Posts Tagged ‘babycarrier’

Who’s Who at Mom’s Milk Boutique: Meet Sarah

Monday, January 21st, 2013

Welcome to the fifth and final Mom’s Milk Boutique Employee Spotlight. In case you missed the other amazing team members who make up Mom’s Milk Boutique, you can check them out here: Allison. Bonnie, Abbie, and Bryanna! And just in case you don’t already know enough about Sarah from this blog (lol!), here’s a little more about her:

What is your title and role at MMB? How long have you been working there? I was hired in September 2011 as a Social Media Coordinator. Basically I do all things blog related which means I work from home in my PJs with my 3 silly kids bouncing all around me…it’s a seriously awesome gig!

 

What is your top favorite product at MMB? Easy! Hands down the BobaAIR! While I LOVE many of the products here at MMB, the BobaAIR gets daily use in my family so it definitely qualifies as our current favorite.

What is your favorite babycarrier and why? I have three favorite carriers! The MobyWrap is my favorite for newborns because it’s super soft and snuggly all while providing baby and mama with maximum support and optimal positioning. The ERGObaby Carrier is my favorite infant carrier because it’s super easy to use and extra comfy even when wearing baby for a long period of time. The BobaAIR is my favorite toddler babycarrier because of how lightweight it is. I bring it everywhere with us so I always have a backup option when my toddler is too tired to walk or let’s face it, when I need him happily contained. 😉

What does your cloth diaper stash look like? Very well loved! This is a nice way of saying heavily used. While I have some newbies in there, a majority of my stash is on its 3rd kid and the wear and tear is definitely starting to show. However the diapers are still fully functional so I just keep plugging away with them. Over the years I have collected a random assortment of diapers trying to take advantage of various sales and specials as they come up. The result is a rather eclectic stash and I quite enjoy the variety.

Who are the members of your family? My high school sweetheart Buzz. With his eternal optimism, quiet confidence, and adventurous spirit he makes me feel as though anything we dream is possible. I love this man! Our 3 kidlets: Jeremiah (6) the thrill seeker, Abraham (4) the chatterbox, and Isaiah (almost 2) the cuddlebug. Oh and can’t forget our furbaby Jonah!

What do you like to do for recreation? Well, it’s no secret that I like to run. I am currently averaging about 35 miles a week. Trails runs are my absolute favorite! When I am not running, I’m cooking…which go hand in hand quite nicely because running definitely makes me extra hungry! 🙂 My hubby likes to run too, so we often go on “running dates” when we can swing a sitter for the kidlets. I also enjoy yoga and reading. As a family we like to hike, picnic, and swim…basically we love being outdoors!

Share a favorite family tradition: We spend a good chunk of the summer in a quaint, mountain town in Colorado. Without question THIS is my favorite family tradition. The kids spend most of their day outside, climbing rocks, finding interesting sticks, digging in the dirt, and simply exploring nature. I sit nearby sipping ice tea while enjoying a good book or chatting with hubby. In the evenings we enjoy soaking in the hot tub or sitting around the campfire. We also get to spend a great deal of time with extended family members in Colorado which fills my heart with absolute love and joy!

What is one tip you have for breastfeeding mamas? Eat well and stay hydrated.

What are some of your favorite “me” time indulgences? Well unlike Bonnie, I adore being alone, lol! A solo run on a technical trail is pure bliss for me and can recharge my spirit for days…even weeks! I also really enjoy going to coffee houses with a good book, however will take occasional breaks from reading to simply people watch. I like browsing thrift stores for hidden treasure. I love locking the bathroom door and soaking in the tub all.by.myself! Oddly enough I actually quite enjoy cleaning my house under the following two conditions 1) I get to play my choice of music super loud and 2) there are no children making incredible messes for me to clean up in the adjoining room. And just so I don’t sound like a total loner, I also love meeting a friend for lunch or a cup of tea and conversing about life.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? I really had to think about this one…nothing immediately came to mind. After pondering it for a bit, I realized I would love if I could transport myself through time and space to different places and eras, both past and future.

