sponsor love - orangeberry baby

let's all say a big hello to luvinthemommyhood's newest sponsor - orangeberry baby! i am now obsessed with orangeberry baby. i heart modern baby goodies. love them. the prints and fabrics are delicious and seriously have me drooling on my laptop as i put this post together.

when i first spotted shanna's (busy mom of 4) shop i freaked out. how had i not seen this on etsy. i am on etsy aaaaalllloooot. i was pleasantly surprised and wanted to pretty much buy one of everything. shanna's going to be bringing a lot more organic options to the store soon as well and she's always happy to do custom orders. so if you have littlies or know of someone expecting some make sure to check out orangeberry baby! shanna's offering all luvinthemommyhood readers 10% off for the rest of the month of august. thanks shanna!

here's a taste of shanna's shop and some of my fave lovelies:






stroller blankets.....


receiving blankets......


lovey security blankets....

































you can follow orangeberry baby on facebook and also get the inside scoop on shanna's blog here as well. thanks for such a great shop shanna - you make me want to use piping on more baby goodies. so stylish and clean looking :)

what's your favorite must have baby item? are you a fan of orangeberry baby?

Sponsor Love - Magpie Patterns

we've got a new neighbour in the mommyhood! i'm super excited to announce "magpie patterns" as one of our newest sponsors!

as soon as i spotted magpie patterns i was hooked. amy carries all my fave goodies, treasures and designers galore. whether you're looking for patterns, books or inspiration - she's got it all! magpie patterns is like that friend you find that has the exact same taste as you that you can ogle & drool in all the loveliness with :)

amy even has a lovely little blog of her own where you can check out all her handmade creations she posts when she isn't busy with her 2 gorgeous girls. so pop over to magpie patterns and have a looksie - you know you need a new project......

how about some.....

or a little......







or maybe some.......







or check out some.....







whatever floats your boat, you're sure to find something to fill that creative craving over at magpie patterns!

p.s. thanks for all the email chats amy :)

babyhood bonanza abby sprouts sale!!

In honor of our babyhood bonanza here on luvinthemommyhood, Abby Sprouts, one of my fave Victoria, BC mompreneurs, yep, she's local ladies, so if you live in town you just may get her to deliver your goodies right to your house or do what I do and pick up direct from her, decided to celebrate Harper's safe arrival with a little - OK a Big sale! Abby Sprouts is giving you all 20% Off nearly everything for Baby and Mom until June 27th!

Take a peak at the summer weight sleep sacks, Bella Bands, Made in BC, Canada Organic Skin Care for Mom, Baby or the Family (Love the Bubble Bath!), Gorgeous Organic Cotton Lined Sun Hats, Natural Rubber Soothers, Amber Teething Necklaces, the Organic Woombie and the Luxurious Aden + Anais Swaddling Blankets....ummm, I think I'll take one of everything..haha.

The sale applies to everything in Baby Needs, Mom To Be, Parents, Bath and Skin Care, Clothing and Nursing Sections of the online shop - it's BIG! Happy Shopping ladies!

Just use the coupon code 'Babyhood' at the check out to see your 20% savings.
and don't forget....
FREE Shipping on most orders over $99!!
Within Canada, Excludes Large Products. Coupon code 'FreeShip'

Thanks Steph, for the sale and for being such a great sponsor of the mommyhood! Big hugs!

mommyhood sponsor love

ohhhh, some great sales this month on abby sprouts! make sure to pop over and check out all the goodies marked down for May!!!!

Every Melissa and Doug Wooden Toy and the Grocery Shopping Carts are on Sale at Abby Sprouts. Save up to $15 Off!

FuzziBunz once a year Clearance Sale just Started! You will be able to save 15% off nearly all the colours except white and apple green. Many gender neutral colours available in perfect size FuzziBunz.

Steph at Abby Sprouts is a sweetheart and is always happy to help you get started with cloth diapering or answer any questions you may have, just send her an email or call.

abby sprouts also just started carrying the fabulous lifefactory glass bottles:

· BPA, phthalate, PVC, and polycarbonate free

· Silicone sleeve is free of plastics and 100% non-toxic

· All materials are FDA approved

· With glass there is no chemical leaching and no metallic taste

· Widemouth bottle make it easy to add ice, citrus slices, tea bags, etc

· Patent pending silicone sleeve provides a great gripping surface and helps to prevent breakage

· Bottle and sleeve can be put in the dishwasher together

Remember to take advantage of Abby Sprouts Free Shipping over $99 within Canada.

