Club Mom-Me Spring Family Fest: 

Club MomMe is a social, educational and wellness community for moms and moms-to-be.  They provide a place for women to meet each other, make friends, learn about pregnancy and motherhood, and share unique experiences together.  All attendees at each event receive a gift bag and a chance to win great giveaways like strollers, car seats, gear and more!  

SPB is very excited to announce that we will be at the Club MomMe OC Spring Fest event.  In case you cannot attend in person, you can follow us on Twitter for live-tweets from the event, see views from the inside the event on Instagram, and we will be sharing presenter notes in future blog posts.

Here is our virtual interview with Aubrye Foote, Vice President of Club MomMe Orange County, with your inside scoop on the event coming up this Saturday, June 7, 2014.

​AF: This year we've added our Daddy Lounge with fun activities, a Style Lounge where you can see and shop for different clothing, bags, etc. and added some interactive areas for the kids.  Spring Fest truly is an event where you can learn about parenthood, explore products & gear, sample goodies during the event and in the *huge* gift bags you'll take home, and connect with not only experts but other famili​es as well.

​AF: We wanted our Family Fests to be something every member of the family could enjoy and what better way for Dad to have a good time then to set him up with a fantastic microbrew (Beach City Brewery) and a taco bar! 

Of course MomMes and Babies are welcome to enjoy the Daddy Lounge. Besides, we're having Micro Kickboard races and diaper changing races that MomMes will just LOVE to watch and a craft where littles can decorate a tumbler for Daddy for Father's Day from Daddy & Company. 

​AF: At Spring Fest, families can listen to various speakers and panels such as Dr. Harvey Karp, ​Natural Parenting Panel, Entrepreneurship for Parents Panel, Healthy Child Healthy World's Understanding Labels workshop, Daddy Panel, and the Hot Baby & Toddler Products session.​ They'll be able to see and shop at exhibitors ranging from baby/toddler products & gear, clothing, skincare, ​food and more. 

We have an Activity Zone with lots of amazing activities for the little ones, a Pamper Lounge where you can enjoy a manicure, a hand massage and juice bar, a Daddy Lounge by Daddy & Company with a microbrew and races with prizes, a Style Lounge featuring gorgeous clothing & bags and last but not least the Lansinoh Lactation Lounge where MomMes can go to nurse or break away to feed & change their babies.

 

​AF: There's the main speakers/panels and as a part of each session parents get the opportunity to ask whatever questions they have! I encourage them to do so because these speakers are fabulous! In addition to those sessions, I would recommend that families take advantage of having the ability to see and test new products on the market, learn about what's available to them, visit with the local resources to make parenthood easier and even do some shopping to take these great products home. 

Not only that, but MomMes ... take some time in the Pamper Lounge and get a manicure or hand massage while Daddy and the little one are off kicking a soccer ball. 

​AF: The great part about Spring Fest is that we have 4 different craft areas, musicians that are performing for the kids, Super Soccer Stars soccer area, a face painter, balloon artist and Urban Sitters will be there to keep an eye on the little ones should MomMe and Daddy need some help. ​We wanted parents to be able to enjoy the event, but also have the kids enjoy it as well. That's why we set up so many activities in our Activity Zone to keep those "active" ones happy. They may not even want to leave!!

AF: The levels that are still available are: 

Each ticket level receives an amazing amount of "swag" that they get to take home. The VIP level ticket has a gift bag worth over $500 and the Celeb ticket has almost $1,000 worth of items. With that, I'd have to say the Celeb ticket is the best value, but you can't go wrong with any of them!​

​AF: Our biggest passion in what we do is being able to bring resources to parents that they may not have access to on their own. At Family Fest we are able to bring all of that together in one location. Currently we have our Spring Fest in Orange County and Fall Fest is Los Angeles, but our long term vision for our Family Fests is to be able to expand them into other areas in the US ​so that we can provide these fantastic speakers and brands to an even greater number of families. 

Thank you, Aubrye, for giving our readers the inside scoop on the event!  To learn more about the speakers and panels, please visit the event website HERE http://clubmommeevents.com/.

