For some time now I have felt the need to post an entry on our blog explaining the absence of consistent communication, for lack of a better phrase. In early March my father passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. I wanted to take an opportunity to write a blog post that wasn't about a company event or new product or even cloth diaper care instructions.
Life happened over the past few months and I wanted to share a bit of the personal experience I and Baby Luv Boutique have been through recently.
As a business owner your time is divided between family, business, and self with all three vying for top spot at times. Dealing with the terminal illness of a parent is a consuming, overwhelming time and even though my family has been through this before, it certainly does not get any easier. One distinct difference this time is that my children were all a bit older and definitely experienced the illness and passing of their grandfather with varying levels of understanding and acceptance.
When you are trying to deal with your own grief and all that goes with the impending loss of a parent, so too are the little people in your life. When the hour is the darkest the wonderful innocence of a child can shed some much needed light on your own perspective.
We tried to prepare our children as their grandfather's health deteriorated as much as we could but when he passed away, the reactions were as unique as each child. My youngest was the closest to my father and I expected a huge display of sadness from her. Despite her grief, she was able to confidently say that we didn't have to worry about Grandpa anymore since he was in heaven with Grandma now and his cancer was gone. Our own words echoed back to us with a calmness and confidence that can only make you wonder in awe at how mature a young child under the age of 6 could be. Whenever I was emotional throughout his illness and had had a tough day, my youngest would bring me a tissue and say "It's OK Mom." Wait a minute, isn't that supposed to be me doing that?
Our children deserve much more credit than we give them at times; their understanding can be much deeper than we know. I feel blessed that all of my children got to meet and spend some time with their grandparents, albeit some amounts far too short for some, but still opportunities to create memories.
I just wanted to shed some light on the quiet times with our business the past few months. Life happened to us and we needed to spend some time with family that would not be possible going forward. We are fortunate to have wonderful clients and we are looking forward to the change in season and all the hope and promise spring can bring.
We just wanted to share a bit of the good and bad we've been through these past few months. The overall result is good as I'm reflective and awestruck as always by the love in a child's heart. Even when their own heart may be heavy, they can always see the true good in everything. I'm grateful for the time with my father and I'm even more grateful for the time I spend each day with my children. As parents we often see ourselves as the teacher, but every now and then we can learn from our children as well.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Great Cloth Diaper Change Around the World
Baby Luv Boutique is the official Saskatoon host for The Great Cloth Diaper Change taking place on Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 at 10am CST. We are one of over 400 locations around the world taking part in this event.
What's all the fuss about? In celebration of Earth Day, cloth diaper retailers and cloth diaper advocates alike are hosting locations around the globe where families will simultaneously change their baby into a reusable cloth diaper. All those taking part hope to set a Guiness World Record for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously around the world. If all locations have the minimum number of baby/parent pairs taking part, that could be over 10,000 babies being changed into a cloth diaper at the same time.
Not only does it represent setting a World Record, but it represents a much larger goal. For that moment around the world, all those families will make a statement and place their child in a reusable cloth diaper product eliminating a disposable diaper from entering the landfill. It's a very fitting event to help celebrate Earth Day.
This event is not just for cloth diapering families. For those families who currently do not use cloth diapers but are interested in taking part, you can! Happy Nappy Cloth Diaper Service has graciously offered to provide cloth diapers for families to use for the change event. If you are a cloth diapering family, you must use a commercially manufactured cloth diaper sold in an online boutique like Baby Luv Boutique or some other retail outlet. Homemade cloth diaper products cannot be used during this event based on the Guiness guidelines.
There are a number of rules and requirements surrounding the event that Guiness has provided so Baby Luv Boutique is taking a smaller scale approach to the event. We have space for 35 registered babies/toddlers to attend with a parent. Children must measure 39" or less in order to qualify to take part.
