Thursday, December 30, 2010

Healthy Pregnancy Lectures in 2011

Looking for free pregnancy education?

Finally! A fresh, dynamic, interesting pregnancy class series that won't leave you snoozing! Baby Awearness has teamed up with the best and the brightest of Oahu's natural birth community to educate as well as entertain. Our Healthy Pregnancy Lectures are FREE and open to the public! All classes are scheduled for the first Wednesday of each month (except in January) and located at our store in the Manoa Marketplace, 2nd floor.

We hope you will join us. Reminders will go out for every month but feel free to rsvp anytime. Or you can also just show up!

Coming up on . .

January 19th - Fertility and Nutrition: Nourishing the Miracle of Conception
Whether you are planning your first pregnancy or growing your family, healthy living before and during pregnancy is beneficial for all moms and babies-to-be. Supported by scientific research, nutritionist Stephanie Jurgenson will discuss the link between what you eat and your fertility and offer suggested nutrition and lifestyle steps to boost your fertility.

February 2nd - Pregnancy Nutrition
Nutritionist (and new mom) Kate Greenwell will offer great tips and insight into maintaining an expecting mother's healthy eating habits while optimizing health for her growing baby as well.

March 2nd - Fearless Birth
Natural birth advocate and Lamaze instructor Piper Lovemore will lead a discussion on having a fear-less birth. Many women (and men) often feel some degree of trepidation when confronted with even the idea of labor and delivery. This presentation is a great forum to explore those fears and learn how to replace them with positive affirmations and facts.

April 6th - Home Safety - CANCELLED
Local naturopathic doctor, Dr. Veronica Ford will present tips and advice on how home safety after baby arrives. Beyond the typical childproofing to-do's, she will also talk about how to create a non-toxic environment in the home.

May 4th - Post-partum Rejuvenation
Acupuncturist and doula Tara Mattes returns with this popular topic about post-partum care for new moms. This lecture offers great insight into the importance of helping mothers transition back to health and feel rejuvenated during those first weeks after birth.

Monday, December 27, 2010

How Important Is Breastfeeding, Really?

PART 2:  What do moms say?
(comments from moms of the La Leche League of Central Oahu group)

Breastfeeding is Practical:
  • No hassle or worry about preparation of formula, nothing to sterilize, heat up, clean up
  • Breastfeeding is available anytime, anyplace
  • Breastfeeding is instant gratification for baby
  • Often delays the return of your period
  • No worry about baby getting good nutrition
  • Economical (it’s free!)
  • Helps with losing pregnancy weight

Breastfeeding Deepens Attachment:
  • Helps at birth to bond and overcome the newness for baby and mother
  • Hormones released during breastfeeding makes you feel good
  • Helps you reconnect with your baby during tough times
  • Love how baby looks into your eyes during nursing
  • Skin to skin contact enhances bond
  • Helps baby feel better when they are tired, hungry or hurt
  • Nice knowing there’s always something to do to help your baby, a “quick fix”

Breastfeeding Helps You Know How To Be a Mother:
  • Gives confidence in mothering abilities
  • You’re more in tune with your baby so you can pick up on their cues sooner
  • Perseverance through difficulties shows your strength and helps you confront challenges
  • Opportunities for mother-to-mother bonding
  • More reliance on your maternal instincts, takes outside pressure off and reassure you that you’re doing a good job 

Sunday, December 26, 2010

How Important Is Breastfeeding, Really?

PART 1:  What does the research say?
(from The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 8th edition)

There’s no formula that comes even close to the milk your body creates.  Your milk has every vitamin, mineral and other nutritional element that your baby’s body needs, including many that haven’t been discovered or named yet.

Living cells unique to breastmilk inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria and viruses in your baby’s still-maturing system.

Interferons and inter-leukins are powerful anti-infectives found in breastmilk (they would cost a fortune if they were for sale!)

Without his normal food, baby is at higher risk for ear infections, intestinal upsets and respiratory problems.  Allergy and dental problems are more common.  Vision, nerves and intestines don’t develop fully.

With artificial baby food, a baby’s kidneys and liver work harder to process wastes products from formula.  Baby’s immune system’s response to vaccinations is less effective.

The risk of SIDS and infant death from many other causes is higher if a baby isn’t breastfed.

Colostrum “seals” baby’s brand-new intestinal walls to protect against foreign germs and proteins that could create allergic sensitivities.

When baby is breastfed, his jaw muscles are exercised and massaged in a way that causes the bones in his face and jaw to develop more fully.

When your newborn takes your breast soon after delivery, your uterus contracts and bleeding slows.

Women who haven’t breastfed are at greater risk for metabolic syndrome, which is a risk factor for heart disease and diabetes.

Breastfeeding is an insurance policy against breast, uterine and cervical cancer, meaning you are less susceptible to them.  Osteoporosis and fractures are more common in women who didn’t breastfeed.