If you would like to win the Family Ticket which includes 2 Adults and one gift bag with a ton of product & goodies, please leave a comment below and tell me which is your *must see* session.  I will choose a winner on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at noon.  The winner will be selected by Random.org by assigning each comment a number in order of receipt and letting the Random Number Generator choose a winning number.  Please be sure to leave me your email address in the comment so that the Media MomMe can email you your Family Ticket.

The technique is designed to recreate the essential elements of the experience of living in the womb. The first three months of life Karp calls the “fourth trimester”. Karp believes there is a “calming reflex” that causes babies to instantly relax when they are given clues that they are safe inside the womb. There are five parts of the technique he calls the “five S’s”. Then comes the Toddler stage. Baby calming is great, but before you know it your tot will be 8 months old! That’s the perfect time to start this clever approach to boost cooperation – build patience – and stop tantrums before they begin happening!

As moms we have always been savvy leaders, innovators, and jugglers who make executive management decisions on a daily, if not hourly basis. While we may have extensive professional training, the jobs available to us may not fit our needs, family demands, or fulfill our passions. The same, many times, goes for dads who are looking to have an active role in parenthood. For both, if we are going to spend time away from our families, it better be worth it!

With emerging trends in business, innovative new technology, social media, and the shifting cultural expectations about careers and work/life balance, presents the perfect opportunity for a new generation of entrepreneurs or “mompreneurs”.

There is no roadmap for establishing a business or career that you’re passionate about AND supports motherhood. You often have to create it yourself, which can be a daunting task.

Join us to be inspired, motivated and moved to become a Mompreneur yourself, and learn how our panelists started on their journey to becoming Mompreneurs!

Healthy Child Healthy World is hosting its second annual Educational Workshop at Spring Fest, “Understanding Labels,” to help the public navigate this increasingly ambiguous landscape. The event will welcome top experts and personalities in the consumer products and environmental health space to address label confusion and coach attendees on how to effectively read labels, what “red flags” to watch for, ingredients to question, and how to be a smarter, more conscious shopper. 

Natural parenting is based on a desire to live and parent responsively and
consciously. While families may define it differently, there are several principles that are widely agreed to be part of this lifestyle. These are ideals that natural parents tend to hold … even if we don’t always live up to all of them. Attachment/Responsive Parenting, Breastfeeding, Ecological Responsibility, Holistic Health Practices, Natural Learning, Living a Healthy Lifestyle and more are areas these amazing speakers will cover.

Then you’ll love Club MomMe’s Daddy Panel!! We will discuss the changes men experience as they become dads, how to meet other dad friends so you don’t feel so lonely in your new role and have someone to vent to and get advice from. How to understand what your wife is going through during pregnancy and breastfeeding and supporting her. Learn how to change a diaper, swaddle and carry baby, without being told you are doing it wrong. And some other topics just for DadDes!

This is the Panel where Dads will become DadDes!

Club MomMe & Favored.by are bringing their ever-popular products events to Spring Fest! Join us as we share the NEWEST, COOLEST & HOTTEST Baby & Toddler Products on the market! From the latest stroller trends, toys, educational products, gear to make life easier as a parent, state-of-the-art technology, amazing innovations and more!

Check out the latest Baby & Toddler Products and Gear + WIN them! We GIVE AWAY almost all featured products at the end of the talk!!

Club MomMe gets the hottest NEW products and we are sharing them first with you! Find out what new products are worth checking out and will make your life easier

Looking for something to do with your family this week?  Cassandra and I are posting events and classes in our respective geographic areas…look for us…maybe we will see you there!!

Do you have an event that you would like to add to our upcoming events calendar?  Scroll down to the end of this post for more information.

Disclaimer:  A listing here does not imply nor signify endorsement by Sweet Pea Births, or our families.

These are events for expecting families, and families with newborns to 6 months old.  There are some great get-out-of-the-house opportunities for work-at-home mamas.  For more family - toddler fun, visit our listing at Sweet Pea Families.

MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013
Where are you going to be today?  Let us know and offer us some ideas for next week :)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013
La Leche League – Tempe  
LLL is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. All women, especially pregnant and nursing mothers, are welcome to attend our meetings. For more info and the full meeting notice please visit: http://www.lllofaz.org/
Desert Cross Lutheran Church @ 9:30 am
8600 S McClintock Dr. (Just north of Warner Rd)
Tempe, AZ

Smart Play: Newborns (birth to 4 months old)
Who knew there was actually a science to the most beneficial techniques to use when interacting with your baby to help their brain develop? In this class, participants will learn how play affects their child’s lifelong brain development, what toys/activities are best for their child at this age, and how to look at a toy and instantly see its developmental benefits. Babies welcome and encouraged!  These are some of the techniques Brie shared on Channel 3’s “Your Life A to Z” on her June 27th appearance!  Class costs $10 per person or $12 per couple.  To register for this class, call 480-299-1154 or visit www.babybasics4u.com
Baby Town  @ 9:30am-10:30am
3787 S. Gilbert Rd.  
Gilbert, AZ
480-299-1154

Smart Play: Babies (4-6 months old)  
Who knew there was actually a science to the most beneficial techniques to use when interacting with your baby to help their brain develop? In this class, participants will learn how play affects their child’s lifelong brain development, what toys/activities are best for their child at this age, and how to look at a toy and instantly see its developmental benefits. Babies welcome and encouraged!  These are some of the techniques Brie shared on Channel 3’s “Your Life A to Z” on her June 27 appearance!  Class costs $10 per person or $12 per couple.  To register for this class, call 480-299-1154 or visit www.babybasics4u.com
Baby Town  @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
3787 S. Gilbert Rd.  
Gilbert, AZ
480-299-1154 

Pottery Barn Kids Story Time
Kids of all ages are invited to story time every Tuesday at 11:00 am.  Members receive an official book club passport at their first story time, plus a special gift after attending five story times.  To locate a store near you, click HERE http://www.potterybarnkids.com/customer-service/store-locator.html
Store Near You @ 11:00 – 11:30 am
Chandler Fashion Center
3111 West Chandler Blvd
Chandler, AZ 85226
(480) 899-7155
Scottsdale Fashion Square
7014 e. Camelback Road
Scottsdale , AZ 85251
(480) 423-3813

Homebirth Circle 
Come join the beautiful space and share thoughts about life, babies and love.  The circle is open to any adult and lap babies only.  Feel free to bring a healthy snack to share.
Freedom and The Seed Office @ 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
123 Baseline Rd, Suite 205
Tempe, AZ  
480-528-1689

Fish Feeding
Come see an 18,500 gallon freshwater aquarium that offers an up-close view of trophy-sized catfish, bass, striper and blue gill.  Feeding includes an informative presentation about the fish.  Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00pm and Tuesdays at 6:00pm.  Also, every day kids can help us feed the trout in our Trout Stream at 1:30pm.
Bass Pro Shop Trout Stream @ 1:30 pm
Bass Pro Shop Aquarium @ 6:00 pm
1133 N Dobson Rd
Mesa 85201
602-606-5600

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013
Blossoming Moms Breastfeeding and Postpartum Support

Pregnant moms are welcome too! 
Facilitator: Michelle Hottya 818-606-5687
Blossom Birth and Wellness Center @ 11:00 am
2928 N 16th Place
Phoenix, AZ 85016     

Dignity Healthcare Breastfeeding Support Group
Group meets every Wednesday with the exception of major holidays… For more information, please call the ResourceLink toll-free 1 (877) 728-5414, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5:30 pm
Chandler Regional Medical Center's @ 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
1955 W Frye Rd
Chandler, AZ 85224

Inn Mommies: Breastfeeding Support and Snugglers Group 
Birth to six months: This group for expecting and new mommies and open to women giving birth at home, at Babymoon Inn or in a hospital and is facilitated by Amey Clark, RN. For more info visit http://babymooninn.com/community/
Babymoon Inn @ 1:00 pm
202 East Morris Drive
Phoenix, AZ  
(602) 314-7755  

Phoenix Public Market
“our Open-Air Market is a natural gathering place that celebrates neighborhoods and the neighbors. It offers an eclectic high-quality mix of: Fresh in-season fruits and vegetables, produce, flowers, jams, baked goods, dried beans, free-range eggs and honey, live plants and unique local arts and crafts, tasty hot foods, music, and more.

