Most Fave Blogs

I try and make time every day or two to check out my most favourite blogs, so I thought I would share a few of them with you. Maybe one will become a favourite of yours too!

Daffodil Design

Mon Petit Amour

The Storque {Etsy's Blog}

How About Orange

Hostess with the Mostess

Everyday Celebrating

Pet Peeves

Here are some things that are driving me crazy:

~ online orders that cancel two days later because they don't have the stock!
~ when I forget, and accidentally throw in laundry that shouldn't go in the dryer!
~ my ridiculous pregnancy-caused heartburn {and the fact that nothing seems to help it}!
~ potty training {need I say more}!
~ the unpredictable Calgary weather!

What are some of your pet peeves?

Nursing Wear Sales and Contests

If you are currently nursing or an expectant mom who plans to breastfeed, you need to check out these great deals and contests!

BumbleWee Nursing Wear Sweepstakes {enter to win a nursing top every day for 30 days}

Momzelle {clearing out their current stock to make room for new styles - 25% off everything}

Bravado {enter to win a prize pack that includes some of their amazing nursing bras and an hbc gift card}

Zulily {one of this week's sales includes Larrivo Nursingwear at 55% off}

BumbleWee Nursing Wear Contest

I know I have been away for a looong time, but I have rather good excuses... or at least I have been trying to tell myself that they have been good excuses. The biggest reason I have been away for so long is that Toddler B is going to be a big brother. His baby brother or sister {we didn't find out} is due to arrive November 11th! I so enjoy my blogging, but the early part of this pregnancy was tough on me, and then everything just got so busy after that... Hopefully I can get back into it again soon!

But, I did want to share a link to this awesome contest that BumbleWee Nursing Wear is running. I am all about the baby stuff these days {and getting Toddler B's big boy room done, but that is another day's post}! They are giving away a nursing top every day for 30 days {today is day 3}, and you get a 50% off coupon code just for entering. I already ordered one of their sweepstakes items at 50% off yesterday. I am determined to look at least slightly stylish in the early days after this baby is born!

Review of New Online Shopping Sites

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the new group of online shopping sites that are popping up... you know the ones that offer a limited number of designer brand items at a discount until they are sold out. See the original post here. Well, back then I had placed an order with one of the sites, and now that my order has arrived I thought I would share my experiences with you.

Around the end of February I ordered some clothing for myself from Hautelook. It is designer name clothing, but a brand that I had never worn before. I ordered two tops, one dress and one pair of jeans. In terms of speed of service, the order did take longer than I expected to actually ship. I expect it to take a while to get here once it has been shipping since it is coming from the US to Canada, but it was over a week and a half before I was sent a shipping confirmation notice. I guess they must have a lot of orders to fill, so maybe I should cut them some slack.

However, the day after I received my shipping notice, I received another email stating that my order was not being shipped complete. In fact, one of the tops I ordered had been "short-shipped" by the supplier and I would not be receiving it at all... ever. This is not technically Hautelook's fault since the brand promised them a certain quantity and couldn't deliver. However, it is disappointing nonetheless. Hautelook refunded my money (probably not the same amount I had paid since the exchange rate had likely changed since then) and gave me a $20 credit towards my next order. At least they tried to make up for it.

On another negative side (totally not Hautelook's fault again), none of the clothes fit very well. I don't often buy clothes online unless it is a brand that I already have in my closet so I know my exact size, so perhaps I should stick to that!

In short, my advice is to to stick to what you know when using these fancy new online shopping sites... if you know you like the fit of William Rast jeans and know your size, then go for it! You'll save some money for sure... just don't get your hopes up too high in case there is a short-ship issue! And, be aware that you won't be getting them in time for that party this weekend if you live in Canada...

Fabulous Female Friday: Penny People Designs

It dawned on me the other day that I have yet to blog about one of my favourite companies ever... Penny People Designs. A wonderfully talented and sweet girl by the name of Lindsay Stephensen is the owner and mastermind behind this darling company that makes custom stationery products.