There’s a surge of hormones (prolactin and oxytocin) in your body every time you breastfeed that makes you feel loving and nurturing, promoting bonding and attachment to your baby.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Baby Awearness's AMAZING Cloth Diaper Packages are now ONLINE!

Visit Baby Awearness's Online Store to check out our amazing Cloth Diaper Packages. Intended to give you everything you need to cloth diaper, we offer some of the best prices on the web. You can mix and match brands, colors, sizes, etc.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Warrior Mother and the Diet/Autism Connection

(A version of this entry can be found in the Honolulu Weekly)

I never knew Katie Berry had a son with Autism, despite having met him multiple times. Katie is one of those moms who comes into Baby Awearness and blows me away  - she is a funny, crafty, talented military mom. But after attending an Autism and ADHD lecture given by Thauna Abrin, ND, Katie Berry is officially my hero.

The gist of Abrin’s lecture was as follows: Modern day, western diets - diets devoid of the B vitamins, trace minerals, and the essential fatty acids found in leafy greens, whole grains, and nuts/seeds -  have effectively incapacitated the gut and shut down the liver. This dysfunctional “leaky gut” leaves our brains starving for the nutrients it needs to properly function. The liver, meanwhile, can’t properly process environmental toxins, so our body turns into a cesspool of sorts.

Simultaneously, mindless eating has led us to mistake food sensitivities and GI disorders for behavioral problems to be to be treated with heavy doses of medication: from stimulants to anti-depressants.

After Abrin’s lecture, Berry recounted nights of terror watching her then 2-year old son completely shut down, crying and vomiting for no apparent reason. Her days were filled with high-pitched screams and tantrums. Her life was spiraling out on control.

After months of denial, Berry began pounding the pathways of various military medical offices, trying to find the help she so desperately needed. She fired doctors, walked out of daycares, and refused the medication-based treatments offered to her. “It was just me, my husband, and Jenny McCarthy,” Berry laughed.

In addition to the standard occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy, Berry decided that her family needed a total diet overhall, and she began practicing the wholistic DAN (Defeat Autism Now) treatment made famous by celebrity mom Jenny McCarthy. Mixing the Feingold and GFCF (gluten-free, casein free) diets, Berry’s family also got off processed foods and artificial food additives. “It was hard…but within 2 weeks, we started to see the improvements. I didn’t get one new word out of him, but it didn’t matter. The crying stopped. He started to sleep, and I felt sane for the first time.”

DAN, or the biomedical approach to Autism, examines “how GI disorders, detoxification and other metabolic issues, and nutrition, impact a child’s sense of self, behavior, attention, speech, and general health and wellbeing.” It primarily involves testing for toxins, food sensitivities, taking supplements and changing one’s diet.

While mainstream treatments for Autism focus on behavioral, occupational, and speech therapies, diet is often overlooked. “There is a lot of 'anecdotal' evidence to suggest that a gluten free dairy free diet is helpful, there is not to my knowledge any scientific evidence to back up the personal stories,” cautions Kristine Cuthrell, former president of the local HI Dietition's Association. Indeed, MDs disregard the biomedical route because DAN therapies lack the double blind, placebo controlled experiments to soundly demonstrate their effectiveness and safety.

For Abrin, its not worth the wait. “If we waited for these studies to come out for every therapy we use, we'd be missing the opportunity to help kids who could significantly benefit.”

While the biomedical approach to Autism is marginalized, with so many stories like Berry’s, I have to ask, why? Are we so attached to our industrial diets that we are willfully ignoring its tragic behavioral side effects?

Although I am not an expert in Autism, the stories of Berry and Abrin resonate with my understanding of the culture of industrial food consumption.

Eating ignorantly, and on the go, we are surrounded by food – cheap food – seemingly healthy low fat, no-carb food, and yet we still don’t know what to eat. Despite the proliferation of scientifically backed, heart association enforced, FDA-approved products and diets, every year we’re getting fatter and sicker - with heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Our children might be suffering too.

“People don’t see the gut/brain connection,” muses Berry. “They might acknowledge having a sugar rush, or being drunk from the beer in their belly, but if you suggest that processed food causes Autism, suddenly there is no relation.”

Practicing the Feingold or GFCF diets is no walk in the park. Parties, relatives, and even school lunches suddenly become battlegrounds. On top of being difficult, biomedical tests and treatments are expensive (many lack any insurance coverage) and they take time. “People are looking for a quick fix, a magic pill,” explains Abrin. “A biomedical breakthrough generally takes around a year and a half. That can cost close to $10,000.”

The money, the time, and the effort – for Berry, it was worth it. “I just needed hope…and the stories of mom’s who had had success through diet, gave me that hope.” Today, Berry’s son is a quirky, happy, healthy 6 year old. Their story, like so many others in the biomedical community, powerfully demonstrates the importance of total health and wellbeing, and the need for all of us to think about what we are putting into our own mouths, and the mouths of our kids.