What is one of your favorite quotes? For some reason Jack Johnson’s lyric “Love is the answer, at least for most of the questions is my heart” was the first thing that came to mind. I have a lot of favorite quotes, but I guess for today, in the moment, that one is my favorite. 🙂

What are your goals/intentions/resolutions for this New Year? Talk Less, Listen More.

Thanks for letting me share about myself and my family!

Peace all!

-Sarah

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Who’s Who at Mom’s Milk Boutique: Meet Allison!

Friday, January 11th, 2013

Mom’s Milk Boutique is a small family-owned business started in 2007 by two sisters, Abbie and Bonnie. They were committed to bringing natural, eco-friendly parenting products to their hometown of West Frankfort, IL. The store has grown over considerably since then and currently there are 5 employees that make up Mom’s Milk Boutique. During the next week, we will spotlight each one of them here so you can get to know Who’s Who at Mom’s Milk Boutique!!

MEET ALLISON:

What is your title and role at MMB? I don’t think I have an official title at MMB. I was originally hired as a Social Media Coordinator in September of 2011, I think I was at that until the end of November when Abby called to see if I can come in to help with Black Friday. I’m now in the store full time. My main role is working with customers, if you come in to the store and you need someone to help create your diaper stash, get fitted for a nursing bra, or find your perfect carrier I’m probably the one you’ll work with. I’m also part of the shipping department and Bonnie’s memory/personal human google 🙂

What is your top favorite product at MMB? Oh man, this one is hard. Maybe the Sloomb snapped fitteds, or their wool. I’m a wool addict so I was thrilled when we started carrying their products. I actually find myself calling everything I love a favorite, and trust me I love A LOT.

What is your favorite babycarrier and why? Once again this is really hard! I used and loved my Ergo performance forever. I originally bought it from MMB years before I started working there. However, I’m in love with the Boba. I can wear my giant 2 year old at work for hours and stay comfortable the entire time.

What does your cloth diaper stash look like? Haha, is out of control a bad answer? I have such an eclectic stash. I have prefolds, fitteds, pockets, hybrids, AIOs, and WOOL! I love trying things out and at one point I was diapering two kids so I have way more diapers than I need.

Who are the members of your family? Myself, my husband Chris who was featured in the father’s day edition of Rockin’ Green’s newsletter!, Lucy 4, Jack 2 and the furrier members of our family Sam the 6 year old Newf/Retriever mix and Jasper the 1 year old Treeing Walker Coonhound. Don’t tell Sam and Jasper, but they were adopted 😉

What do you like to do for recreation? I’m a walker/runner. I’m also a crazy dog lady and I volunteer a lot at our local rescues. If I’m home I’m more than likely outside. All the members of my family hate being cooped up and we go stir crazy if we can’t get out and do something. I’m also a big fan of baking. Lucy is my favorite sous chef we like to make any and all types of cookies and yummy treats.

Share a favorite family tradition: One of my favorites is birthday breakfast. On your birthday you can have anything you want to eat, you want pizza, chocolate chip pancakes, an entire bowl of watermelon, totally cool, it’s your day enjoy every bite!

What is one tip you have for breastfeeding mamas? Trust your body, you can do this mama! Don’t talk yourself into supply issues, you just need to trust your body to do what it does best!

What are some of your favorite “me” time indulgences? I love a good bath, I’m a diehard fan of Lush bath products an I’m lucky enough to have a good friend who manages a store so I get a lot of “mommy only” bath stuff. I don’t get a lot of time to myself but my runs and the walks I take with the dogs are my really special alone time. I’m a podcast addict so my runs and walks are a great time to listen. My husband makes fun of me for being the only person he knows who listens to history education podcasts for fun.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? The ability to read minds! I hate surprises so being able to be a step ahead of the game would probably calm a lot of my worries.

What is one of your favorite quotes? “Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.” – Kurt Vonnegut

I love this because it’s something I truly believe. Yes, there will always be evil and bad in the world, but there will always be good, more good than bad if you really look at things. Don’t let those dark things cancel out the light.