My favourite products are her penny people cards with characters that you personalize {hair colour and style, clothes} to make look like you {or the person that the cards are for}. They also make fab photo cards, birth announcements and mommy calling cards, amongst other cool products.

However, when I popped on over to the Penny People site this morning I noticed that a bunch of my favourite items aren't there anymore. So, I did a little investigating, and it appears that my favourite divapreneur is becoming a mompreneur! Yes, Lindsay is expecting, and in preparation for baby's arrival she has scaled back the business. But, she promises that when she returns she will be armed with a bunch of brand new products in addition to old faves.

In the meantime, you can still order a few birth announcements and her sweet alphabet or number art prints!

Best of luck Lindsay!

Thursday is the new Wednesday

Oops! I forgot to do a post again yesterday... so today is the new yesterday!

I have recently become addicted to the newest crop of online shopping sites... the ones that sell designer brands at a discount. I have been invited to try a few of them by friends, and I placed my first order last week. I am always a bit of a skeptic, so I have tried not to order anything else until I receive my first order and can determine if it was in fact a good deal, and if I received good service.

The one I decided to try first was Hautelook. But, there are more out there including Beyond the Rack and Zulily.

It's a bit disappointing when you log on and find that the items you would most covet are already sold out. You definitely have to be quick on the draw {or click as the case may be}. Warning: Your hubby or significant other will not be too pleased that you call him every morning asking if you can place an order!

Some {More} of My Favourite Things...

As promised, here is the follow up post to last week's Mother Monday list of some of my top baby/toddler finds {and the fabulous online stores I like to shop at}. I apologize that it appears that some of my links aren't working properly lately. If you need the info on any product or store, send me an email {threemes@gmail.com} and I'd be happy to oblige!

6. Toddler Buckled Belts by Kula Klips that I purchased from True Cuddles. My son has always been a little guy, and he needs a belt to hold up his pants because the ones that are long enough for him are usually too big in the waist. True Cuddles is one of my favourite online stores {also based out of Calgary} that offers one baby or toddler product each week at a really great discount. Sign up for their weekly email alert!

7. KidKusion Gummi Crib Rail Cover I ordered from Belly Laughs. Our little guy started chewing on his crib when he was teething and hubby and I struggled to find something that would save our $500+ dollar investment from our little termite. Enter the Gummi Crib Rail Cover. It has since fallen off {we had to move it once because we hadn't placed it correctly and the stick just never stuck right after that, so be sure you position it correctly the first time}, but it did the trick at the time! 8. Leap Frog Learning DVD Set ordered from Chapters or Amazon Canada. My son loves these DVDs and they are doing an excellent job of teaching him his alphabet! Chapters also has a great selection of toys and DVDs, so check them out next time you are ordering a book. Amazon doesn't carry toys, but their prices on books and DVD's are always competitive with Chapters.

9. Thought Spots by Thought Spots. Also a Canadian company. Thought Spots are little reminders and messages that inspire or tell someone you care. They cling to mirrors and other glass surfaces, but are easily removed. The New Mom Thought Pack makes a great baby shower gift!
10. Fisher Price Grow-to-Pro Basketball Net from Amazon.com. My son loooves his basketball net. No, Amazon.com still doesn't ship to Canada {at least not most things and not for a reasonable shipping fee}. I have family in Montana, so I shipped an order from Amazon to my grandparent's house a few weeks before my parents were planning to be there for a visit. Amazon seriously has everything, so I wish they would make shopping with them from Canada more easy and cost effective!

Some of My Favourite Things...

For today's Mother Monday post I thought I would share some of my favourite baby/toddler items from the last two years. These five items just happen to come from five of my favourite online shopping stores as well! Next week I'll list off five more favourites, so come back next Monday for the rest!