For more information, visit:

http://www.defeatautismnow.com/
http://www.thespunkycoconut.com/
http://www.feingold.org/

Baby Awearness will host another Austim Lecture with Dr Abrin in April, 2011.






Re-wrap for the Holidays

by Lani Lee

Image courtesy of Loopto

Somewhere between the hours of being a mother and intervals of unexpected calm, I manage to indulge in an old love: making crafty things. Whether in the form of yarn, fabric or paper, I love to knit, crochet, sew, create homemade cards, and more. Long before I spent sleepless nights caring for a baby, I used to have all nighters furiously binding off that last-minute scarf or hat gift.

This year, with limited time, I decided that all I could manage was making my own "wrapping paper." Inspired by my upbringing with a Japanese mother and an affinity for all things zakka-like, I chose to make furoshiki to use in lieu of wrapping paper.

Handmade furoshiki using traditional Japanese printing techniques
Image courtesy of thelinkcollective

Furoshiki is simply a square piece of cloth that is used (and re-used) as a wrapping, lunch bag, or carrying sack. Traditional furoshiki often was made of silk with shibori or designs similar to those used on kimono garments. The furoshiki featured above is created with a modern design twist using complex, artistic techniques, but for D-I-Y or home purposes, the least you have to do is cut a square piece of fabric and sew the edges.

Image courtesy of thelinkcollective

Here is a great tutorial of some different ways to use furoshiki. You also have to check out this jazzy video tutorial here!

For those of you who don't sew or can't get your hands on a furoshiki, you can embrace the Green Grocery Bag Challenge. You can read more about going green for the holidays here.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

'Tis the Season to be Giving

By Anna Lahr at Baby Awearness

When I think of the holidays I always think of giving back to the community.  One thing I like to do is really look at all of the "junk" around my house and determine what I don't need anymore.  I know I'll be getting some new things (holidays and our anniversary actually fall in that time frame!) so I try to make room for the gifts we exchange as a family. I also like to start out the New Year feeling fresh and positive and one way I do that is to "de-clutter" my house.

I remember when I was a child my mom would ask my sister and I to go through all of the things we didn't want or need anymore. We did this a few times a year, usually in the summer before we started school as well as in the winter time, this coincided when we usually got new clothes so I think my mom was on to something ;) When we were done we'd take the bags of toys, books, shoes and clothes to a local thrift store, our favorites being the ones that gave back to the community in some way other than just selling goods.  Fittingly, these were also some of the same stores we went when we were shopping for new clothes! Looking back I'm very glad my mom instilled this practice in us. We never grew up thinking we were too good for used items and in fact got a lot of nice things we otherwise may not have been able to afford. We weren't "poor" but I think we were able to afford a lot of other nice things like camp or vacation because my mom saved us money on things like clothing.


Fast forward to being pregnant with a daughter of my own and I'm hearing from every angle "New babies can be SO expensive!" Since my husband and I were tight on money I looked for ways around this. I bought used, accepted hand-my-downs and looked on freecycle as much as I could. My daughter's cloth diapers were either free from freecycle or friends or bought from other moms whose children had already loved and outgrown them.  When my daughter outgrew some of those diapers (and I had to make room for more, of course!) I passed them along to a friend of mine who was new to cloth diapering.

I recently went through a lot of my daughter's teeny tiny things and either donated them or set them aside. Some of them I plan to offer up to Baby A Exchange and others I'm holding on to in case I have another baby... somewhere down the road.

The beautiful thing to me about all of this is the continuing life these items have had and will continue to have. I have been blessed and been able to save a great deal and what I did have to spend I feel good about because the money either went to another family or helped some charitable store provide services to the community. There's less wasted on packaging and production and I feel confident in the quality of these products because they've stood the test of time for me and others.

In a world plagued by consumerism and waste this makes me feel like I'm making a difference. Instead of mindlessly consuming "throw away" items I'm recycling and paying it forward. I especially love it this time of year when money is tight and people are trying to provide for their families an enjoyable holiday season.  I get to feel a little better about all of the blessings I've received without feeling guilty that there are others less fortunate because I'm doing something to help them. Every body wins!
On Saturday, January 8th, from 10am-2pm, Baby Awearness will host a “buy-in,” when the store will handpick high quality, gently used goods from the public. This is a perfect opporuntity for families to off load those not-so-perfect items received during the holiday season, or to clean out their closet for the new year. If unable to attend the Buy In, interested sellers should set-up a meeting with a Baby A Exchange representative.

For all accepted items, the customer will have a choice of being paid in cash, store credit, and/or donating any portion of their payment to a local non-profit.  Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from all Baby A Exchange purchases will be donated to various non-profits. Non-profits interested in being a beneficiary of the Baby A exchange, should contact Amanda@babyawearness.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Toy Sale!