To take part you must pre-register and we ask that attendees arrive on time if not a bit early in order for your registration to be processed. Baby Luv Boutique wants this to be a fun filled event so we are working with a number of suppliers and local businesses who are providing door prize items. Registered participants will be eligible for the door prize draws so to take part, be sure to register early. There will also be a FREE Cloth Diaper Workshop taking place that afternoon as well. We know it's Easter weekend but what a great way to start the holiday celebrations - set a World Record and celebrate the renewed hope that spring brings to us all!
Witness volunteers are needed to help with this event. If you are interested in taking part, please contact us by phone or via email. Phone: (306) 682-5746 Email: inquire@babyluvboutique.com.
To get more information and to register visit our website here.
Happy Easter and Happy Spring! Let`s make some history and set a World Record right here in Saskatoon!
Friday, September 17, 2010
The Savvy Parent Seminar - An Inside Look
The Savvy Parent Seminar September 26th/10 from 12pm – 4pm
Twilight Room at The Willows in Saskatoon
So what is this event all about? You’ve been hearing a lot about it and I wanted to give you a bit more background on it. As a parent and a business owner, I felt there was a need to provide parents with information on a variety of relevant topics of interest in a setting that makes it enjoyable for them to receive that information. Other businesses I work with felt there was a need to do the same and thus The Savvy Parent Seminar was born!
Parents crave knowledge – I know I do. At times it can be difficult to find information and depending on the source, credibility can be an issue. By having a variety of experts available and having us come together in a comfortable setting to present that information offers parents enhanced learning opportunities. This will be a relaxing and entertaining experience that will leave you feeling more confident and informed about making healthy, sustainable choices for yourself and your family.
The Savvy Parent Seminar is an opportunity for existing and expectant parents to gather to hear information from experts on relevant topics, and to enjoy the company of fellow parents while sampling some wonderful food and beverages.
Tickets to attend are $30 each. What do you get for the cost of that ticket? Attendees are going to receive a swag bag full of product samples and information that is worth over $50+ in value, an event booklet with coupons totalling $30+ in value, and a chance to win door prizes that start at $25+ in value. They will get to sample some exquisitely prepared appetizers and dessert while listening to a knowledgeable group of speakers. The collective value of the speakers’ time alone definitely exceeds the cost of a ticket. As a parent or parent to be, how can you go wrong?
To make things even better, a charitable donation from a portion of the proceeds of the event will be made to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. We want you to know the event is about more than just a chance to shop for goods and services, snack and win a prize.
This event is about giving parents an opportunity to be pampered and to take some time for themselves to enjoy an afternoon while being able to come away feeling empowered and enriched by the experience. We know how hard it can be to do that sometimes. You can also feel good that you are helping contribute to a very worthwhile local charity.
Nursing babies are more than welcome and we will have some designated seating within the room for that. Many have asked if they need to leave their small children at home. We leave that choice up to each family as to what works best for them. If you are a young family and a toddler needs to join you at the event, there will be a small unsupervised child’s play area set up to help keep little ones busy with some toys and coloring supplies. Scheduled breaks between groups of speakers will allow people time to mingle, get up and stretch their legs, change baby, give their toddler some free time, and speak with presenters in greater detail on topics of choice.
The goal is to offer a unique, worthwhile experience in an intimate setting while having some fun along the way. We've kept the event size small to avoid a lot of hustle and bustle and to provide as close to a one on one experience as possible. We also respect the privacy of our attendees so no contact information will be shared with prize sponsors. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with other soon-to-be parents and existing parents.
Tickets are on sale until September 22 and you can purchase yours here: www.savvyparentseminar.ca
Here is the agenda for the day:
12:00: Welcome ~ Laura Monchuk, Saskmom.com
12:10: Cloth Diapers: Dispelling the Myths
Shari Hinz, Baby Luv Boutique
12:30: Starting from Scratch: Healthy Foods for Baby & Beyond
Tiffany Banow, Happy Pantry
12:50: Break & Door Prizes
1:30: Creating an Eco-Happy Home
Marlese Assman, Demetria Organics
1:50: Yoga & Relaxation Techniques
Chantal Banda, Harmony Souls
2:10: Break & Door Prizes
2:50: Postpartum Health for Moms
Paula Anderson & Sharlene Reynolds
LifeMark Health Daniels Kimber Physiotherapy
3:10: Wrap Up ~ Laura Monchuk, Saskmom.com
3:30: Final Door Prizes & On-Site Shopping
As you can see it's going to be an awesome afternoon. We look forward to seeing you there!