1. My Petunia Pickle Bottom Touring Tote Diaper Bag. I had to take a picture of my exact bag because this print is no longer available, however, the new prints are just as fun! It is the perfect size for me, not too big, but still fits everything I need. I purchased my bag at my favourite online baby store based out of Ontario Dear Born Baby! A Canadian store that offers free shipping on orders for $100 or more, what could be better?!

2. Toddler B's Personalized Cubino Chair from You Name It Baby {also in Ontario}. The chair itself is available at other retailers, however, You Name It Baby embroiders your child's name on it {for a small fee} making it their extra special seat. My son sits in his all the time, and I happily have it in my family room because it looks good.

3. Gertie Balls are the best balls around for any active toddler. The smaller ones are good for older babies too because they are easy to grip. Toddler B has one in every toy area of the house for playing soccer, catch, basketball... I bought ours from Scholar's Choice and found them to have good customer service and reasonable shipping costs. *Note: Scholar's Choice seems to be out of stock on Gertie Balls right now. They are pretty difficult to find, so if you do find them, order a few extras to give as gifts!

4. The Imaginarium Train Table from Toys R Us. Santa got this for Toddler B for Christmas and it has been an excellent source of entertainment. The quality is great and it is compatible with the Thomas Wooden Railway trains. It does take a few hours to put together, but not too difficult. {Bonus: costs way less than the Thomas Train Set!}

5. Grobags from Mom & Baby Works. A Calgary-based online store that also features all of the Tiny Soles brand, as well as many other great products. Excellent customer service too. My son has been in a sleep sack since he was about 6 months old. My hubby and I give most of the credit to our being able to get good sleeps to Grobags.

Fabulous Female Friday ~ Mon Petit Amour

I am absolutely loving my friend Morgan's blog Mon Petit Amour lately... In one of my first-ever blog posts I talked about how Morgan was my inspiration to start blogging, and it isn't hard to see why. I love all the new mom stuff that she is sharing with her readers lately {she had Baby Hunter in the beginning of December}, and her writing is so perfectly bloggy and fun that it keeps you wanting more! Plus she always finds the cutest images and graphics to post {something I am not very good at}.



If you haven't been over to her blog for a visit in a while, you need to pour yourself a cup of tea and pull up a chair at the computer. Morgan just recently purchased her domain name {so exciting}, and she has gotten back into the blogging groove after a short hiatus to {rightfully so} spend time bonding with Hunter.


This week she is focusing on something called FlyLady, and how you can change your procrastinating ways and not get too overwhelmed with the daily doings of running a household by doing everything a little at a time {and rewarding yourself when you stay on track which I think is key}. I think the suggestions are fantastic and I am making a mental note to go back and really look at the posts when I am done school {sounds a bit like I am procrastinating, but really and honestly I am too busy right now to implement something new}.

Be sure to check out her roundup post "daily deals online for mom and baby." I had wanted to put together a listing of all of these shopping sites, but now we can just share!

Nice work Morgan ~ you are going to be a top mama blogger that so many other bloggers are talking about I just know it!

Every Hip Hostess Needs an Apron

Michelle Stepp from Everyday Celebrating posted the most wonderful aprons on her blog yesterday... they are from The Hip Hostess. I think every wife needs one to help inspire her inner creative cook, don't you agree? So cute!

Label Lover

A few weeks ago I applied {and got accepted} to be a Mabel's Labels BuzzMama. This means essentially that I am an ambassador for them... they want me to talk to people I know about their products and then provide feedback to them on what was said. Pretty easy peasy for someone like me who loves to talk about children's products. I refer mommy friends to specific companies I find and love all the time anyway, so why not get rewarded for it, right?!

If you have never heard of Mabel's Labels they started out simply making super durable {they say you can put stuff in the dishwasher and the label won't come off, but I haven't put it to the test personally yet} "labels for the stuff kids lose," but now they have branched out into home organization products and personal stationery.

What I love about the concept of the BuzzMama program though is that I am not going to ever have to stand in front of a group of women and try and sell them lotion or something. I think I'd be pretty horrible on the home party scene. Nope - instead of getting paid a wage or commission I will get paid in product. And Mabel's Labels has lots of fun products that I will enjoy playing with for sure!