Toys will be on sale 10 to 20% off on Dec 11th and 12th (consignment toys excluded). Snatch up these great holiday specials this weekend only
Nova Naturals
Wooden Horse Stable Barn

Great for imaginative play with animals and dolls!

20% off regular price: $199.99
** Sale price: $160.00 **
 
Wooden Vehicles by Kinderkram, handmade in Germany

15% off regular price: $95.00
** Sale price: $80.75 **

Also available:
Wooden Tow Truck
   Table Top Kitchen
Handcrafted cherry and walnut stove with knobs that turn and a removable sink. Perfect for hours of cooking play!



10% off regular price: $150.00
   ** Sale price: $135.00 **
 


Also on sale ~ 15% to 20% off all toys by Maxim, Green Toys, Evi Dolls and Gnomes

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Its hard to say goodbye

Its hard to say good bye. Its hard to make big changes...but it seems that Baby Awearness has to do both in 2011. After much thought, Hot Mama and Baby Awearness have decided to say goodbye as partners and roomies in Manoa. Now under new ownership, Hot Mama Maternity will re-open in Pearl City in the summer of 2011. As Baby A's closest fans and families, I thought I would use this opportunity and this forum to reflect on the past year and what I have learned.



Joining up with Hot Mama was not a choice - I think Mel and I both agree, it was fate. A chance meeting with Mel in Hot Mama's old Waialae location quickly turned into an amazing partnership. Within 2 months of meeting, Hot Mama moved in to Manoa, and their creative and financial support allowed Baby A to grow tremendously. 

Together we developed the Hawaii's Next Hot Mama Contest, which we hope to hold again this Spring, and from that, the Hot Mama Network. Through these events, I realized just what an amazing community we have built through Baby A. Smart, talented, creative, driven women attend these events. Moms who give amazing advice. Honest advice. Women who speak truth. We've developed this incredible network of crafty, funky, fun mamas...and despite Hot Mama's departure, we will continue to support them through our classes, events and products.

Part of me is kind of scared to go off on our own - will we make it? Does natural and eco-friendly parenting have the interest and support that the continued operation of Baby A requires? I think we will and I think we do. The success of small businesses like baby awearness is not simply a result of our products and prices - although we try to be as competitive as possible. Our success is about the relationships we have cultivated - relationships with our customers, with other local businesses, and the amazing mama-prenuers here in Hawaii.

It was the suggestions of these woman that will drive Baby A's new direction. I'm exicted to share this new direction - details are coming within the week.

But for now, I pause to reflect - and give thanks.

Mel, Hot Mama's former owner,  is an incredible woman, and an asset to our community. I was/am honored to have the chance to work with her. To the new owners of Hot Mama Maternity - we wish you the best and we're here to help!

Bye Bye Hot Mama. We'll miss you.

-Ashley

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Healthy Pregnancy Lecture

Post-Partum Rejuvenation

Sunday, December 12
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Led by: Tara Mattes, LAc

Cost: FREE!

Join us for our next and last Healthy Pregnancy Lecture of the year. Tara Mattes, LAc and certified doula, will offer an interesting presentation on post-partum care.

The Postpartum Period is a vital time for a woman's present and future health. It is often considered the fourth stage of pregnancy as it is an essential time to heal, nourish and bond with her newborn baby. The mother's health and state of being is the foundation for building a new or growing family, but in this fast-paced modern world it is often the most neglected. This lecture will be about what all traditional cultures have known and practiced since the beginning of time; the importance of postpartum care and recovery. Understanding these universal and time tested traditions, we can adapt and apply them in a way that fits to our modern lives.

In the lecture, we will examine cover topics such as perineal care, nourishing foods, rest, warm therapy, proper support, mental and emotional well being, breastfeeding and cultivating energy. The aim is to best prepare mothers and/or their caretakers for the postpartum period that creates a positive experience and healthy start to a new life.

Tara Mattes is a licensed acupuncturist, certified doula, and certified detox counselor. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Pre-medical Studies from University of Colorado. She later studied in Hawaii under Taoist Master Chang Yi Hsiang at the Tai Hsuan College of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Her training in Chinese Medicine focuses on qi gong, acupuncture, herbal medicine and Taoist philosophy and arts. When not serving her patients, she enjoys receiving acupuncture treatments, dancing, hiking, swimming, and being with her daughters.

TO RSVP for the lecture: e-mail lani@babyawearness.com or call 988-0010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Holiday Storytelling with Miss Roberta


Be sure to break away from the holiday madness by bringing your little ones to our Holiday Storytelling Hour on Saturday, December 11th at 11 a.m. Miss Roberta Ducharme of Waldorf Honolulu School's parent/child program will lead a delightful segment of songs, stories, rhythm and rhyme. Perfect for children ages 0 to 5 years.