Open Air Market @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
721 N Central
Phoenix, AZ    

CALIFORNIA
The Little Car Show 
A display of little cars benefiting the Veterans Transition Center. Downtown Pacific Grove.  For more information visit www.marinamotorsports.org or the Chamber of Commerce HERE
Downtown PG @ 12:00 am to 5:00 pm
584 Central Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA 93950 
Contact: John Moulton 484-1966

La Leche League Meeting – Pacific Grove
LLL is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed. All women, especially pregnant and nursing mothers, are welcome to attend our meetings. For more info and the full meeting notice please visit http://lllnorcal.org/groups/MontereyPeninsulaCA.html
Parent's Place @ 5:00pm
1025 Lighthouse Ave
Pacific Grove, CA

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013
Where are you going to be today?  Let us know and clue us in for next week :)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 16, 2013
Barnes & Noble Storytime
If You Were a Panda Bear by Wendell and Florence Minor:  If you were a Panda bear, guess what you would wear? A black-and-white suit and eye patches-how cute! You'd be very shy; you'd eat lots of bamboo. Then you'd take a long nap. What a good thing to do! Join us to learn about bears of all types!
Store Near You @ 10:30 AM
Chandler Fashion Mall
3111 W. Chandler Blvd #2054
Chandler, AZ 85226
480-792-1312

Dignity Healthcare Breastfeeding Support Group
Every Friday with the exception of major holidays… For more information, please call the ResourceLink toll-free 1 (877) 728-5414, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5:30 pm
Mercy Gilbert Medical Center @ 10:00 am to 11:30 am
3555 S Val Vista Dr.
Gilbert, AZ 85297

Free Outdoor Concert – Tempe
Bring the family out to enjoy great live music performed by a variety of musicians.  Choose from two stages of entertainment.  For more information click HERE
Tempe Marketplace @ 7:00 pm
2000 E Rio Salado Pkwy
Tempe 85281
480-966-9338

Free Outdoor Concert – N. Phoenix/Scottsdale
Bring the family out to enjoy great live music performed by a variety of musicians.  Choose from two stages of entertainment.  For more information click HERE

Desert Ridge Marketplace @ 7:00 – 9:00 pm

21001 N Tatum Blvd
Phoenix 85050
480-513-7586

Free Concert - Chandler
Dmitri Matheny Group featuring Clairdee! 
First introduced to jazz audiences in the 1990s as the protégé of Art Farmer, Matheny has matured into “one of the jazz world’s most talented horn players” [San Francisco Chronicle], a leading figure on the international jazz scene and one of the most prolific musicians of his generation.  Celebrated for his warm tone, soaring lyricism and masterful technique, American musician DMITRI MATHENY has been lauded as “the first breakthrough flugelhornist since Chuck Mangione” [San Jose Mercury News].
**No tickets required; all shows are FREE.  All seating is first come, first served.  Doors open at 6:30pm, and seating starts at 7pm.  Suggested donations: $5/person, $10/family.**
Chandler Center for the Arts @ 7:30 P.M. 
250 N. Arizona Ave. 
Chandler, AZ

CALIFORNIA
Celebrate the Outdoors: Making Tracks
Throughout the month of August, MY Museum celebrates the outdoors with a special activity every Friday! Join us August 16th and make tracks! Learn how to distinguish the footprints of our furry and feathered friends in the Peninsula. Fun for all and free with admission.  For more information and admission prices, visit http://www.mymuseum.org/plan/calendar/
Monterey County Youth Museum @ 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
425 Washington Street
Monterey, CA 93940


Do you have an event you want to add to our list?  We are happy to list your event in our weekly blog posts.  Any event, class, support group or meeting that fits into our philosophy of pregnancy, childbirth and parenting will be considered for our listing.  We reserve the right to decline requests that do not promote healthy families and peaceful parenting.

To submit your event:
Please follow this format (same as above).  Anything that is not "copy-paste" ready may not be posted - it will depend on how much time I have between homeschooling and loving on four littles.  If I don’t sleep, it seriously impedes my ability to be a peaceful mama, and that is not fun for anybody.  Thank you for understanding!  