Another perk is that in my welcome package I received a bunch of coupons to share with my friends. So, if there is a product that you have always wanted to try from Mabel's Labels drop me an email at threemes@gmail.com and I'll see if I can hook you up!

Easy to Get {Joyfully} Lost on Etsy!

I have spent a lot of time perusing the wonderful world of Etsy lately. It is so neat to see what the creative minds out there have come up with.

Some of my favourite things to search for lately have been custom photo cards {I wanted to do some thank you cards from my son's birthday, but I have been procrastinating and now I am almost past what might be considered proper etiquette for thank you cards}, party kits and printables, purses, recipe organizers, and contact cards.

The only thing I have actually ordered so far is the contact cards. I figured I could use them dual purpose, as mommy contact cards when we meet some new potential playdate friends, and also as a business card when I am dealing with suppliers and vendors while planning the dance-a-thon event.

I used Etsy seller IcingsPrints, and owner, Ais, was a joy to work with. Super pleasant, and quick to respond. I am looking forward to receiving my finished product. I chose a flexible package that IcingsPrints offers that includes 30 printed copies of the contact card, plus the digital file to print more later myself if I run out. Perfect for me. Plus, I was able to get two different designs {one standard business card rectangle, and the other a funky square shape}. Thanks IcingsPrints!

Design In A Box

If you have been following my blog for a while, you already know that I have a passion for a few things. Baby/Children's Products, Event Planning, and Entrepreneurship are probably the highest ranking in my passion pages. Many of the posts I write tie into at least one of these themes in some way.

Today it's entrepreneurship, or since it is Mother Monday, more specifically "Mompreneurship." On Friday afternoon I was directed {via a Facebook fan page} to an article in the Globe and Mail entitled Technology Sets Mompreneurs Free. In the article they mention a Calgary-based business that I had never heard of before, but that I instantly fell in love with. The company is called Design In A Box.

Design In A Box is owned by professional interior designer Nyla Free. Clients send Nyla photos and specifications of a room in their home that needs some design TLC, and she creates a custom interior design kit complete with a floor plan, source guide of where to buy the items she is suggesting, and even fabric samples for you. The kit is put in a box {hence the company name} and mailed to you, and you can take it from there. How neat is that?

The best part is that Nyla has discovered a way to continue doing something that she loves, because her business plan makes it so she can work on her own schedule and still play mom to her two girls. Loving it!

Alternative Gift Cards

I have come to notice that more and more often people are resorting to gift cards as Christmas Gifts, especially for the individuals on their lists that they don't know very well, or "that person who has everything." Who can blame us, when the malls are getting crazy busy, and they make it so easy when you can pick up a gift card for just about anything at the grocery store?

I think that some recipients will surely appreciate a gift card to their favourite clothing store or an iTunes gift card where they can choose what they really want {especially teens}.

However, for those out there who, like me and my husband, see gift cards as basically exchanging cash with someone {what's the point, really?}, I think there are some "alternative" gift cards that are a little more personal, and more focused on allowing the recipient to have an "experience."

How about a gift card to a spa for your mom, sister, wife, or mother-in-law? Maybe consider passes to the zoo for your friend who has young kids, or tickets to the theatre/a concert for the couple who might like a date night? That way you are gifting something more valuable then a new sweater, it's time to themselves getting some relaxation, or time spent with those they love creating memories.

Extra bonus? Many of these alternative gift cards can be purchased online and then either mailed to you {or the recipient directly}, or printed right from home! Good news if you are in Calgary today where it is snowing and miserable.

Because Girls Enjoy Shopping!

I don't know if things in your home are the same as mine, but in my family I am put in charge of most of the gift buying for holidays and birthdays throughout the year. I am under the impression that most often the wife {or female partner} is asked to perform this task!