Twilight Room at The Willows in Saskatoon
So what is this event all about? You’ve been hearing a lot about it and I wanted to give you a bit more background on it. As a parent and a business owner, I felt there was a need to provide parents with information on a variety of relevant topics of interest in a setting that makes it enjoyable for them to receive that information. Other businesses I work with felt there was a need to do the same and thus The Savvy Parent Seminar was born!
Parents crave knowledge – I know I do. At times it can be difficult to find information and depending on the source, credibility can be an issue. By having a variety of experts available and having us come together in a comfortable setting to present that information offers parents enhanced learning opportunities. This will be a relaxing and entertaining experience that will leave you feeling more confident and informed about making healthy, sustainable choices for yourself and your family.
The Savvy Parent Seminar is an opportunity for existing and expectant parents to gather to hear information from experts on relevant topics, and to enjoy the company of fellow parents while sampling some wonderful food and beverages.
Tickets to attend are $30 each. What do you get for the cost of that ticket? Attendees are going to receive a swag bag full of product samples and information that is worth over $50+ in value, an event booklet with coupons totalling $30+ in value, and a chance to win door prizes that start at $25+ in value. They will get to sample some exquisitely prepared appetizers and dessert while listening to a knowledgeable group of speakers. The collective value of the speakers’ time alone definitely exceeds the cost of a ticket. As a parent or parent to be, how can you go wrong?
To make things even better, a charitable donation from a portion of the proceeds of the event will be made to the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. We want you to know the event is about more than just a chance to shop for goods and services, snack and win a prize.
This event is about giving parents an opportunity to be pampered and to take some time for themselves to enjoy an afternoon while being able to come away feeling empowered and enriched by the experience. We know how hard it can be to do that sometimes. You can also feel good that you are helping contribute to a very worthwhile local charity.
Nursing babies are more than welcome and we will have some designated seating within the room for that. Many have asked if they need to leave their small children at home. We leave that choice up to each family as to what works best for them. If you are a young family and a toddler needs to join you at the event, there will be a small unsupervised child’s play area set up to help keep little ones busy with some toys and coloring supplies. Scheduled breaks between groups of speakers will allow people time to mingle, get up and stretch their legs, change baby, give their toddler some free time, and speak with presenters in greater detail on topics of choice.
The goal is to offer a unique, worthwhile experience in an intimate setting while having some fun along the way. We've kept the event size small to avoid a lot of hustle and bustle and to provide as close to a one on one experience as possible. We also respect the privacy of our attendees so no contact information will be shared with prize sponsors. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with other soon-to-be parents and existing parents.
Tickets are on sale until September 22 and you can purchase yours here: www.savvyparentseminar.ca
Here is the agenda for the day:
12:00: Welcome ~ Laura Monchuk, Saskmom.com
12:10: Cloth Diapers: Dispelling the Myths
Shari Hinz, Baby Luv Boutique
12:30: Starting from Scratch: Healthy Foods for Baby & Beyond
Tiffany Banow, Happy Pantry
12:50: Break & Door Prizes
1:30: Creating an Eco-Happy Home
Marlese Assman, Demetria Organics
1:50: Yoga & Relaxation Techniques
Chantal Banda, Harmony Souls
2:10: Break & Door Prizes
2:50: Postpartum Health for Moms
Paula Anderson & Sharlene Reynolds
LifeMark Health Daniels Kimber Physiotherapy
3:10: Wrap Up ~ Laura Monchuk, Saskmom.com
3:30: Final Door Prizes & On-Site Shopping
As you can see it's going to be an awesome afternoon. We look forward to seeing you there!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Cloth Diaper Care Part 1: Routine
As a parent I used cloth diapers for 9 years - yes you read correctly, nine years of diapering. So when I say that I have washed, dried and hung on the line numerous loads of cloth diapers you can believe it!