Abby Sprouts is an earth friendly, eco-conscious and most of all child safe secure online store for today's families. Abby Sprouts' products are carefully selected for high quality, low environmental impact, non toxic paint and materials, safety, durability, and most of all, fun.

mommyhood sponsor love

ahhhhh, it's so lovely to have one of my fave photographers "kennedy photografik" as a sponsor on luvinthemommyhood. with my hormones raging and my emotions on a high as we await the arrival of baby number 2, jennifer kennedy's gorgeous images always, always, always make me feel romance, heart, passion and humour and most of all love. she's right.......

LOVE IS CONTAGIOUS

whether it's the love for your partner.........

the love for your soon to be little one.......


or the never ending love for your new child.......


jen makes it contagious.

"Photography to me is a lot of things; but primarily, it's the ability to capture moments. Moments in time that cannot be duplicated. Real moments."

jen's gonna be going to be offering some insane deals on portrait sessions - couples, maternity, family, you name it, during the summer and even though she resides in powell river, she will be in Victoria and around Vancouver Island as well! She's also willing to travel. If you're looking to get your "love" captured by Jen send her an email for more info at jennifer [at] kennedycorp [dot] ca for more details.

you can find more information on jennifer kennedy and kennedy photografik on her website, blog, facebook page or our interview/feature on luvinthemommyhood.

all images are copyright jennifer kennedy 2010

special sponsor sale - abby sprouts!

make sure to check out our special sponsor sale from abby sprouts for luvinthemommyhood readers for the month of april!!!!!!!! there's lots of goodies for all you mommas out there :)

special sponsor announcement - kennedy photografik

ok, yep, if you look real closely to the right of the image above that's me and all my glory in the banner of one of my fave photography gals jennifer kennedy from kennedy photografik. i'm blushing and oh, so honored to be in a header, yep, a header for her blog......you're such a sweetie jen! thanks!

i met jennifer last year at the wedding of some dear friends. i fell in love with her photography and had the pleasure of sitting next to her at the reception and let me just say that i've been stalking her blog ever since. jen's photography covers everything from weddings, engagements, babies/maternity and family shoots. plus she's funny and fun to be around and actually made me look somewhat photogenic!!! a miracle to say the least - what more could you ask for out of a photographer?

i'm super excited to announce kennedy photografik as one of our new sponsors in the mommyhood. i've put together a special post with some questions i had for her, a sneak peek at the maternity photo shoot she did for me and some of my fave photos of hers.


a little about jen.....

I love coffee.

I love my tilt-shift lens.

I love traveling.

I love flip-flops, and wear them pretty much all year.

I love big cities, but coming home to a small town.

I love peonies.

I love chocolate, in all its forms.

I love early mornings.

I love weddings!

I love taking photos, and I'd love to take yours!

"Photography to me is a lot of things; but primarily, it's the ability to capture moments. Moments in time that cannot be duplicated. Real moments."

LOVE IS CONTAGIOUS

What kind of camera do you use and what is your favorite lens?
I use a Sony Alpha a900, and my backup is an a700. Right now, my favorite lens is my 70-200 f2.8. My go-to lens is my 50 f1.4.

What is your most loved thing to photograph and why?
I'm in love with photographing couples in love. It's magic when you can capture *that* connection.


What is one thing you have always wanted to photograph but haven't got the chance yet?
I'd love to photograph a birth. I don't have my own children, but can imagine bringing one into this world would be unbelievably emotional experience.

Any advice to moms looking to start doing photography as a business?
Love what you shoot (if you love kids, specialize in little people, if not, don't!). Charge what your worth. Invest in good equipment. Develop a style. And photoshopping is NOT a style!

You travel a lot for your business, how far will you go for photo shoots and why did you decide to offer this service?
I will go as far as my clients would like me to. I offer this because I'm from an isolated community and need an excuse to get out every once and a while! And... I love photography, and people are willing to add travel to my fees because they like my work and want my services. It's pretty flattering!


What are your Top 5 Tips for Taking Pics of Babies/Kids?
Here are my top 5 tips for capturing your kiddos... not in any particular order!
5) Turn off the flash. Want to avoid the "deer in the headlights" look? This is the easy way. This works best outdoors, in bright, natural light, but can be achieved indoors as well.
4) Don't interrupt the action. Let them play, capturing them in a documentary style.
3) Move in closer. Let that gorgeous face fill the frame! Turn on the macro, even!
2) Be quick. Have your camera on hand... you never know when the next opportunity will strike!
1) Be visible! For gosh sakes, get in that photo. Yes, you. Put it on auto, set the timer, and say cheese as a family.

jen's gonna be in my neck of the woods this summer (Victoria, BC) and she's got some specials going on:
Among all the wedding hub-bub, I'll be in Victoria two weekends over the summer, and am offering an insane deal on portrait sessions - couples, maternity, family, you name it! Please email me jennifer [at] kennedycorp [dot] ca for details.

thanks jen!!!!! for the photoshoot and for the mini-interview! it was fun!

you can find more information on jennifer kennedy and kennedy photografik on her website, blog or facebook page.

all images are copyright jennifer kennedy 2010

luvinthemommyhood specials & some news!