What are your goals/intentions/resolutions for this new year? I want to focus on enjoying the little things this year, even when everyone is running in 1000 different directions I want to really enjoy the days and not just rush through them.

Thanks Allison! So great to get to know the awesome woman who helps costumers at the store and ships the countless on-line orders. Keep on rockin’ it at Mom’s Milk Boutique!!

-Sarah

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Selecting a Soft Structured Babycarrier

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

20 month old Izzy in the BobaAIR

Babywearing has been around for centuries and spans across many different cultures. However there wasn’t always such a wide variety of babycarriers available. These days there are sooo many babycarriers on the market, it can be difficult for parents to select a carrier. Additionally babycarriers range significantly in price thus adding to the confusion! Parents might wonder if a higher priced carrier is actually worth the cost. They may question if they are simply paying for the “brandname” by selecting a more expensive product.

While soft structured carriers might all look alike at first glance, there is often a BIG difference in the design! The design of a carrier is a KEY feature impacting the comfort and support a babycarrier provides. You want to be sure to select a carrier that is designed to properly support both you and baby.

There are many soft structured carriers such as the ERGObaby Carrier or the Beco Baby Carrier that effectively support baby’s hips and spine. These baby carriers also distribute baby’s weight evenly across a caregiver’s body thus offering maximum comfort for both baby and caregiver. Keep in mind that babywearing should NOT hurt your back or shoulders!! If it does, your carrier is likely either 1)  not well designed or 2) not adjusted properly.

The benefits of babywearing are plentiful which means a babycarrier is something you are likely to use on a daily basis with your baby. Therefore it really is worthwhile to invest in a high quality babycarrier! Here is some basic criteria to consider:

  1. What position is baby in when carrier is in use? (note: Baby should NOT be “dangling” from their hips). When you look at pictures of babywearing through the ages, select a carrier that emulates similar positioning. There is a reason these types of carriers have been around for centuries…they are aligned with baby’s natural position and subsequent development.
  2. Are the straps comfortable and easy to adjust?
  3. Are my back and shoulders comfortable while wearing baby, even for prolonged periods of time?
  4. Is it relatively easy to get baby in and out of carrier?

Now, I know you might be thinking, but I have to purchase a babycarrier to know the answers to the above questions! While researching available options will definitely aid in the selection process, you might feel the need/desire to actually try a carrier before committing yourself to a babycarrier. Here are a few ideas to consider:

  • Borrow a carrier from a friend to experiment with before purchasing your own.
  • Check out Babywearing International for a local BWI chapter in your area. Often these groups have a lending library of babycarriers available to members. This is an awesome way to “try before you buy”!
  • See if a local baby boutique in your area might offer a babywearing 101 class where you can get lots of great info, ask questions, and even try out different carriers.
  • Buy from a store that has excellent customer service and a reasonable return/exchange policy.

Happy Babywearing All!

-Sarah

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Friday Family Spotlight: Meet Michelle’s Family

Friday, December 7th, 2012

I am very excited to introduce you to Michelle and her family! Michelle is actually a good friend of mine….one who I deeply admire as a mother. She is super gentle with her children and approaches challenges with humor and grace. Read on to learn more about her awesome family!

Who are the members of your family?

There’s me (Michelle), my husband James, who always seems to have his nose in a book. Our daughter Libby (7), who doesn’t hear you until you sing to her, our son Justus (4) who is normally walking around with some Lego contraption he built and our second son Gideon (2) who eats hummus by the spoonful (scratch that) handful.

How did you meet your significant other?

We met in high school. We went to rival high schools but we were both part of a group that would do activities with each other. He actually dated my best friend before I started dating him and she kind of set us up.

What is your favorite Mom’s Milk Boutique Product?

Right now I’m trying to build up my mama cloth stash so my favorite product is the Imse Vimse Menstrual Pads with Wings, I already have one set and I’m looking to buy more.

 What is your favorite baby carrier and why?