Submit your event information to:
krystyna {at} sweetpeabirths {dot} com

Information to send me:
Event Name
Description & Cost
Location Name & Time
Address
Contact Phone Number

For more family - toddler fun, visit our listing at Sweet Pea Families

Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. 

Here is a neat business I would like to introduce you to – baby concierge is an emerging industry that is of particular interest to our students and readers.  Stephanie Antoinette is the Founder & M.O.M. (Master of Multitasking) at J’aime la vie by Victoria Antoinette Mommy & Bébé Concierge.  She is like a wedding planner, except for all things mom and bébé!

JLV:  There were a couple of different things that brought this business concept to fruition. One being that Arizona is a very transient state; I actually came from Minnesota myself about 6 years ago. So when I was pregnant with my last baby (3 years ago) I really had no idea where to go for furniture, nannies, photographers, doulas, etc. There was a lot of wasted money and time on my end going through the trial an error of this. The second part was that I was working mom who really just didn't have the time to research all of this, do all the interviews, and plan things like baby showers, birthday parties, etc. I really felt that there should be a local "baby planner" just as their are wedding planners! This is a major and ongoing event in our lives! So I left that corporate position and created a premiere one-stop shop for all mommy and baby needs! 

JLV:  I provide package and A La Carte options so that I can fit various budgets and needs! I help moms with finding the right nannies, doulas, photographers, and more. I also do custom baby registry and birth plans, along with nursery stocking and organization! Then I do the custom party planning, which is anything from baby showers, gender reveals, religious ceremonies, birthday parties (any age), graduation parties and so much more! 

JLV:  All of my packages are great and you can customize it to fit any needs. One of the most popular is Vous attendez un bébé!- $150

(So you are having a baby!)   This is where we will create a tummy timeline, create a custom baby registry and create your birth plan. So many new and veteran moms are not sure what to expect, what to do when, how this baby will change their lives. I help take the worry out of this process so it doesn't become a source of stress for the family. 

JLV:  I offer a free over the phone consult where we generally decide where to start, and we can always add on as we go! 

JLV:  Years of trial and error at my own expense and time! I also belong to some great organizations where I am surrounded with the Phoenix Valley's top vendors! I have done the research for you!

JLV:  If you are a new mom, I really guide you on anything from the right products, how to maximize your budget, and the get the right resources you need! For veteran moms like myself this is also a benefit: I work with you on how to transition the new baby with your family, I can get you the right childcare you need, and with each child products are constantly changing... you want to know what is best now!

For all moms my event planning services are a HUGE plus!  Planning parties is my true passion; those who are close to me know I am a list maker! Organization, party flow, good food and fresh flowers are key to any successful event! My personal tastes for decor flow anywhere from modern, to shabby chic, to over-the-top! Planning events is so much more fun then decorating your home because you can adjust it to your mood, theme and guests! I think outside the box, and work with any budget to create unique events!  

As mothers we often spend our time putting together these events for important milestones in our children's lives, yet we barely have the time to stop and enjoy it with them! I make this possible…that it in itself is priceless.

JLV:  As soon as they begin to feel like they need help!  I have 13 years experience as a mother myself, I know what it is like to be pregnant, worried, uncomfortable and stressed! I have been through 2 births and about to experience my third, birth can be the most incredible and terrifying experience all at once! I know what it is like to have minimal sleep and still need to work a full time job! I know how personal it is to find the right people to help you take care of your children, and how much it means to execute the perfect party for your kids! I also have the corporate experience to execute all of this properly.  I am the best of both worlds for moms! 

JLV:  Let me take the worry out of preparing for baby. For a quote on custom event planning or any of my services, please contact me!

Phone- 480-717-2795

Website- www.JLVbebeconcierge.com

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/byVictoriaAntoinette

Blog- http://jlvbabyconcierge.wordpress.com/

We didn’t have class Monday evening since it was the day after Christmas and some of our students still had their family in town.  Since there are no class questions to ponder and expound on, I thought I’d take the time to offer musings on holiday traditions.