Everything Abby Sprouts sells is proudly
earth-friendly!

"Abby Sprouts is an earth friendly, eco-conscious and most of all child safe secure online store for today's families. Abby Sprouts' products are carefully selected for high quality, low environmental impact, non toxic paint and materials, safety, durability, and most of all, fun. We strive to provide you with economical options too!

FREE Shipping on most orders over $99!!

Within Canada, Excludes Large Products.
Coupon Code
'FreeShip'

whoooo, don't you just love a good sale? i do! steph from our sponsor "abby sprouts" is nicely offering all you luvinthemommyhood readers 15% off store wide for the month of april. all you gotta do is use the code 'mommyhood' and happy shopping you go!

in other news....................



i did a guest post yesterday over on the fabulous blog "simply modern mom". tiffany so sweetly invited me over to be part of her simply said series. so i simply said my "luvinthemommyhood must make baby items". click here for the roundup!!! lots of goodies!


what's your favorite must make baby item?

*****luvinthemommyhood is under construction. if you notice any weirdness or glitches it's due to our revamp of the site.************

new sponsor - welcome to the neighbourhood abby sprouts!

we've got a new neighbour in the mommyhood! i'm happy to introduce abby sprouts! abby sprouts is eco-friendly shopping for the today's family. owner steph is a local victoria, bc, mom where i live and i am so excited to have her be a part of the mommyhood!


abby sprouts has a wonderful selection of hand picked items ranging from organic cloth diapers and clothes, eco-friendly & handmade toys, to organic cotton slings for the parents & breast pumps. as soon as i saw steph's online shop i knew i would become a customer. she carries all of my favorite lines and is canadian to boot!

let's find out a little bit more about abby sprouts:

"Abby Sprouts was born to promote earth friendly, eco-conscious and most of all child safe products. Abby Sprouts provides parents with a place where they can shop in the comfort of their own home while the kids are sleeping, playing or shopping alongside you. We only sell products we have tested in our home or on our friends and everything in our store is environmentally friendly.

After being frustrated with searching for safe products throughout my pregnancy and for my baby I decided the green family needed a place where the leg work was done for them. I select every product Abby Sprouts sells based on earth friendliness, play factor, enjoyment, quality, and functionality. If it's junk, we don't sell it. I'm a true believer in buying less but buying good quality."

1) melissa & doug wooden bear dress up family puzzle
2) "mine (don't mess)" organic cotton onesies & t-shirts
3) AMP one size duo diaper
4) wool felt perfect sandwich making play food set

"Abby Sprouts offers a variety of toys for children and babies. All of our products have been selected for low-environmental impact, safety, and fun. Our toys are made from a variety of eco-friendly materials including recycled food grade plastic, reclaimed wood, sustainably harvested wood, rubber wood, organic fabrics and stuffing."

to read more about abby sprouts check out their "green policy" and their "price guarantee", it sure is refreshing to see :) too many times businesses toot their eco-friendly horn, but fail to comply to some of the most basic standards of living a green lifestyle spanning from their home to their business. you can find abby sprouts on their blog and their facebook page! thanks for being part of the mommyhood steph :)

are you interested in sponsoring luvinthemommyhood & being part of our little neighbourhood? if you think your business, shop, blog, etc would be a great fit for the mommyhood, email enquiries to luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca or click here for more info - we'd love to hear from you!

and the winner is...........

mckay of sayitonthewall.com is one of luvinthemommyhood`s newest sponsors and last week she offered up a great giveaway for a $30 shopping spree for www.sayitonthewall.com - thanks mckay, and thanks to all of you who commented! and now for the winner........

commenter #15

Charissa said...

I would have such a hard time figuring out what to choose! I love the nativity scenes for Christmas. The glass blocks are really neat, as are the tiles. Beautiful selection!

September 3, 2009 11:28 AM

congrats charissa!!!!!!! mckay will be in touch with you in regards to your prize! i hope you enjoy your nativity scene - those are fabulous! thanks again for all of your lovely comments and for being part of the mommyhood!

new neighbour in the mommyhood & a giveaway!!

we've got a new neighbour in the mommyhood! sayitonthewall.com is your place to go for vinyl crafts - from wall words, tiles, glass blocks, clocks, vinyl decals and holiday decor, sayitonthewall has got something for everyone. they also does custom orders.

"vinyl lettering is a fast, easy, beautiful, and inexpensive way to decorate your home. it is also a great way to promote your business whether it be by using it on your car, or using it for your business signs."

