Cyber Monday at Natural Urban Mamas!
Well, Natural Urban Mamas is an ONLINE store, so we had to have a big Cyber Monday SALE!!
Head on over to the site and take advantage of our "ABC" SALE!! All discounts will be automatically applied at checkout.
Happy Shopping Everyone,
Natasha~
What's the big deal about a counterfeit baby carrier??
In the past few weeks it has come to the attention of most of us in the baby carrier industry that there are fake, knock-off, and counterfeit baby carriers hitting the market. These carriers are being sold from various eBay sites by sellers who are using big brand names to sell these impostor carriers at a ridiculously low price. And if you didn't know any better, heck you might just be suckered into buying one of them because the price is just too damn good to pass up!! Or like some comments I have seen on certain sites, maybe some people just don't care.
Some of the comments from fake ERGO buyers!
REALLY?? Not that you were one of the ones that CARED??
Last week the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) sent out this warning about the fake carriers and urges all consumers to be aware of these knock-offs and to only shop with reliable retailers, either online or in brick & mortar stores, to ensure that you are getting the real deal. If you are not sure if your baby carrier seller is legit, 99% of the time you can check the manufacturers site for a list of approved retailers.
But why is this such a big deal?
Here is the thing. We are talking about a product that carries your most precious cargo...your child. Why on earth would you buy just any kind of cheap, untested and potentially unsafe product to carry your baby in? Would you buy a knock-off car seat? One that was not tested? I think not! (or at least I seriously hope not!)
Now, I understand that some people may be thinking, how different can they really be, they look exactly the same? And so what if it was not really tested, I buy fake Coach or Gucci purses all the time and they look and function just fine. And I say to you this, a broken strap or unraveling stitch on your purse is one thing. A broken strap or unravelling stitch in a baby carrier can put your child in DANGER!
Some of the carriers in question have been 'tested' by concerned mamas and members of the BCIA and what has been found is that some do not rip, while others rip at the seams with a simple strong pull on the fabric. Do you want to take the risk that the one you purchase will be the one that rips? Personally, this is not a risk that I think is worth it in order to save a couple of bucks!
The "wholesale" website.
On top of the safety issue with all of these fake carriers, including versions of the ERGO, the Beco, the MobyWrap, the FreeHand Mei Tai and others, there is the legal issue of copyright and stolen designs, instructions and marketing materials. Not only are these practices not very nice at all, they are also ILLEGAL! And it's not just in the making of these products, anyone importing and distributing these products is also committing a crime, especially with the patented carriers like the Ergo, and these people can be prosecuted for their actions as a the 'middle man'.
I am writing this as a general buyer beware post. Beware of the 'wholesalers' selling 10 carriers for $30 bucks apiece, beware of the various eBay sellers and Co-op groups cropping up on Facebook to sell and distribute these and beware of these fake carriers hitting the resale sites like Kijiji and Craigslist.
My best advice is to buy your baby carriers from reputable online or brick and mortar retailers and pay for the product and the testing and the craftsmanship that goes into making a good, safe baby carrier.
And remember that if a deal looks and sounds too good to be true, if often is!
Don't get fooled Mamas!
Happy and SAFE Babywearing Everyone,
Natasha~
Bathroom Stall 1 - Natural Urban Mama 0
Today was one of those days that I spent wishing and praying that I was ANYWHERE else except for where I was!
All was going to plan. We shopped at GAPKids, the kids were helpful in choosing the items that I bought them and then we went to Gymboree and they watched the little TV in there while I picked out some new swimwear for them. We then headed over to Jugo Juice for our regular mall lunch fare-a smoothie and a grilled chicken wrap.
As we finished up lunch, L told me she was doing a 'pee-pee dance' and so we hightailed it to the nearest bathroom. We made it, she peed and then we continued on our way and headed to Anthropologie for Mama to get her 'fix'. Not even 5 minutes in the store, L looks up at me again and says that she had to go back to the bathroom because she now is doing a 'poo-poo dance'. So, I load her and C back into our sit & stand stroller and we motor over to the bathroom on the upper level of the mall near The Children's Place. It is not a big bathroom and the handicapped stall was taken, so we used the last stall near the wall and I parked C and the stroller just outside the stall door. I had my purse on me across my body, but needed to take it off in order to move in the stall and get L on the toilet and so I took it off and hung it behind the door. (Yeah, at this point your warning bells should be going off!!!!)