Detergent and care questions are the most common topics clients ask about. We will chronicle in detail some relevant information for parents so you can make a wise detergent choice for your family and establish a solid wash routine for your diaper products. When you make an investment to use cloth diapers, having the right tools and understanding how to care for them is important.
Location and subsequent water hardness may cause your routine to differ slightly from others, but the general guidelines can be followed by everyone. If a particular situation warrants some adjustment to your routine, there is always the ability to tailor it to your needs.
In this first article of a multi-part series on diaper care and detergent, I am going to provide some updated care instructions and some diaper “don’ts”. I want to try to simplify things for you while still giving all the information you need!
The most common questions we get asked by our clients are: "How do I wash cloth diapers? Isn't it hard to do?" The routine itself couldn't be simpler. We'll start at the beginning and share all our dirty diaper laundry secrets!
What do I do with soiled and dirty diapers?
Place wet or soiled diapers into a dry diaper pail with baking soda sprinkled on the bottom to help absorb odor. Baking soda does an amazing job of keeping your pail smelling fresh. Make sure any solid waste in the diaper has been put into the toilet, place the diaper in the pail and lay the lid on top. Wet diapers can be placed in the pail as is taking care to remove any disposable liners if you use these products.
If breastfeeding you don't need to rinse the diaper off but if you wish to, simply put on a pair of rubber gloves and rinse the diaper in the toilet, squeeze out excess water, and place in the diaper pail. A pail liner can be used inside your diaper pail if you prefer. You would dump all the diapers in the pail liner into the wash and place the pail liner in to be washed as well.
Another tip to eliminate odor in your diaper pail is to attach a small square of fabric with tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract on the lid. Carbon filters also do a great job of eliminating odor.
Make sure you wash often enough - no more than 2 days between wash cycles are recommended. The longer wet/soiled diapers sit, the more opportunity for bacteria, mould, and other organisms to develop.
What's the best wash routine for my cloth diapers?
A cold or warm(preferred) presoak, hot wash and cold rinse is the most common recommendation. The cold or warm temperature presoak can prevent stains from setting into diaper fabric. You may want to do an extra rinse to ensure all detergent is completely out of the diapers. Proper rinsing will reduce detergent residue or build up.
If using a detergent recommended specifically for cloth diapers, use the amount indicated in the detergent instructions taking into account the degree of water hardness/softness in your location and the number of diapers being washed per load.
If you have hard water, you may need to slightly increase the amount of detergent used.
By the same token, if you have a water softener installed in your home you may need to decrease the amount of detergent used compared to the manufacturer recommendations.
If using a mainstream detergent, reduce the recommended amount by 1/2 to start especially if it’s a concentrated variety. If any suds remain in the machine, rinse again until there are no suds in the washing machine drum.
You can either line dry (most eco-friendly) or dry diapers and inserts in the dryer as per manufacturers' recommendations.
Cloth diaper care "don'ts"
When using today's modern cloth diapers, there are things you shouldn’t do when caring for them. You want to protect your investment in the products and maintain your safety.
Do NOT use fabric softeners, dryer sheets or detergents with fabric softeners in them. These items cause build up and leaking. Even if you do not use these products with your diaper laundry but use them with regular laundry, they can leave deposits in both your washing machine and dryer by coating the interior drum. These deposits can transfer onto cloth diaper products and cause repelling and leaking.
No bleach or whitening agents as use of these could damage products and void manufacturer warranty.
No vinegar or baking soda should be used in the wash. Vinegar can change the pH of your water and possibly damage elastic. Baking soda can settle into fabric and cause build up. If using baking soda in your diaper pail, dump it into the toilet, rinse out your pail and do not place it in the machine with your cloth diapers.