*****neighbourhood special - giveaway!!!*****

sayitonthewall.com has generously offered a giveaway to one lucky luvinthemommyhood reader for a $30 dollar shopping spree on their website!!! all you have to do is leave a comment on this post stating what you would spend your $30 dollars on! so pop on over to www.sayitonthewall.com and scope out some cute xmas gifts! you have until thursday, september 10th to get your comment in!

welcome to the neighbourhood mckay! it's nice to meet you and thank you for helping to keep luvinthemommyhood a fun place to be!

are you interested in sponsoring luvinthemommyhood & being part of our little neighbourhood? if you think your business, shop, blog, etc would be a great fit for the mommyhood, email enquiries to luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca - we'd love to hear from you! we know times are tough right now and the mommyhood is offering competitive and reasonable rates to showcase your business to moms & crafters worldwide! we also offer special 3 month rates. who knows, we may even barter and trade services with you! christmas shopping is just around the corner.......:)

i feel like this when.....

my coffee cup is empty.....

don't forget to check out our lovely sponsor for your daily dose of a healthier coffee.

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luvinthemommyhood sponsor : : a healthier coffee

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please don't forget to check out our lovely sponsor of luvinthemommyhood, they help keep the mommyhood running smoothly. contact michelle, who is an independent rep for organo gold coffee, for your order today. she's offering free shipping on your first order!

are you interested in advertising on luvinthemommyhood? we offer very reasonable rates (we know the economy is tight these days) and 3 month specials. contact shannon at luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca if you think you have a blog/website/business that you feel would be a great fit for luvinthemommyhood. we look forward to hearing from you!

luvinthemommyhood sponsor : : a healthier coffee

tired of drinking 4 cups of coffee a day? overtired? if you're like me you probably need a healthier coffee alternative.

check out luvinthemommyhood's newest neighbour - michelle martin, who is a independent representative of our fave new coffee organo gold. this coffee is so yummy and to top it off, it's healthy for you! click here to find out more about this fabulous coffee. word is around the mommyhood that it does wonders for allergies during this time of year - you can't beat that!

p.s. michelle is donating almost all her proceeds this month to the victoria general hospital's pediatric icu. she is also offering free shipping for your first order. give her a call or send her an email, she's a sweetheart :)

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new neighbour in the mommyhood!

we have a new neighbour in the mommyhood who is helping to keep our little community alive, fun and thriving. please welcome michelle martin of healthy coffee....yum!

now before you run off saying, eww, an ad/sponsor, i just wanna say that for us in the mommyhood this was a tough choice we decided to make to help keep things going here at the rate that we would like to and to also help luvinthemommyhood continue to grow and feature more new and exciting tutorials and articles.

i love writing this blog and it is my passion, so i am possessive over it and do not feel like bombarding it with ugly ads and flashing gadgets. i decided if i was going to take on sponsors that they would have to be something i believe in and that i think are relevant to our readership. michelle fit that bill. hell, all mom's drink coffee (ok, must of us do and those who don't are lucky and i seriously don't know how you have energy to make it through the day with kids) and secondly, we all need something that is a bit healthier than your average coffee. michelle is a busy mom of 2 gorgeous kids, whose business it is to sell this delicious and yummy coffee.

what's so special about this coffee? well, you'll have to click here to find out, but let me tell you, i am a coffee whore (sorry about the bad language). i would seriously die without mine. my naturopathic doc took me off for a few months once and i thought i was going to die - migraines and all. i usually drink 2 cups a day (strong ones) followed by that horrible caffeine burnout we all experience. it took some convincing from one of my best buds jaime to get me to try a new coffee and boy am i sure glad i did. i had more energy, only needed one cup and found it easier to focus during the day. as a mom, with mom brain, focusing and concentrating can sometimes be tricky for me. i have also heard of other mom's in town having a release from allergies, and also help from other health issues. they even have hot chocolate for kids or green tea if you aren't into coffee.

so help keep luvinthemommyhood going and click here to read about "the healthier coffee" and go ahead and give it a try. michelle is donating $10 CDN from each box of coffee sold this month to the pediatric ICU at Victoria General Hospital this month and is also offering a special deal to all you luvinthemommyhood readers:

****free shipping on your first order******

just mention to michelle you heard about the coffee here and michelle will ship you your first order free! happy sipping!

p.s. - would you like to see your ad on our site?

if you think your business, shop, blog, etc would be a great fit for the mommyhood, please send an email to luvinthemommyhood@yahoo.ca with your business and contact information.

we know times are tough right now and the mommyhood is offering competitive and reasonable rates to showcase your business to moms & crafters worldwide! we also offer special 3 month rates. who knows, we may even barter and trade services with you!

so don't delay - contact the mommyhood today! spaces are limited and we are only offering room for a few ads on the site. this is a great way to make sure your business will be showcased. if you would like to see blog statistics and numbers just ask :)

we look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you to the neighbourhood!