ERGO babycarrier is by far my favorite! I have four carriers: a sling, a wrap, and 2 Ergos (performance and original) I keep an Ergo in the car and one in the house. I love my other carriers for different stages but the Ergo I love that I can use it for just about any stage my babies are at. I still use it for my 2 ½ year old and have used it for other children while watching them; it’s how I know to calm a fussy child (besides nursing them).

What is the best and worst parenting advice you have ever been given?

Best advice was from my mom: you can never spoil a baby, pick them up as often as either you or baby needs to.

Worst advice was from a friend: your milk doesn’t come in for about a week so you should pick a formula before baby is born to feed them. I knew better than this because, although I was still pregnant with my first, I had already attended a La Leche League meeting or two and read the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

What’s your number one secret for stretching a dollar?

Meal planning has to be the biggest stretch of the dollar. If I go to the store without a plan for the week I end up spending a week’s worth of grocery budget but only have a couple meals and have to go back to the store for other things. If I plan it all out before I go to the store I have a full week’s worth of meals spending the same amount of money.

There's Giddy....enjoying some hummus!

Share one special family tradition you have:

My favorite Christmas tradition is, when we set up our Christmas tree we always play the Chipmunk Christmas CD’s. Since I was a kid I can remember doing this. My mom had them on record when we were kids but as soon as I found them on CD I bought one for each of my sisters and they both still carry on this tradition.

Thanks Michelle for sharing your family with us! And even though I know your family pretty well already, I learned a few new things about you! 🙂

Would you like to have your family featured in a Friday Family Spotlight AND win a FREE $10 gift certificate to Mom’s Milk Boutique for your participation? If so email sarah@momsmilkboutique.com with the subject line “Friday Family Spotlight Inquiry” and share something interesting about your family in your email message.

Happy Friday Everyone!!

-Sarah

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2012 Costume Parade!

Thursday, November 1st, 2012

I really LOVED getting all these fun pics in my email inbox the past 24 hours! So many adorable kidlets in some super cute costumes! My boys enjoy dressing up year-round, but they especially dig it this time of year when there are costumes everywhere. We shop second-hand for almost everything, and costumes are no excpetion. All in all I spent $25 on our 5 costumes this year; 3 ninjas and 2 hippies. Here’s the only picture we managed to get of the five of us…our photographer was having, ahem, “techinical difficulties” with his fancy phone (sorry dad if you are reading this!).

Here are Andrea’s Chuggers from ChGavin (2) and Jon (4).

Here’s Melanie’s Pea in a Pod and hubby as Mario

Here are Sarah’s boys as Batman and Robin!

Here is the Sheppard family as Super Mario Brothers. Baby Luigi (Kit), Mario, Princess Daisy, and Princess Peach (Ginny)

Here’s Bekah’s daughter Paige the Zebra 18 Months Old!

Here are Jolene’s kids: Elizabeth (10months) as an ice cream cone. Her costume was designed to be used with their babycarrier (so clever!!). Nicholas (3yrs) he is a yummy delicious cheeseburger and big brother (10) is a mummy.

Here is Angie’s daughter Dorothy with furbabies as the Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow!

Here is Joy and her kids: Sage (7) a spider witch, Thomas (5) as Super Mario, and Abigail (20months) as a lady bug.

Here is Brena’s adorable baby panda bear!

Here is Brandi’s baby bird enjoying some mama’s milk!

Here is Annie’s family sporting a farm theme.

Here are Destiny’s twins as a Ghostbuster and Stay Puff Marshmallow Man!

Here is Monica’s litte Yoda!

Here are Jill’s kiddos; a safari tour guide and a zebra!

Here is Emily’s Pink Poodle!

And last but not least here is Karen’s little hot dog!

And the winner of the 2012 Breastfeed.Babywear.ClothDiaper 2012 Costume Contest is ….  Destiny’s twins in their Ghostbuster and Stay Puff Marshmallow Man costumes! Congrats Destiny both on the win and your beautiful babies!! An email with your prize will be sent soon! 🙂

Thanks a bunch everyone for participating in our costume parade…hope you had as much fun as I did looking at all the cute kids and cool costumes. 🙂

-Sarah

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