Do NOT use the sanitize cycle on your washing machine for cloth diapers. The water temperature on this setting is too high and can damage Aplix or Velcro closure tabs, snaps and elastic. You may be able to use it for cotton prefolds or certain insert material like microterry inserts. Check manufacturer recommendations prior to using the sanitize cycle on your washing machine but it is generally not recommended due to the extreme temperature.
Do NOT boil your diapers. This will damage the elastic and possibly the polyurethane laminate in your diaper products. Boiling diapers will void product warranty.
Do NOT wash diapers in the dishwasher as this is an extreme fire hazard.
Our next article in this series will discuss the science behind detergent, which varieties are cloth diaper friendly and local detergent sources (in Humboldt and Saskatoon).
Stay tuned for more great information!
Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
Detergent and care questions are the most common topics clients ask about. We will chronicle in detail some relevant information for parents so you can make a wise detergent choice for your family and establish a solid wash routine for your diaper products. When you make an investment to use cloth diapers, having the right tools and understanding how to care for them is important.
Location and subsequent water hardness may cause your routine to differ slightly from others, but the general guidelines can be followed by everyone. If a particular situation warrants some adjustment to your routine, there is always the ability to tailor it to your needs.
In this first article of a multi-part series on diaper care and detergent, I am going to provide some updated care instructions and some diaper “don’ts”. I want to try to simplify things for you while still giving all the information you need!
The most common questions we get asked by our clients are: "How do I wash cloth diapers? Isn't it hard to do?" The routine itself couldn't be simpler. We'll start at the beginning and share all our dirty diaper laundry secrets!
What do I do with soiled and dirty diapers?
Place wet or soiled diapers into a dry diaper pail with baking soda sprinkled on the bottom to help absorb odor. Baking soda does an amazing job of keeping your pail smelling fresh. Make sure any solid waste in the diaper has been put into the toilet, place the diaper in the pail and lay the lid on top. Wet diapers can be placed in the pail as is taking care to remove any disposable liners if you use these products.
If breastfeeding you don't need to rinse the diaper off but if you wish to, simply put on a pair of rubber gloves and rinse the diaper in the toilet, squeeze out excess water, and place in the diaper pail. A pail liner can be used inside your diaper pail if you prefer. You would dump all the diapers in the pail liner into the wash and place the pail liner in to be washed as well.
Another tip to eliminate odor in your diaper pail is to attach a small square of fabric with tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract on the lid. Carbon filters also do a great job of eliminating odor.
Make sure you wash often enough - no more than 2 days between wash cycles are recommended. The longer wet/soiled diapers sit, the more opportunity for bacteria, mould, and other organisms to develop.
What's the best wash routine for my cloth diapers?
A cold or warm(preferred) presoak, hot wash and cold rinse is the most common recommendation. The cold or warm temperature presoak can prevent stains from setting into diaper fabric. You may want to do an extra rinse to ensure all detergent is completely out of the diapers. Proper rinsing will reduce detergent residue or build up.
If using a detergent recommended specifically for cloth diapers, use the amount indicated in the detergent instructions taking into account the degree of water hardness/softness in your location and the number of diapers being washed per load.
If you have hard water, you may need to slightly increase the amount of detergent used.
By the same token, if you have a water softener installed in your home you may need to decrease the amount of detergent used compared to the manufacturer recommendations.
If using a mainstream detergent, reduce the recommended amount by 1/2 to start especially if it’s a concentrated variety. If any suds remain in the machine, rinse again until there are no suds in the washing machine drum.
You can either line dry (most eco-friendly) or dry diapers and inserts in the dryer as per manufacturers' recommendations.
Cloth diaper care "don'ts"
When using today's modern cloth diapers, there are things you shouldn’t do when caring for them. You want to protect your investment in the products and maintain your safety.