 

Christmas is just one of the many holidays we celebrate throughout the year.  In part, the commercialism surrounding this particular event also makes December one of the most overblown months of the year.

 

Some families have the additional tug-of-war of trying to be all things to all people.  One set of in-laws wants to host, the other set of in-laws wants to host and thus a fine balancing act begins.

 

In order to preserve the wonder of any holiday, be it Christmas or otherwise, I take a word of advice from Buddy the Elf, “Treat every day like Christmas.”  If you celebrate this holiday - how excited were your toddler/elementary school-age children on Christmas day?  How patient were you with them?  How forgiving were you of slight transgressions on the part of other friends or family members?  The joy and the love that dominate the day are infectious, and I think that Buddy completely captures that spirit.

 

Holiday traditions are the roots we sow for our family.  I had to talk myself off of the ledge when I was disappointed that we weren’t finding the material things our children wanted.  I had to take a deep breath and remind myself that my immediate family had gathered from across the US to spend Angelika’s first Christmas with us.  Our kiddos are so excited to have a set of grandparents, aunt and uncles here that they are barely playing with the toys they already have, let alone the ones I couldn’t find for them.  After present opening, they were so excited about the day in general that nothing was going to dampen their mood.

 

I propose that you and I consider these things instead of getting caught up in the hype and hoopla of the weeks and days preceding Christmas, or any holiday for that matter:

- What special memory do you want to make during the holiday you are celebrating?

- Are there any pictures you want to take to capture the spirit?

- Can you find a yearly place to take a picture of your kiddos as your family grows so that you can measure their growth: a tree, a doorframe, a landmark?

- Is there a special food that you make that you can start involving your children in preparing so that they learn your recipes over time?

- Do you print photos to send as cards or write letters?  Save one each year in a photo book so that you can look back and see what the highlights were each year, and you can take the time to do a little journaling about the actual holiday on a index card that can be taped to the card or inserted into the album.

- Is there an activity that your children want to do that you can find time for?  When my family is here we get the fixings to make S’mores and enjoy a night out around the chimenea roasting marshmellows and making gooey treats.

- Is there an activity that appeals to you that you always wished you could do?  Having your own family allows you the special opportunity to make your own memories and start your own traditions – now is the time to be the change you want to see in the world (Gandhi).  Talk to your partner and decide what you want to do and make it be part of your family story.

- Do you want to capture your kiddos’ antics on video?  This is ever easier in the age of the smartphone.  As moments in life unfurl, they can be captured on digital image, so keep your camera fingers ready to roll.  Capture movements, voices and their little language idiosyncrasies.  Their voices change and their shyness may increase as your children get older, so immortalize their antics now while they will still let you record them. 

- Can you take your family to a nursing home to visit during lunch or dinner time?  So many of the residents are alone over the holidays.  They are energized by the sight of young families, especially babies.  I remember going to dance with my class when I was younger - they were the happiest audience I ever danced for.  In the spirit of giving, you can have your children make hand-made cards to share with the residents.  Do your children have the itch to perform - prepare a show!  Call first and speak to the director or activities coordinator - you can arrange a time and day with them and most folks will be thrilled for the chance to have a little joy shared in their "home".

- I hear many moms talk about going to serve at food kitchen, including my own mother.  I don't know what kept us from following through on her wish.  My in-laws have served food to the needy for years and although they are exhausted at the end of the day, their hearts are full and they have truly exemplified the spirit of giving that the season was supposed to represent before the sale-mania took over.  Find a food pantry or soup kitchen that you can serve next year - even if it's not on Christmas day, your children and you will be blessed by your day(s) of service.

Another tradition from my childhood that I would like to incorporate now that our children are old enough to "ooh and ahh" with us is driving out to see the holiday lights.  It was so difficult to wrap gifts because the kiddos were bouncing off the walls with excitement.  Next year we want to try loading up the car with hot chocolate, gluten-free cookies, warm blankets and bouncy children before wrapping time.  (I should add "toothbrushes and toothpaste" for my dentist...that would be stretching it, though!)  I hope that they will love the time in the car looking out at the "fairy lights" as Brussito calls them, and we can continue on with the tradition I had with my family.