Just because there is a stereotype that women enjoy shopping doesn't mean that this task comes easy to all women though. In fact, it can be a huge burden for some! So, I thought I would share a few Canadian online shopping websites, and gift guides to help those who, like me, struggle to find something for every person on their Christmas list! Of course, if you have something to add, please feel free to email me or comment below!


Online Shopping
For Baby/Toddler/Expectant Mother - Dear Born Baby or Mom & Baby Works
For Eco-Concious Friend/Wife/Mother - Lavish & Lime
For Grandma/Wife/Mother - Charming Mommy
For Grandpa/Dad/Husband - Canadian Tire
For Anyone - Sears or Etsy or Chapters/Indigo


I also just discovered {a little late} that you can shop at many stores through http://www.airmilesshops.ca/ and collect Air Miles on your purchases! {Thanks Morgan!}


Gift Guides
Gifting Outside the Box
Parents Canada
Squidoo

Wishing you a stress-free shopping experience this year!

Happy Birthday True Cuddles

I have been a fan of True Cuddles for a really long time now... I guess almost a year since they are celebrating their first birthday this week! In case you aren't familiar with them, True Cuddles is an online store {www.truecuddles.ca} that offers up one baby or toddler product for sale per week, usually at a very deep discount. I love their business model {one of those, "now, why didn't I think of that" moments}, and I am always excited to get my weekly email on Monday mornings to see what they have found next!

I had a little chat with one of the owners and creators of the company, Sarah Milne, over email a few months ago. Super nice lady, very driven and exceptionally talented. And, of course, a mom! Which is what makes the products that True Cuddles sells interesting and unique... they are often mom-made or designed, and always mom-approved. Some of my favourites have been the bugalug hair clips {of course since I have a boy I couldn't get some, at least not without my hubby freaking out}, changing mats by The Modern Baby Co. {I missed out on these}, and mittens by mimiTENS.

True Cuddles also features lots of mom-run companies and mompreneurs on their site, which I love. I am all about supporting other moms in business!

Be sure to check them out on Facebook as well as they are giving away great prizes this week in honor of their birthday! Happy shopping!

Roundup of Mommy E-newsletters

A couple of Mondays ago I rounded up a bunch of places in Calgary that offer Mom & Tot classes... today I have rounded up what I think are the best of the e-newlsletters that parents can sign up for {since there really are hundreds to choose from}. Some of these newsletters offer parenting advice or forums, and others offer products. I have tried out many "subscriptions" and these are my favourites {in no particular order}:

Babyvibe.ca

SavvyMom.ca

Today's Parent

BabyCenter Canada

Simple Mom

True Cuddles

Baby Steals

If you are loving roundups as much as I do, visit Morgan's blog post on Mon Petit Amour where she rounded up baby/maternity stores in Calgary.

dearbornbaby.com

As I have noted in the About Me section of my blog, I am an avid online shopper. I have only had a few problems so far, such as items that suddenly become discontinued five weeks after I placed my order {and after being told at least three times that my order had already shipped}, but nothing serious enough to deter me from ordering on the internet.

I get very frustrated when I am looking for something in particular, and I head out with my little man for a day of shopping, but come home empty handed because stores in Calgary are out of stock! So, I buy online to save myself the time and headache, or at the very least research the different options online before I leave the house.

My favourite online maternity/baby/toddler store that I have used for the majority of my baby-related purchases, is Toronto-based Dear Born Baby {www.dearbornbaby.com}. They offer free shipping on orders over $100, and they have consistently provided me with good customer service and a great selection of products. The site is easy to navigate, professional and appealing to look at. I have mentioned this company to my mommy friends too many times to count. {Fabulous Friend: "Lauren, where did you get this great thing?" Me: "From Dear Born Baby of course."}

I highly recommend that you check here first before heading out to the stores! Especially if your little one doesn't particularly like to go shopping for more than an hour or two like my little guy! {Bonus: you get to receive your new stuff in the mail, and who doesn't love that!?}

Happy shopping!