L decided that this was also the point at which she would have a complete FREAK OUT, refuse to 'do' anything and tell me that she wanted to go to the bathroom at home. I am not sure about how anyone else handles these situations, but I get very flustered and frustrated when my kids hit the meltdown point and just want to GET OUT NOW. Which is what we did. We left the bathroom in a rush and headed for the entrance where I parked.
And it was not until C asked me for some coins to throw in the fountain that I realized................I HAD LEFT MY PURSE IN THE FUCKING BATHROOM!!!!!!
And not just ANY purse, my $400 dollar COACH purse that also contained my $600 iPhone 4, my car and house keys, my wallet AND my favourite lip gloss!
My heart sank to my stomach and then felt like it got kicked REALLY hard. I panicked, grabbed C's hand and headed back upstairs to the bathroom, saying every prayer I could think of on the way there. And it was....NOT THERE!
This is the point at which panic truly took over, the tears started flowing and my deodorant started to fail me. I was trying to picture making the call to my husband to tell him what had happened, how I would explain to the kids that we were literally stuck at the mall, how quickly I could get a hold of VISA to cancel my credit cards and how to just handle this overriding feeling of helplessness that was taking over my mind.
We made it down to the Security office of the mall and I picked up the phone and asked in my shaky, teary voice if anyone had returned a blue Coach purse. And the angel on the other end of the line said YES, she thinks that someone did and that it was over at Guest Services. After figuring out where the hell Guest Services was, I pushed and dragged my poor children for another 5 minutes through the mall to the Admin/Lost and Found office. I was full of hope...until I spoke to the girl behind the desk who told me that nothing had been handed in all day.
And then I just sunk into the chair and BAWLED. You know the cry, the ugly kind, right in front of my poor confused and exhausted babies and the administration office staff of West Edmonton Mall. It was not a pretty sight!
I managed to gather myself together enough to ask the receptionist to call over to Security again, because the angel over there had told me that it was found and to come over HERE. She did, and it turns out that I was one door away from the Guest Services desk-the folks who ACTUALLY had my purse. I wiped away my tears, mumbled a thank you and headed 20 feet over to the next desk where a lovely man handed me my lost baby purse! Completely intact and not a thing missing. Of course I was still crying, but the tears where now those of relief.
I took the kids over to one of the nice new seating areas, found some coins in my now recovered wallet and told my son to throw one in for Mama too and wish for a nanny! We headed back to the entrance after I managed to stop my hands and body from shaking and I have never been so relieved in my life to get out of that place.
I called my husband when I got home and told him what had happened and that we were just now going to all jump in bed for a nap (it was 4:30 PM) and that if he wanted to eat tonight, he had better bring something home for dinner. I also told him that I am in desperate need a FULL MENTAL HEALTH DAY and that this consists of at least 8 hours at a Spa, away from the world and from my life (and I may have promised him sex for the next five days straight as well, but I can't be sure)!
Lessons learned from today:
- NEVER take your freakin' purse off of your body (or at least only when a suitable husband is around to hold it)!
- The 30 minutes of vigorous activity a day that Health Canada recommends for kids should probably not be running after your frantic, bawling mother at the mall. (C was still complaining of his legs hurting "from all that running" as I was putting him to bed tonight!)
- There are Angels and good souls on this earth who will DO THE RIGHT THING and I am so very thankful for that and to them.
- I need a vacation!
That is all. I am done for today. Me and my glass of wine are now going to hang out for a bit.
Goodnight,
Chimparoo Woven Wraps and Mei Tais
You all know that I love babywearing, that is kind of a given. But what you may not know is how much I LOVE babywearing with woven fabrics! Woven materials are the IDEAL fabric for babywearing. They are soft, so beautiful and because they are NON-stretchy, they are STUR-DY. A good woven wrap offers optimal baby support as well as wearer comfort. You can use woven wraps from day one of your baby's life all the way up to....well, let's just say I know a few 4 year olds who still enjoy a nice piggy back in a woven wrap!
 |
| Case in Point! |
I am very happy to announce that the Chimparoo line of woven wraps and mei tais have arrived at Natural Urban Mamas. Chimparoo is a Mama-Owned Canadian company out of Quebec and all of their baby carriers are made right here in Canada and are 100% Oeko-Tex certified. So yes, they fit all the criteria for products carried by us!!