All toys will be on sale 10 to 20% off during the weekend of Dec 11th and 12th.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Doula Curious?

Doula Tea Time
Saturday, December 11th from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Enjoy some Earth Mama tea samples while learning all about doulas. Stop by the store and meet some of Honolulu's finest certified doulas and get all your questions answered. Find out how having a doula can be helpful to you and your partner and baby-to-come.

A few questions and topics to ask about:
  • Who should come to my birth?
  • Why hire a doula?
  • What are the benefits of having a doula?
  • Coping with labor, the doula way

Monday, November 22, 2010

Autism and ADHD Talk with Dr. Thauna Abrin

Tuesday, December 14th
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Cost: $15 per person

Join us for an evening with Dr. Thauna Abrin, a trained naturopathic doctor for a discussion about addressing autism and ADHD through natural, drug-free, non-invasive therapies. Learn about the success of these therapies including dietary changes, vitamins, detoxification, and homeopathic medicines. A perfect class for parents, caregivers, teachers, and anyone else interested. The holidays are a busy time but make room in your calendars because this is an incredible opportunity to learn more about this relevant and compelling topic. We hope you will join us!

Dr. Thauna Abrin, ND and DAN (Defeat Autism Now) professional
A graduate of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, Dr Abrin has 9 years of experience as a naturopathic doctor and midwife in both Hawaii and California.  In her practice, Dr Abrin utilizes herbs, homeopathy, detoxification and craniosacral therapy to facilitate healing.

Dr Abrin has developed a special interest in treating women and children with conditions caused by environmental toxins.  She utilizes naturopathic medicine and detoxification to prevent and treat ADHD, autism, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, thyroid disorders and gynecological disorders.

Dr Abrin is published in Diabetes Interview magazine and recently is the contributing author of a recent book: The Green Pregnancy Diet, on non-toxic nutrition and lifestyle during pregnancy.  She is passionate about educating people about natural treatments for ADHD and autism.

Dr. Abrin relocated from Oahu to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006 but returns to Honolulu three times a year to offer an autism spectrum clinic.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Healthy Pregnancy Lecture: All About Doulas

Sunday, November 21st
6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Led by: Kathy Julia, LMT, CD


Cost: FREE! 

Our next Healthy Pregnancy Lecture is all about doulas! Doula is a Greek word that refers to a woman who personally serves another woman. The word has evolved to encompass a woman who is experienced in childbirth, and who provides continuous physical, emotional and spiritual support to the mother, before, during, and after childbirth. Even today, Doulas can serve a great role in the labor and delivery experience. They are trained birth professionals who offer guidance, knowledge, and support to a mother as well as an expecting father. Join Kathy Julia, a certified Labor doula and trainer, for a conversation about the role of a doula in providing support to a birthing family. This is an amazing opportunity for anyone who is interested in having a doula at their birth or also in becoming one.

Kathy Julia is a Licensed Massage Therapist since 1978, a practitioner of Siddha Yoga since 1982, and a Certified Labor Doula and Labor Doula Trainer with Childbirth & Postpartum Professional Association (CAPPA). She is also a mother and grandmother. The combination of knowledge, skills and experience have called her to a strong sense of purpose to fulfill the need for educational, emotional and spiritual support to birthing families. She has helped countless families reduce the stress, fears and anxieties related to childbirth, empowering them to participate fully in their birthing process. 

To reserve a spot at the lecture, please call the store at 988-0010 or e-mail lani@babyawearness.com 

Coming up next: December 12th @ 6:30pm: Post-Partum Care with Tara Mattes, LAc

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Yoga for Expecting Moms

Yoga in Pregnancy Workshop
With Brynne Caleda, RYT, CLD, M.Ed.

Sunday December 5, 2010
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Cost: $40

Please bring your yoga mat, hand towel, and water to class


yoga workshop

Yoga is an excellent way to prepare the mind, body and spirit for the many transitions of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood. In this two-hour-long workshop you will learn techniques for breath awareness, yoga poses (modifications and what not to do) and visualization and relaxation techniques. All of these techniques can help strengthen and relax your body and sooth your mind during your birth and after.

Style of Yoga ~ Vinyasa/Pregnancy
This workshop is excellent for people trying to get pregnant, who are pregnant, and who have had a child. You can come solo or with a partner. This workshop is appropriate for not only those new to yoga but to seasoned practitioners and to anyone interested in understanding the complex changes that occur in pregnancy.

More Information or to sign up, contact Brynne at brynne@undertheyogatree.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 808.753.8501

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Holiday Cheers with Macrobiotic Hawaii

Enjoy the holidays at these new fun, social, and educational events coming up at the store offered by Chef Leslie Ashburn of Macrobiotic Hawaii.

