry was out way too late every night...he and layla are taking a nap right now. ryan and i stocked up on some groceries. i was actually quite excited to get groceries today. one of my friends in calgary is a nutritionist and she had lots of food suggestions for layla- she is very picky. now this does mean that i have to be somewhat organized...which will be the major challenge for me! i am typically very organized but there just seems to be way too many things to organize these days. something has got to give and it seems like food prep is one of them. i'm going to try my best anyway.

hoping to spend a few hours outside this afternoon. weather is beautiful. we have a new outdoor play structure that i would really like perry to build so the kids can enjoy it a bit this summer. hoping this little nap of his will give him the boost of energy he needs to get a few more of the 30 steps completed!

day care is back on after a 2 week break! i'm back at work tomorrow and the regular routine returns!! looking forward to it!

j

cravings update

it seriously feels like fall these days....and so it is fitting that we are getting our fall & winter clothing in. for kids- mexx, blu, appaman...have all started to arrive. did you know that we are going up to size 6 now? our fall & winter maternity clothing has also started to arrive. enjoy summer merchandise at a discounted price right now! fall & winter shoes have also started arriving...little soles, pedi peds, robeez, umis...and they are already flying off the shelves...really cute patterns this season with chocolate brown sticking around and grey making it's move for the new neutral in children's clothing.

it's such an exciting time around our store with so many projects on the go. looking forward to tackling the next big one which we will announce in a few months. lots of work to do beforehand. our new full time cravings gal started this week and we love her already! she fits in with the team perfectly!

anywi think it's time for me to say good night...way past my bed time!

have a good one,
j

4 days

oh my goodness...itès sunday (there goes that french thing again...i still donèt know how to turn it off...somebody please tell me!) and i just realized i havenèt written in 4 days. i can honestly say i forgot. been tending to my babe who is now on the mend...although she looks really bad! her poor face. i counted over 20 chicken pox on her forehead alone. hoping they donèt scar.

was at the store for a few hours yesterday...just hit the big afternoon rush. was perfect timing. got a bunch of paperwork done this morning too. feels good to get caught up on something, although our to-do list keeps growing and growing...weèll never really get caught up! itès been a quiet weekend overall. lots of work going on in our back yard. most of the plants are planted. weère just waiting for curbing (supposed to be tomorrow but doubtful now becuz of the rain) and sod tuesday! they just have the rasied planter in the front yard left for stone work and thatès it!! maybe a another week...ièm hoping!

no big plans for tomorrow. wouldnèt mind heading downtown for awhile. maybe ill; make it out of the house for a few minutes sans kids!

have a good night!
j

more pox

holy cow...layla woke up with triple the number of spots this morning. i went to work and perry had to deal with a very cranky babe today (total role reversal). she barely napped and was trying so hard to scratch. she was actually much better at it than i thought she would be. wasn't so sure she had the coordination to scratch yet. her first spots showed up sunday night so i am hoping this is about all of them.

had a great day at the store today. super busy again. sold another monte chair...seriously these chairs sell like crazy. it also seemed to be a peg perego highchair day. got lots of ordering and paperwork done too.

we got the first of our fall & winter maternity clothing in today- so cute, but very sad that fall is seriously just around the corner. it actually makes me feel like crying. i love summer so much and i feel like we haven't had much of one. our yard isn't done yet either...don't even want to talk about it!!! we had 4 trees planted yesterday and that has been the extent of the activity this week. i was told it would be finished this week...i'm thinking NOT!

anyway, i'm going to enjoy my new obsession- LOST. i am now on season 4 and am so sad that season 5 isn't out on DVD yet...anyone know when it's expected?

have a good night,
j

the pox

layla officially has the chicken pox. a few spots this morning and several more by the time i got home from work. she has a fever as well but seems to be in good spirits. we'll see how she is tomorrow morning as it takes a few days for all the spots to come out. my poor baby. we were supposed to be going to calgary this weekend too.

super busy at the store today. saw a few strollers & car seats leave the store and did up a special order for another monte luca glider. lots of people in for sale items too. maternity clothing is now 40% OFF, baby & toddler clothing 25-40% OFF, select umis, pedi peds and little soles 30% OFF!! an extra coupon was also sent to your inbox if you are signed up for our newsletter! if you're not signed up, you can do it on our website:

www.cravingsmaternityandbaby.com

off to go and watch the season 3 finale of lost!

have a good night,
j

summer sale

i thought it was supposed to be hot today? 29 degrees? i think not! it's pouring rain right now. guess we needed it after a week of wonderful weather???

dinner last night was fantastic. we went to tusq. ambience was great, food was amazing, our server was fantastic. check it out. i would highly recommend it!

http://www.tusq.ca/Tusq-Restaurant.html

waiting for my friend to call from the road. she has been living in korea and now, italy for the past few years. met the love of her life while abroad. they got married and she has brought him back with her. i think we're meeting for lunch and then she wants to see the store and our house.

as an aside, we will be sending out an email later today about our summer sale. fall & winter merchandise has started to arrive so we need to clear out maternity, baby & toddler clothing!! we only have 2 pieces of floor model furniture left! i dresser in antique white and 1 in antique black- 40% OFF!!! make sure you are on our VIP list to receive the exclusive emails!