Often the hesitation with buying a woven wrap is cost. Some of the European brands can be a bit pricey. The Chimparoo line of woven wraps are very well priced, with the longest length (5.5 metres) coming in at just under $100.00. This is well below the average $130-180.00 for some of the popular European brands.
Trust me, the versatility and long-term use of a woven wrap can't be beat. You can learn to wrap your baby on your tummy, your hip and your back. A Chimparoo Woven Wrap truly can be the ONE baby carrier that you buy for the whole length of your babywearing journey!
Each Chimparoo wrap comes with a DVD and instruction booklet, outlining all of the different ways to tie your wrap and don't forget that you can also book one-on-one babywearing consultations with Natasha or attend one of our local workshops to learn more.
The Chimparoo Mei Tais are also in stock and they are simply amazing! These mei tais are made with the same woven material as the wraps and are not only incredibly beautiful, but also super duper comfortable and so easy to use. The construction of these Asian-inspired baby carriers also makes it so that this is easily one of the mei tai brands that I would highly recommend right from the start with your baby.
The sides and front of the body of the Chimparoo Mei Tai have these lovely little toggles on them that can shrink down the body of the carrier to really hug the baby and help get them in the proper positioning for babywearing and the built in head rest is perfect for when nap time happens to coincide with babywearing! The waist straps and shoulder straps have just the right amount of padding to them and again, because of the sturdiness and non-stretch of the woven fabric, these mei tais are great for kiddos up to 35+ pounds!
What more can I say Mamas, these really are some great Canadian-made baby carriers, I am so happy to have them at Natural Urban Mamas and I don't think you can go wrong with carrying around your little Monkey in a Chimparoo Baby Carrier!!
Happy Babywearing Everyone!
P.S. Don't forget to check out our SALE section for some really great deals on natural, fair trade and organic baby essentials!!
Resistance is futile....I will get you (and you will love me for it)!
Today I chased down a woman who was wearing her baby in a forward facing out carry in a Mei Tai baby carrier...yup, that was me!! (See * and ** below for how this all panned out!)
Here is the thing. I really am not some crazy lady going around badgering all moms out there who I think are not doing things 'right'.
What I am is an experienced babywearing mama and a certified babywearing educator. I have spent the last 4 years carrying my children around in baby carriers on my tummy, my hip and my back and the last year educating myself and gaining even more experience as a formal babywearing educator. I understand the mechanics of babywearing, the benefits of babywearing and the joys of babywearing.
When I stop a mama or a daddy to discuss their babywearing, I am not doing it to be a nosy ninny or a crunchy mama know-it-all. I am doing it because, even if they don't know it, what I am about to tell them WILL help them do it better! My advice will likely make their use of the baby carrier more comfortable for them and for the baby. The information I share is meant to inform. Decisions to do or not do what I say are completely up to the parents.
And that is my goal. To help parents make better decisions about what baby carrier to get, what babywearing can really mean to their parenting and how to do it so that all parties involved are getting the full benefits of this amazing practice.
Today, I worked a wonderful trade show and co-ran the show's "Stroller Check". The concept being that you come to the show, check 'in' your stroller, check 'out' a baby carrier and do some hands-free, paraphernalia-free shopping. What I learned, yet again, is that there are many misconceptions, much misinformation and so many mamas who need to know more about using baby carriers and jumping on this amazing babywearing bandwagon!
Here is some of what I heard today:
"Hes' already 14 months old, I can't wear him anymore!" (Says who??)
"There is no way my toddler is going to like that!" (this from the Mama who's little one immediately fell asleep and had a good 45 min nap in the Pipa Pack while her Mama finished off her shopping)!
"I have a Baby Bjorn, but I don't find it very comfortable". (Uhm, duh!)
"But, my baby only likes to be worn facing out." (Have you tried a back carry?)
And then there was the whole slew of new mamas who were given a carrier or bought a baby carrier or sling, but had no idea how to use it.