Vegan High Tea, Nov 28th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Come decompress during the holiday season with delicious scones, sandwiches, salad, tea, and great company. We tend to get frazzled by the holiday events and not give enough time to ourselves for fun, health, and relaxation. We are our best selves when we are living in the moment and enjoying life! For a 'green' touch, bring your own tea cup and tell your story behind it. (Note: No lesson involved), $20 per person

1 Food 5 Ways, Cooking Class Dec 5th from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Learn how to use one of the world's healthiest foods, winter squash, in five delicious ways. Recipes and food tasting provided. $40 per person



Fermented Foods, Cooking Class Dec 12th from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Fermented foods are paramount to optimal health. Come learn why, as well as how to make your own. Taste samples and take home the recipes. $40 per person

To sign up for any of these events, click here.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Happiest Baby Workshop on Nov 20th

Saturday November 20th
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

We are thrilled to repeat the Happiest Baby Workshop!
To register, please contact Michelle Richardson at 366-8111 or the store at 988-0010.


 

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Sweet Info Class: Sugar 101

Wednesday, November 17 at 6:30-8:00 p.m.
$10 pre-registration/$15 at the door

Are you craving sweets and want to understand why?

Maybe you're pregnant and sweet cravings have taken control of what was once a healthy diet. Would you like to gain control without deprivation? Sweet Info is for anyone who ever has sugar cravings or is anticipating the abundance of sweets encountered during the holiday season.

Please join Stephanie Jurgenson, Holistic Health Coach, for this informative and timely presentation to learn how you can curb your sugar cravings and get on track with eating healthy and still be satisfied.

Heatlhy Sweet Snacks will be served.

For details, please call Baby Awearness 988-0010 or Stephanie Jurgenson 783-0163.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Born Two Birth Film Event

Join us for an educational documentary of natural childbirth. This presentation provides a view of a complete experience from prenatal preparation through 'live' birth with the mother and father's personal birth stories onto post-partum success.

Born Two Birth utilizes an artistic multimedia collage of a first baby home birth with a midwife, who in this case, delivered her own grandchild! In this unique and candid experience, the viewer is taken on an intimate journey through a process that is raw, natural, and normal.

A discussion and question/answer session to follow with starring mom & dad Kaja Gibbs-Davidson and Matthew Davidson along with midwives Kathe Gibbs (grandmother), Lori Kimata ND, and doula Jaymie Lewis will be present.

This is a great opportunity for couples as well as professionals who are interested in learning more about natural and home childbirth.

We hope you will join us for a great evening. No rsvp necessary.

For more information, please contact borntwobirth@gmail.com or the store at 988-0010.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Frances Moore Lappe in Honolulu!!!!


Frances Moore Lappe, the world-renowned democracy advocate, author, and food and hunger expert, will be featured at the Umematsu and Yasu Watada Lecture Series on November 5-6 at Church of the Crossroads (1212 University Ave., Honolulu). Lappe is perhaps best known for her groundbreaking book Diet for a Small Planet, in which she exposed the root causes of world hunger and addressed how to end it. Lappe is the co-founder of three organizations including the Small Planet Institute and Food First: The Institute for Food and Development Policy. She has received numerous national and international awards.

On Friday, November 5 at 7:00 p.m., Lappe will speak about "Food Democracy: Ideas and Stories to Liberate Our Food Systems" at Church of the Crossroads. On Saturday, November 6 at 9:00 a.m., Lappe will speak about a "Diet for a Small Island: Visioning Food Democracy in Hawai'i." Four panelists will join LappÈ on Saturday: State Senator Carol Fukunaga, Eric Enos (Ka'ala Farms), Dr. Ted Radovich (University of Hawai'i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources), and Hi'ilei Kawelo (Paepae o He'eia).

Lappe also will be featured at the University of Hawai'i Distinguished Lecture Series. On Thursday, November 4 at 7:00 p.m., LappÈ will speak about "Facts and Myths of World Hunger: The Politics of Scarcity" at the UH Manoa Architecture Auditorium. On Friday, November 5 at 12:30 p.m., she will speak about "Challenging Cheap Food/Big Food" at the UH Manoa Kuykendall 101 Auditorium. The lectures are free and open to the public.

Monday, November 1, 2010

New Carriers

Two of our bestselling soft structured carrier companies (Beco and Ergo) have recently come out with exciting new products. So, what’s new and how are they different from the originals?



Sunday, October 31, 2010

Our Boo! Bash

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Boo! Bash. We had a great time and LOVED all the costumes!!













Thursday, October 28, 2010

More Halloween Fun This Weekend!

Head over to the Makiki Community Library on Halloween Sunday to enjoy some spirited storytelling and costume parade!
Makiki Community Library
at the Makiki District Park
1527 Keeaumoku Street

Sunday October 31st
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Check-in at 1:45 p.m.