 

Parenting is a journey of exploration and learning.  Our children are sponges and they will adopt our attitudes about the way we live in the world.  If you want them to do something outside of the material hustle and bustle, then lead the way by example.  If you try something and no one likes it, chuck it – at least your children will learn it’s not scary to try new things, and that it’s okay to move on from experiments that don’t work out. 

 

When you do find things that you like, then you are building special times for you and your family.  I can still remember the smell of making tamales although I haven’t eaten pork tamales for eleven years.  I remember the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Eve at my grandmother’s house.

 

The positive aspect is that when your idea works well, then a new family tradition is born.  You start building positive memories in your child’s memory bank that will bring them to your table after they are grown.  Then the circle of life continues when they start making their own family traditions, which as enlightened parents you may choose to willingly embrace.

 

Take the time to make your own family memories now, for the early years go by ever so quickly.  We can vouch for that personally as we hold our newborn and ponder the fact that our first-born is turning seven next month.  Although we can still remember the day we brought Ysabella home from the hospital, she is clearly growing up and there is no stopping Father Time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was invited to attend the knot and the bump’s “Connections & Cocktails” event last night.  Thank you to Lauren Reidy for the opportunity and for being part of the team that put together a great event!!  I always enjoy making new connections; the cocktails not so much, this time around!!

 

As your dedicated Bradley Method® instructor and roving reporter, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity and share the connections I made with you.  I was happy to see some familiar faces since I went by myself, and it was also nice to meet some new folks with amazing products and services that are a great fit for our students past and present.

 

I hope you enjoy reading about these dedicated professionals and find their services and products helpful.  Enjoy!!

 

“The day she gives birth is one of the most transformative days in a woman's life. I always count it as such a sacred honor to bear witness to and stand by a mother on this singular day. I am a wife and the mother to six amazing children and know first hand what a wonderful (and sometimes hard) experience having a baby and parenthood can be. I have had a variety of birth experiences including a hospital birth, a birth center birth, and four homebirths, with the last one being a waterbirth. As a doula I have experience with births in hospitals and at home, with unmedicated as well as medicated births, with cesareans and VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean), waterbirths and teen moms as well.”

Cell: 480-251-0913

 

“It has been my lifelong dream to help couples bring their babies into the world. It is my honor to support you emotionally and physically during your birth. Having not had the ideal birth experiences, it is my goal to help you have your ideal birth.
I offer hospital births, homebirths, cesarean birth support, and personal attention throughout your pregnancy. Your ideal birth is my wish for you!  I am certified as a doula by DONA.”

Cell: 480-628-6730

 

Brenda is the owner and talented photographer at A Bunch of Smiles Photography.  She runs a customer service oriented boutique studio that specializes in Living Art Maternity and Celebrating Life Baby sessions.

 

Brenda strives to provide a service that captures the essence of you and your family.  The typical studio experience consists of waiting in a lobby for upwards to half-an-hour and then squeezing into a tiny, hot studio room; and by then, nobody is in the mood for pictures!  When you go to Brenda’s studio (or have her visit your home), you are in for a very pleasant and personalized experience.  She limits the number of sessions per day to 2 or 3 so there is no waiting, and she has enough energy and creativity to give you better portraits than you would ever imagine.

 

The extra time and energy she puts into your portraiture may cost more than the “mass-market” photographers, however, as a customer for going on seven years now, I can assure you that the results are amazing and they will be cherished by you and your family for years to come.

 

602-527-6595

 

I had the great fortune of meeting Katie Hess, Organic Alchemist at Lotus Wei Flower Essences.  As I sit and write tonight’s post, I am enjoying the scent of her “Infinite Love” blend that she said is best for pregnancy.  I am looking forward to using her essences as I meditate to prepare for our homebirth to process my “first homebirth” concerns – everything is unknown again!!  She also recommended that we use her “Inner Peace” blend while we are in labor.  If these peaceful vibes I am getting from the Infinite Love mist are any indicator, we are going to have a great labor and delivery!