And so I wrapped, and tied and buckled all these mamas into different Stretchy, Woven and Gauze Wrap Carriers, Mei Tai's or Soft-Structured Baby Carriers. And the results where pretty close to unanimous. Almost all of those babies came back sound asleep or just waking up from a lovely nap. And almost all of the mamas came back with this look of wonder on their faces, like they never knew life could be SOOOOO good.
And that MAKES MY DAY and my job so worthwhile!
Yes, yes, I know, I run a retail business. I am in the business of selling a product and making a profit. But the true joy in what I do is knowing that the products I sell and the services I provide actually have an impact on someones life. What I do changes peoples lives for the better, even if it is just a little bit.
....and I get to hold babies all day long. And trust me, THAT, never gets old!!
Happy Babywearing Everyone,
Natasha~
*For more info on WHY I chased the mama, please read THIS comprehensive article about babywearing and the reasons behind why forward facing out is not a recommended position for wearing your baby.
**and P.S. The Mama was leery of me at first, but listened to what I had to say and we eventually found a proper position that worked for both her and her baby!
My Favourite Things: Day FIVE - Tweeling!!
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..." ~Maria, The Sound of Music
I have said it before and I will repeat it again....I am not crafty. And thus, I love all of the amazing artisans and craftspeople that abound in Edmonton. Sally Abbott of Tweeling is one of these such artists. Her medium of choice....socks!!
Yes, you heard right, socks. And the amazing things this mama can make with a pair of socks is nothing short of genius! Her staple character is of course the Sock Monkey and these cuddly monkeys come in so many different colours, variations, and themes that are only limited by yours or your child's imagination.
 |
||
| Connie the Garden Fairy Sock Monkey |
Here is what Sally has to say in her own words:
I'm a mum of boy/girl twins and they are pretty much the inspiration behind the things that I make. They are also the inspiration in the the naming of my shop, Tweeling means twin in dutch. They both help with the naming of new critters and product testing. Such as if you tie a monkey to your book shelf will his tail fall off or if you hold a bunny by his ear while jumping on the bed will he become a one eared bunny? The answer to both those questions are no, everything is double sewn. They also test for how cuddly a bunny is while watching a movie or reading a book or what kind of food monkeys like to eat at tea parties.
All my sock creations are one of a kind, and I couldn't duplicate them even if I tried. When I start with a pair of socks I don't usually know what I'm going to end up with. The more I sew the more their personality comes out.
I think that everyone is an individual and that children should be encouraged to be individuals. So if you have a one of a kind kid (or grownup for that matter) at home why not consider getting them a one of a kind gift.
Sally also does some amazing custom work and will try almost anything. I asked her a few months ago if she could make the Natural Urban Mamas Flower Babies for me and she agreed. They turned out even better than I imagined. These little baby faces come with me to all my trade shows and workshops and often just hang out with the kids at home!!
 |
||
| Flower Babies! |
You can find all sorts of fun and exciting critters at Tweeling's online Etsy shop and here are a few of my faves that she has in stock right now. I am so loving the fuzzy little bears!
You can find Tweeling critters in her Esty shop HERE, or find her FaceBook page HERE.
Sally is offering a 10% Discount to all of my readers and followers on her in-stock items at the Esty shop until the end of December. Just enter the discount code 'naturalurbanmama' at checkout. And for you local mamas, you can pick up your items from her and save on some shipping too.
Now go get one of these great one-of-a-kind gifts to put under the tree for a little someone special!
Happy (8 more days of) Shopping, Natasha~
P.S. These are the Sock Monkeys that my littles are getting. (Yes, they picked them out themselves and then I promptly took them away when they were not looking and have hidden them until Christmas morning!!)
These are a few of my Favourite Things....Day FOUR: Modern Mama
"...Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes...."
~Maria, The Sound of Music
Oh Sweet Mommy time, those sacred moments when we get to rejuvenate, reboot and re-organize our brains. For a lot of us, getting some precious ME-time can be very difficult. We either don't have a lot of support or childcare readily available or it is just impossible to leave a small, nursing baby with anyone!
Enter Modern Mama. The brain-child of Connie Peters, this company is all about getting moms out of the house and doing things that WE like to do, either with or without baby in tow. I know what you are saying...."Yeah, right Natasha, and just how do you do that??"