While our neighborhood Manoa Public Library is under renovation, go a few blocks over and down Punahou Street to Makiki where you can get your book fix and more. The Makiki Community Library is an independent non-profit organization with a long history dating back to the 1970s. According to their archives, President Obama's grandmother was one of the original board members who volunteered a lot of her time to develop this library for the Makiki district. Currently with only a small part-time staff and lots of volunteers, this library is truly a community, grass-roots endeavor that is sustained by a lot of love and dedication to creating a great gathering space.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Green Halloween

By Kate Stilwell

This year, why not put a spin on the old orange and black and go GREEN?  Treat your body and the environment well this Halloween season!

Let’s talk food (because that’s my favorite part). Halloween can wreak havoc on our teeth and our waistlines, not to mention what happens to our nerves after the kids ingest a bucket of sweets. This Halloween, make some treats at home and avoid the yuck in the bucket. 

Honey and Apples
This is a favorite treat of mine, the fall apples are delicious and honey provides the extra sweet that can satisfy that candy craving. For a creepy twist, add some red food coloring to the honey and create “blood” dipping sauce for your little vampires.

Carrots and Dip
Turn the carrots into “fingers” by sticking almond slices to the tops with extra dip and watch the delicious treats disappear. 

Pumpkin Seeds
Nothing more classic than this. Take the insides of your brand new jack-o-lantern, rinse and dry the seeds and then bake with salt at 350º!

Cheese Pieces
Take some cheese sticks (I prefer organic, the mozzarella always seems stronger to me) and cut little lines to make finger creases.  Add some green bell pepper pieces to the tops to make moldy fingernails.

Guacamole
Make some monster goo to dip chips in. Two ripe avocados, a tasty mango, half a red bell pepper, small handful of cilantro, ¼ of a small red onion, lime and salt to taste and you have a scary treat that’s sweet and salty.

Decorations?

No problem! Halloween happens every year, so why not spend some time to make decorations that you can re-use? Your wallet and the environment will love you for it!

Felt Bats in a Tree

Materials:
    o    Black felt (number of pieces depends on how many you want and how big you want them)
    o    Fabric Marker
    o    Bat cutout shape
    o    Fabric Scissors
    o    Wire and wire cutters
    o    Multi-branched stick (with or without leaves, up to you)
    o    Hot Glue

Cut out the shape you want, trace it on the felt and use the fabric scissors to cut out the desired shape. Hot glue the wire to the felt and the wrap the wire around the branch so that the bat hovers above it in mid-flight. Add tons of bats for a creepier atmosphere.

Variations/Hints
    -the way you attach the wire will change the shape of the bat. Try gluing the wire flat along the bottom of the wings and bend the wings up and down for variations among your critters
    -if you don’t have a glue gun, sew two of the bats together and put the wire inside to achieve the same result
    -get a smaller stick and attach one bat that you can hold and dangle in front of people for a Halloween scare

Crepe Paper Pumpkins

Materials:
    o    Orange and green crepe paper
    o    Stuffing (of your choosing)
    o    Glue (hot glue works best)

Cut or rip squares of the orange crepe paper place stuffing in the center and fold corners and sides up and into the middle. Place a dot of glue to hold it all together and add a torn piece of green crepe paper to the top as a leaf or stem (and the cover the glue). 

Variations/Hints
    -you can stuff the pumpkin with pumpkin seeds or some other small treat and make it a take home gift/treat
    -make sure before you put the dot of glue that the shape is relatively pumpkin-like, you can’t alter it after the glue has been applied without risking ripping the paper
    -crepe paper is not sturdy, handle it minimally
    -try multiple layers of tissue paper instead of crepe paper instead and make bigger pumpkins

Ghastly Ghosts
Materials:
    o    An old white sheet
    o    Fabric scissors
    o    String
    o    Stuffing (old plastic bags work well)
    o    Black fabric marker

Use the fabric scissors to cut a square of white fabric (choose size according to how big you want your ghosts). Use the blade of the scissors to tatter the edges of the fabric and add some hole near the edges. Place the stuffing in the middle of the fabric, tie the string around the outside and cinch closed. Tie a knot and cut close to the knot to hide it. Use the fabric marker to draw a ghastly face.

Variations/Hints
    -Put a small hole in the top and tie a string through it so that you can hang your ghosts all over the house
    -Use more than one piece of fabric to give the ghost more flowy pieces on the bottom

General Ideas
    -When you go trick-or-treating, use a pillowcase or reusable bag instead of buying something plastic.
    -Substitute fruits for sweets, they satisfy the craving without the guilt and the craziness
    -Try composting your pumpkins after they’ve lost their creepy smiles
    -Share costumes with friends so you don’t have to buy new ones or make your own out of recycled and pre-worn clothing/found objects
    -And as always, go local/organic on all your yummies… your body and the earth will appreciate you

I also offer party planning for kids and grown-ups, anything from a small, catered get-together to a big birthday bash!! Please e-mail for details.