j

10th anniversary

just waiting for simpsons to show up with our babysitter. we're all heading out to tusq for dinner tonight. perry & i are celebrating our 10th anniversary...crazy! can't believe it's been 10 years, but at the same time, so much has happened since we were married.

had a great day with the girls today- enjoying the sun. headed to the paddling pool for awhile. layla wasn't especially impressed by the freezing cold water, but ryan had a good time! perry is actually home tomorrow and i have a friend visiting from italy so i am going to enjoy a little time to myself!

have a good weekend!
j

miracle blanket

at the store right now doing paperwork. it's been really steady tonight. lots of people gearing up for the lake this weekend i think! just checked and we only have 3 of our all natural bug spray left! can't believe how quickly it sold! i used mine last weekend and love it! layla is always sticking her hands in her mouth so it's nice to know that her sunscreen and bug spray are all natural.

i came across this you tube clip about the miracle blanket. i used this product with layla and absolutely loved it. i think i even blogged about it when she was just weeks old. the blanket really is a miracle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCwJL4Du-Cg

have a great night!
j

hiring for part-time position

oh ya, forgot to mention...we are still looking for 1 part time employee. have found some really awesome people to join the team this past week and would love to have 1 more! please drop off your resume to rebecca or jordana!!

yard progress

sitting on my couch waiting for the fence guy to show up so we can go through our specifications. it's finally stopped raining and the work has begun. we have top soil, underground sprinklers and our play area has been framed out. very exciting to finally see progress again!! shouldn't be too much longer now...keeping my fingers crossed!

perry is off playing football tonight and i've rented another Lost dvd. i am so addicted to it now! i guess there are only 4 seasons out on dvd so far and i'm halfway through season three.

off to work again tomorrow. becca & i have sworn to keep our office door closed for at least a few hours so we can get the ABEX application completed. always takes longer than we think. that's what you get when you put two people together that are never satisfied! always something that can be better!

off to prep the dvd so i can watch after the meeting...

have a good night
j

hot, hot, hot!

just got back from a great (and hot!) weekend with becca & family at their family cabin. weather was fantastic...so glad it cooperated! i think becca might show up a little sore tomorrow...from a sunburn and from doing her tricks on the knee board! it was so nice to get away for the weekend. kids played so well together (and we did too!).

back to work tomorrow after a week of the chicken pox. i really did think layla got them. 4 kids came down with them at daycare and she got 2 spots the day after the break out started. weird thing though...she only got 2 spots. had her 1 year check-up on tuesday by coincidence and doc confirmed they were chicken pox. i'm just not sure now. have you ever heard of a child getting only 2 spots? that would be absolutely wonderful if that was it, but i am not so sure??? what are your thoughts?

if it doesn't rain tomorrow we are getting topsoil. i checked the forecast and i don't even want to go there, but it looks like we might get $%#! tomorrow...i can't even say it anymore!

off to get ready for a glorious week of work- yay!!!!

j

ready for the weekend!

wow! the weekend is here . . . and the weather is cooperating (so far)!! we are heading up to the cabin tonight - can't wait to play on the beach, go boating, relax on the deck, drink some wine . . . the joys of summer at the lake! FINALLY!!

the store has been crazy busy today!! saskatonians NEED the sun to feel good, and when they feel good, they SHOP!!

lots of people taking advantage of our DAISY DAYS SALE - 25% OFF all spring & summer maternity, baby & toddler clothing!! UMI SHOES are still 20% OFF and we still have a few pieces of FURNITURE 40% OFF!!

have a great weekend!!
r.

chicken pox

layal has the chicken pox...go figure. ryan got immunized so she's pox free at this point, although i've heard they can still get a mild form of it. it's not bad at this point, but i guess it can take a few days for everything to show up. there are 4 kids at daycare with the chicken pox right now- argh! so, anyway this means i'm at home this week until she gets better. at least there are a couple of things i can do from home and i'll just go in in the evenings instead. nice that i have that flexibility.

on a poositive note, the sun is shining today!! it's not very warm but the sun makes such a HUGE difference. i guess it's supposed to get quite warm by the weekend. nothing has happened in our yard for a week and a half so i'm hoping things dry up quickly so we can it done already. i can't believe it's mid-july already and i don't feel like we've had any sort of summer yet :(

if you haven't stopped by the store recently, we have a huge sales going on. all summer maternity, baby & toddler clothing is 25% OFF (non-stock items), select floor model furniture is 40%OFF and we have various items marked down 30%!!

j

rain, rain go away!

weeks and weeks of RAIN - this is absolutely nuts!! i'm not sure how much more i can handle!?!?! i didn't want to get out of bed this morning...i'm grumpy!

i've lived in saskatoon my whole life...and i'm a die-hard saskatchewan fan. any time someone complains about our winters, the drivers, the lack of selection, etc. etc. i'm the first one to defend our great city and point out the positives...my favourite being our fantastic summers. come on, work with me here!! i need to feel the hot, hot sun on my skin, i want to sit outside on our deck until 11pm, i want to have to use my a/c (and have centennial busy with service calls), i want to go up to the lake and not worry what my kids are going to do for a full weekend inside the cabin, i want to put away my winter clothes!!!!