Modern Mama events are all about getting us mamas out and about and enjoying ourselves. And having had two winter babies, trust me, I know how hard it is. Just the thought of going out with a small baby in our kind of Northern Alberta weather can be daunting!! But I also know how important it is and SO worth it for your own sanity and sense of self and, you know what, it is good for babies to experience the world beyond their four walls too!
Here is what the Modern Mamas have to say in their own words.
We are moms. Modern Mama is moms who have found each other through a common philosophy – “getting moms out of the house”. Being a mom on maternity leave, a stay-at-home-mom, a working mom, a single mom; whether you have one child or five, the common thread is that it’s difficult to find time for yourself, and motherhood can feel isolating and overwhelming at times.
We believe that although motherhood adds a new dimension to who you are and it changes many aspects of our daily lives, it can’t replace our old selves – meaning we still need fun, friendship and some ‘me-time’ in our lives. Modern Mama aims to help you get out and get that support, connecting you with other moms who might share the same interests, and at the same time, provide that much-needed ‘me-time’!
Modern Mama loves and supports new moms. We do this by offering nannies at our events, allowing new mothers to stay attached to their infant, having them nearby to nurse or cuddle as much as needed. Through our services for expecting and new moms, we are a resource for moms in Edmonton and Calgary through the first years of motherhood.
The nannies are the kicker here folks!! Modern Mama provides nanny services at almost all of their events. So while you are getting a whole new make-over at Sephora, a personal shopping experience at Anthropologie, or some cooking tips from a personal chef, your littles will be entertained and cared for by qualified and caring nannies! Heck, Modern Mama even has a specific event called the Babysitter Mixer that can hook you up with some of these incredible nannies and babysitters!
And to top it all off, Modern Mama offers a membership program as well and trust me, membership does have it's privileges. The Modern Mama Perks Card not only gives you discounts to Modern Mama events, but has a HUGE list of perks members and businesses that offer you discounts as well (of course Natural Urban Mamas is one of them!). Please visit the site here to find all the advantages this membership offers you!
Modern Mama has offered up three of these fabulous Membership Perks Cards for my readers/followers. To enter the giveaway for these, please visit the Modern Mama site and let me know which event you would most like to attend and leave a comment with your name and email address. I will draw for the winners on December 20th at 9:00 PM MST.
Here's to sipping a latte and feeling good about ourselves!
Cheers Mamas,
These are a few of my favourite things.... Day TWO: lil' Brockli Boutique
"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes......" ~ Maria, The Sound of Music
I am NOT crafty and I definitely can not sew!. Oh, sure, every now and then I can pull off some miracle of craftiness, but for the most part I did not inherit that gene from anyone, nor have I taken the time to really learn how to DO anything crafty. But what I lack in craftiness, I make up for in appreciation and respect for those who are and do and in the end create amazing works.
That being said, next up on my list of favourites to shop with this season is lil' Brockli Boutique. Lil' Brockli is owned by Allison Brock, a fabulous woman and a mom of three girls and although you would never guess it she actually failed Home Ec!!
Allison creates incredible, one of a kind boutique clothing for little girls (and soon little boys too!) that are impeccably made. She is a stickler for things like serged seams and topstiching and a whole slew of seamstress talk that just goes way over my head!
What I do know is that she makes incredible pieces of clothing. Ones that are cherished by both the people who buy them and the kids who wear them. I mean really, just look at my DD in her lil' brockli original made especially for her birthday this year!
Allison also brings in some of the best made Pettiskirts I have ever seen. They are made in the US and are the fluffiest and highest quality that I have found. And the best part is that you can customize these and get whatever combination of colours you want in them.
And last but not least are the shoes!! OK, I fully admit it, both my kids now have what I deem a healthy appreciation for shoes (others might call it an obsession. Eh-potAtoes, potAHtoes!). Allison carries the lovely Livie and Luca brand of shoes in her boutique and we love, love, LOVE these shoes. And I did not know this before, but every pair of shoes from Livie and Luca is handmade from leather remnants that otherwise would have ended up in a landfill somewhere! Now I love them even more.
 |
||||||
Allison has been so kind as to offer all of you a 10% discount on all in-stock items in her boutique. So head on over to her website or go over and 'like' her page on Facebook and get some one-of-a-kind quality goodness for your little princess this year!!
"...these are a few of my favourite things...."
Natasha~