See you all at our Boo! Bash on Saturday!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Baby A's Unique Lactation Services

Our very own Nicky Lawnsby, beloved by many moms and babies, is featured on Hawaii Web TV this month!


As you know, Nicky is our in-house lactation consultant but she is so much more than that.

As a bilingual (English and Japanese) British certified-Nurse Midwife, Nicky is able to help both the local and Japanese community here in Honolulu. She really understands and connects with the needs of mums and babies, providing the highest level of care through a process of holistic and informed choices. Nicky is also one of the few International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) on Oahu, which means she specializes in the clinical management of breastfeeding issues including complications, breast massage, and mum and baby nutrition. She also offers pre- and post-natal consultation and education.

Nicky has an interesting and well-respected background in midwifery work with her experience stemmed in over three generations and a long lineage of medical family members. Her grandmother was an amazing midwife who not only delivered her, but also delivered/attended over 5,000 natural births in her small birthing home in Japan. Her mother also practiced midwifery for over 30 years with her father as an obstetrician and gynecologist, and her grandfather was a pediatrician. So needless to say, right from the start, Nicky was surrounded by birthing, nurturing, and natural parenting.

Nicky deeply believes that natural birth, breast feeding, and parenting, are ALL natural god-given rights. Women need to know how to successfully accomplish these goals and that is her mission. Only then can woman be empowered to be happy, confident and proud.
On top of all that she does for moms and their little ones, she is the co-owner of Baby Awearness and manages the business along with Ashley Lukens.

You can find both a Japanese and English version of the story. Many thanks to Shinogu Sato of Hawaii Web TV for the web coverage!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Let’s Talk Dolls With Julliet Lowe

What makes dolls so magical?

Dolls are the last toys out there in the world of talking creatures that even adults can still hear.


Most adults have lost touch with their childhood and through the help of a doll, this magical world awakens again. When your doll speaks, everything else joins in, soft toys, pets, and households appliances.

As parents/ storytellers, we have the opportunity to open gates to a world where animals talk and inanimate objects have their own stories to tell. Here is a world where everything is alive. Dolls provide an awesome outlet to explore with your young child regarding all of life’s challenges and how we relate to them.


To give a doll to your child, symbolically, you are saying, “ This is your first of tasks, the care for your essential self.” A doll is often the first real responsibility in the life of a child. I recall both my children taking the time to feed their dolls, change their clothes, and turn them into wonderful companions.  This exchange brings baby “alive” and through this care, taps into the child’s higher self and mission in the world. When they threw their babies around, I gently reminded them that babies are treated with loving hands and they picked up their babies with care and tucked them to sleep in their doll beds. It is with this attention that the doll remains alive. It is when the doll is thrown in a drawer or buried in a pile that the doll dies.

Dolls may help us talk to our children about death, environment, terrible noises, war, life, hope, and questions that cannot be answered.


The ideal doll is a simple one without much detail. A doll with a simple face is able to mirror all your child’s moods and can express anything.  Happiness, sadness, fear, anger, etc. It is really hard to imagine a doll being sad when there is a happy face painted permanently on their face.
Again, simple is best. Imagine a doll that may grow with your child, laugh and cry with your child. This is a magical doll.

Here is an example of a parent using their child’s doll, “Sally” to create a story;



“Sally the doll sat in the laundry leaning against the sink tap.
‘Don’t you ever get dizzy?’ She asked.’ Not really,’ said the dryer in a grumbling voice. ‘Just a little hot and bothered.’

‘Where does all the fluff come from?’ asked Sally. ‘Off the clothes of course,’ said the dryer with a giggle.

Sally heard a thump, strangely recurring.’Ohhhhhh,’ said the dryer with a groan,’ I wish she wouldn’t do the sneakers, they give me such a belly ache.”

One more example of a story from a dolls perspective about a child’s doll that disappeared and then resurfaced:

         Guess where I have been?
          I’ve been up in the air on the back of bird.
          I was inside the blue sky.
         A bee flew past and buzzed in my ear.
         Then the bird flew down
         and gently put me
         right back here.

Blessings to you and yours,

Julliet Lowe

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Vaccine Lecture

Sunday, October 24th, 5:30 p.m.

As always by popular request, we present another evening with Dr. Madeleine Portuondo to talk about vaccination for young children.

Dr. Portuondo, local naturopath and midwife, will be repeating the fabulous vaccine safety lecture for those of you who missed it the first couple of times. Dr. Portuondo is a wealth of knowledge and the 2-hour lecture covers everything from immunology basics to vaccine preservative components and more. It is truly a must-hear event for parents of young children. I was astonished at how little I knew on the topic.

Limited to 25 people so please RSVP to lani@babyawearness if you would like to attend. Cost is $20 person/$35 couple and includes a very comprehensive packet of information.