Do NOT use fabric softeners, dryer sheets or detergents with fabric softeners in them. These items cause build up and leaking. Even if you do not use these products with your diaper laundry but use them with regular laundry, they can leave deposits in both your washing machine and dryer by coating the interior drum. These deposits can transfer onto cloth diaper products and cause repelling and leaking.
No bleach or whitening agents as use of these could damage products and void manufacturer warranty.
No vinegar or baking soda should be used in the wash. Vinegar can change the pH of your water and possibly damage elastic. Baking soda can settle into fabric and cause build up. If using baking soda in your diaper pail, dump it into the toilet, rinse out your pail and do not place it in the machine with your cloth diapers.
Do NOT use the sanitize cycle on your washing machine for cloth diapers. The water temperature on this setting is too high and can damage Aplix or Velcro closure tabs, snaps and elastic. You may be able to use it for cotton prefolds or certain insert material like microterry inserts. Check manufacturer recommendations prior to using the sanitize cycle on your washing machine but it is generally not recommended due to the extreme temperature.
Do NOT boil your diapers. This will damage the elastic and possibly the polyurethane laminate in your diaper products. Boiling diapers will void product warranty.
Do NOT wash diapers in the dishwasher as this is an extreme fire hazard.
Our next article in this series will discuss the science behind detergent, which varieties are cloth diaper friendly and local detergent sources (in Humboldt and Saskatoon).
Stay tuned for more great information!
Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Third instalment on the science of disposable diapers - what's inside...
Here is the third article on disposable diapers that actually opens them up and looks inside to show you what they are made of:
http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/five-possible-sources-of-irritation-in-pampers-dry-max-diapers
If you have any questions regarding how to use cloth diapers and what's inside, don't hesitate to contact us by phone or via email at Baby Luv Boutique, we'd love to educate you on the benefits of cloth diapers!
Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
inquire@babyluvboutique.com
http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/five-possible-sources-of-irritation-in-pampers-dry-max-diapers
If you have any questions regarding how to use cloth diapers and what's inside, don't hesitate to contact us by phone or via email at Baby Luv Boutique, we'd love to educate you on the benefits of cloth diapers!
Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
inquire@babyluvboutique.com
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
More must read information on the disposable diaper...
Here is Part 2 of the article on disposable diapers and the most recent media coverage of the effects some disposable diaper products are having on children:
http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/the-true-story-of-pampers-dry-max-part-2-what-dry-max-is-doing-to-kids/
If you have been following this story, it is just another source of information for parents to consider when choosing cloth versus disposable products.
Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/the-true-story-of-pampers-dry-max-part-2-what-dry-max-is-doing-to-kids/
If you have been following this story, it is just another source of information for parents to consider when choosing cloth versus disposable products.
Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Disposable Diaper Science - a must read for parents
We have found the story regarding disposable diaper products in the media of late very interesting with a lot of eye opening information being presented. As parents and business owners, we feel this is something every new or expectant parent should certainly be aware of and should have the information available to help them make a decision about what products they wish to purchase and use.
Here is a wonderful series of articles on disposable diapers and the science behind them:
http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/the-true-story-of-pampers-dry-max-part-1-the-diaper-wars
There are three parts in this series to date and more is expected. We think it is a must read series of articles for parents. Insightful, useful information that can help you choose what products will be right for your family and your children. You may find out some information that will make you take a second look at alternatives to disposable products.
We can't say it enough - isn't now a great time to consider using cloth diapers?
Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
Here is a wonderful series of articles on disposable diapers and the science behind them:
http://www.zrecommends.com/detail/the-true-story-of-pampers-dry-max-part-1-the-diaper-wars
There are three parts in this series to date and more is expected. We think it is a must read series of articles for parents. Insightful, useful information that can help you choose what products will be right for your family and your children. You may find out some information that will make you take a second look at alternatives to disposable products.
We can't say it enough - isn't now a great time to consider using cloth diapers?
Baby Luv Boutique
http://www.babyluvboutique.com
(306) 682-5746
1-866-231-5135
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