so that's my rant...i feel better already! at least the store is busy today. all those mommas sick of being cooped up in the house with their little monsters (who haven't been able to burn off their energy outside for days)!

on the upside, my lawn is looking great!

r.

a great weekend

girls day today- perry was on-call until 6pm. you never know how the day will turn out...temper tantrums, time outs, fights...well today was a great day. no time outs, just lots of fun outside together. long walk this morning, some park time and we even played on our new patio (that isn't fully finished). we had a great time and enjoyed the sun anyway! layla is sleeping and ryan is watching tv (she's up later than usual but i selfishly managed to convince her to have a small nap this afternoon!).

anyway, had a wonderful family weekend and now i am looking forward to work tomorrow! i was thinking about how lucky i am that i am living my dream of owning and operating a successful business. i have an amazing business partner and i love the gals we work with...makes for a pretty good time!

have a good night!
j

weekend update

my parents are in town to celebrate layla's 1st birthday and i was trying to explain twitter, blogging, facebook, etc to my mom. she just can't grasp the concept. i have to admit it took me awhile to get used to the idea of blogging...now it seems like a normal part of the day...although it does take awhile to keep up with everything! my parents are supposed to be leaving tomorrow but i'm thinking if i beg long enough, they might stay another day...wishful thinking...oh to have parents in the city.

i hear it's supposed to be "nice" out tomorrow. think we might get together with the simpson's and get the kids out of the house. haven't seen them for awhile...well, the kids anyway...i see becca all the time! will be nice to enjoy some time in the sun if mother nature allows.

landscaping guys are supposed to be back on monday if everything is dry...will see what tomorrow brings. also have a conference call with a friend of mine that owns several businesses, online businesses and has since franchised...looking forward to picking his brain about a few things...yes, always thinking of the next project!

off to bed!
j

1 today!

my babe is 1 today...and the sun is shining! yay! my parents should be here mid afternoon and are staying for the weekend. i should really get my butt in gear and clean up the house...darn black hardwood that needs cleaning every 30 minutes!

so hoping the weather dries up the swamp we have in our back yard so they can resume the work they need to do to get this project done. what i would give for sod right now!

i guess i've been put on lunch duty...perry is at home so we actually eat a meal...when i'm at home with the kids i just kinda pick all day...chicken kabobs, rice and salad on the menu...mmm...i'm hungry!

have a great day...keeping my fingers crossed for a weekend of nice weather!
j

feeling better

i think i went to bed at 8:30 last night...woke up at 7:30 when ryan got up. i feel much better tonight...ready for an evening of paperwork.

so, little layla is 1 tomorrow! i can hardly believe it. my parents are coming in to celebrate and perry is on-call of course. will be celebrating together on saturday- family photos and dinner at fuddruckers. no formal birthday party this weekend. hoping to have a backyard bbq to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries at the end of the month. now that would mean it would have to stop raining so they can finish our yard...this weather is ridiculous...worst spring and summer i can remember ( i feel like i say that every year...is it getting worse or am i making this up)....hmmm...somehow pushed the french button and now all i get is ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ...anyone know how to turn this offÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ

anyway, hope you have checked out our new website and are signed up for our newsletter. we have a spring & summer sale going on right now, as well as a floor model furniture sale- up to 40% OFF! you can sign up for our newsletter from our website

www.cravingsmaternityandbaby.com

stay tuned for more project announcements!

j

not so hot

not feeling so hot today. not sure what's up (i'm NOT preggo!), but was really nauseous for awhile. it seems to have passed but i'm exhausted and ready for bed...well, after i wash the grey right outta my hair!

had a productive day at work despite the fact that i disappeared for 2 hours. dealt with our defective list and finished all the vouchers in the file, had a great meeting for our next project and we hired someone!

getting ready to put babe #1 down for the night and looking forward to heading there myself!

have a good night
j

rainy day

gloomy day with the girls today. curtis & trevor came by to see the driveway and they helped me pick out tile for the front step. i think it will really add to the street appeal of our house. tomorrow was supposed to he top soil day...i'm thinking it might be friday after hearing the weather forecast for the next few days :(

here is a picture that curtis took this morning of our driveway and front step from his phone...posted on his twitter account @atmosphereID. everything is soaked from the rain!

had a great playdate with the johnston's today. love it when the girls play so well together. very little intervention needed so we could enjoy some adult conversation over coffee! layla slept most of the time they were over and little nathan was such a good boy. this kid is freakin cute and so cuddly...i just want to squish him!

tomorrow i'm back at work. we have a few meetings, including one interview! we are looking to hire a couple of people, so if you are still interested (or know someone who might be), please drop off a resume.

becca & i have a few projects to work on. one project due at the end of this month and one that we are just doing research on right now. that's one thing about the two of us...we never sit still...always thinking of how things could be better! good thing we found each other!

have a good night!