 

As a natural childbirth educator and a mom of a child who is very sensitive to chemicals, I was so happy to find that her products are free of artificial fragrances, phthalates and petrochemicals.  Her products are the kind that I can use in our home and feel safe recommending to our expecting and alumni students.

 

From her website:

I spent over 10 years doing one-on-one consultations--client came regularly for custom formulas of flower essences. I worked with each individual for six months to several years. During that time I witnessed countless transformations in people, and was continually surprised at how quickly it would happen. I watched my client’s faces, emotions, attitudes, and life situations change radically within only one month of taking flower essences, only to further evolve as they continued taking the essences over time. 

 

I realized that I would not be able to make the kind of impact that I wanted to, if I was limited to the number of people that I could individually and personally see myself. So I decided to create a line of elixirs that would be easy to understand and that consist of combinations of several flower essences that I feel people most needed today.

 

Each of the six formulas contain balanced formulas of flower essences collected by us from diverse environments including forests, deserts, wetlands, and tropical flowers.  Our essential oils come from all over the world, sourced from organic, wild-crafted and ethically-harvested sources. Whenever possible we use certified organic essential oils. 

 

602-670-0753

 

I also got to visit with Lisa Reinhardt, from Wei of Chocolate, a sister company to Lotus Wei.  Guess what, pregnant mommas?  She is going to email me some studies that show that eating a piece of chocolate five days a week will lower your incidence of pre-eclampsia!  What better way to enjoy your last trimester than with a chocolate a day??

 

I can’t wait to read the studies for myself and share what I learn.  In the meantime, I will tell you that I have not ever liked dark chocolate.  The taste she shared with me was heavenly!!  Her chocolates are high quality, vegan, organic dark chocolate that are blended with ingredients designed to elevate your experience - and bring balance to mind and life.  They are also gluten-free, soy-free, fair trade and infused with flower essences.  I am definitely going to get some for a daily dose until baby arrives.  I think they will help get me in the right frame of mind for our homebirth!!

 

602-577-2338

 

I wish I had known about Jennifer Thomas (right) and Lindsay Treinen (left) when we were looking for a nanny.  It may have saved us a lot of hassle and a couple of years of trying to find the nanny that was the right fit for our demanding family!!

 

Their company offers a free in-home consultation to assess your needs and make a recommendation as to the profile you may want to consider for a nanny.  Should you decide to register for their service, they help you find a nanny. Both of these ladies worked as long-term nannies and understand the benefits of consistency and trust with their employer.  Their goal is to help you find a nanny that you will have long-term relationship with and make the whole experience as rewarding as possible. 

 

All their nannies have a minimum of 2 years of experience.  They can run a certified background check; they investigate driving records, and require all nanny candidates to provide a minimum of 6 references.  They also allow registered families to see the application and references – as Jennifer said, “It’s all open-book.”  They also offer competitive pricing for their placement services.  They make sure their fees are below other services in the Valley, and they also assured me that if another service offers a lower fee, they will meet or beat that fee.

 

602-507-9844

 

It’s always fun to meet another pregnant mom at these events!  Camea Kramer was there with her husband, Steve – they are expecting baby #2 about a week after we are due - congratulations!  Camea and Steve are the owners and franchisors of Baby Sensory, a company that offers classes that are designed to encourage learning and development between moms and babies.  Their goal is to build a mom’s confidence and bonding between mother and child as they interact with each other and take the ideas from the lessons and apply them at home.

 

From their website:
Baby Sensory provides hundreds of sensory development activities that are great fun for parents and babies to share in the vital first year. Our classes include educational learning for moms/dads, ALL baby sensory development, baby motor skills, baby social and emotional development, baby speech development, baby sign language, baby & parent bonding techniques, visual tracking, eye/body co-ordination skills, muscle strengthening and baby massage to help with babies growth spurts, whilst having fun with fiber optic light shows, bubbles, bells, musical fun, puppet shows, amazing light balls and so much more.

 

The Baby Sensory program consists of over 40 themed lesson plans and 20 special theme lesson plans. Every week you will share new sensory experiences with your baby.  Classes are specifically designed for babies from Birth-13 months. Our classes are run weekly in terms of 10 weeks. You can join anytime.

 

480-789-0045