Friday, February 25, 2011

Spanish Sing-Along Class - Free Preview on March 1st!

Tuesdays 10:15 - 10:45 a.m.
Open House (free) on March 1st, start of 10-week spring session

Baby Awearness hosts Oahu's first ever Spanish-language classes geared specifically toward children ages 0-5 years of age. SOL Spanish stories & songs will immerse your child in Spanish language and Latino culture through singing, playing games, reading stories, and doing crafts-all in Spanish! 

Download this form to pre-register or contact Gabby for more information.

BAX Buy-In Event!

Saturday, March 5th
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Clean out your playrooms and diaper stash to get cash or store credit AND join us for some delightful storytelling in English, Spanish and Japanese! We will also have a special BAX Bargain Basket filled with goodies (everything $3.50 or less!) as well as a donation drive of any books and toys we don't accept for resale. It will be a fun-filled family day that will leave you feeling good all around!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Healthy Pregnancy Lecture!

Fearless Birth by Piper Lovemore **FREE**
Wednesday, March 2nd
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

As any pregnant women with a burgeoning belly can attest, there are a preponderance of frightening birth stories out there, and little apparent reluctance in sharing them. Yet birth itself is perhaps the one unequivocal commonality we all share; everyone on earth today was born. It is a completely normal physiological process with generations of proof of efficacy and yet many, if not most couples in our culture today approach their births with some degree of fear.  


So why the big freak out?
 

The single greatest factor in evaluating a successful birth experience is perception. A highly significant and momentous experience for all involved, it is also completely subjective. Whether it evokes a few minor concerns or conjures major anxiety, fear is a common companion in many births today. The root is, invariably, concern surrounding perceived pain and injury. And yet, the irony is that for most women, fear and pain have a self-fulfilling relationship to one another in birth. It’s the fear that creates the pain, and the ensuing pain that, in turn, validates the fear. So how to break this cycle?
 
Please join us as we explore this question!
 
We will:
  • explore the common roots of fear
  • identify the purpose of fear in the birth space
  • explore the gifts fear has to offer
  • Learn how to reframe our thinking 
  • Learn how to experience birth beyond fear
  • and ultimately gain the tools to clear its negative influence on the birth experience.
Come and learn ways to confront your fears  and pave the way for an empowered, in tune birth experience!
Piper Lovemore is a local doula, lamaze instructor, and natural birth advocate. She teaches classes and leads the doula tea events at Baby Awearness. Piper Lovemore is a woman with purpose. She is a passionate birth activist, an insightful educator and an empathic support person. 
 
Her core belief is that an informed experience is empowering, no matter the particular outcome. To that end, her goal is to educate and support families through their birth experience primarily through reconnecting them with their own embodied wisdom.
 

She is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator. Her courses cover fundamental information about pregnancy and birth, but also include interactive excersizes catering to a variety of learning styles, and her newest series features an innovative break-out module just for men.
 

She also has the priviledge of serving her community as a doula and feels honored to share such an intimate experience with her clients. She has added Placenta Encapsulation to her repertoire of services, to more comprehensively support our birthing community.
 

Piper believes deeply in the importance of community and the richness of a diverse support network. She strives to nurture her community by organizing and attending activities with her family in her free time.
 

She and her partner, Chaz, have three children: Che’ Pax, Plum and Rocket, and they look forward to expanding their family further. 
 


Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Childbirth in the Age of Plastics by Michel Odent

Sunday, April 3rd
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
UH Manoa Art Auditorium

Michel Odent is back in Honolulu, this time to muse about the scintillating topic of childbirth in the age of plastics. His highly anticipated book of the same title will be released in June 2011.

Enjoy a sneak peek into his new book and enjoy a morning with Mr. Odent himself. Meet the growing network of natural birth professionals and advocates as well as passionate mothers in Hawaii who are making a difference to reclaim the natural birth experience. For tickets or more information, contact Jennifer Narragon at 808-348-1567 or Summer Faria at 808-387-1098.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Changing the Way We Eat - TedX Brunch Event

The Hawaii Food Policy Council
Invites You to Their 1st Community Brunch -Potluck Style
Special Viewing Of TedX: “Changing the Way We Eat"
Bring yourself, your favorite local dish and an appetite for good conversation. 
We'll provide coffee, tea and water.
For more information visit:
  

What: TedX: “Changing the Way We Eat” Viewing Party - Potluck Brunch and Discussion
  Where: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Saunders Hall 624 (2424 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822)
    *Street parking is available around UH and/or parking on campus is available for a $4 flat fee. For more information  on UH parking options visit: http://www.hawaii.edu/parking/visitorparking.html
  When:  Feb 12,2011 from 8am - 12:30pm 


Friday, February 4, 2011

Empty Nest Adventures

(written by Anna L.)

Ashley greeted me with a "Anna, we have a problem." She was a bit disheveled, the door was open and there were boxes from our storage room scattered about. "The baby birds have escaped!"

Uh oh! 

Perfect place for a nest
Now, as a back story, about a month or so ago we heard some little chirping sounds and realized that a mama bird had chosen a vent on the outside of our store to have her babies. Baby A loves mother nature and babies, so it's only fitting, I suppose, that a mama bird pick us out of all of the other stores to entrust the safety of her little ones. Good thing too! I don't imagine too many other places would have went through the ordeal we did over a nest of birds and kept them around.

So Ashley fills me in, she's moved things out of the way because the birds have moved whatever was stopping them from coming inside and have infiltrated our store room like naughty teenagers playing hookie.  I ask if they're in the flying stage or the hopping stage and she tells me that they're hopping. Phew. We're both pretty short so trying to capture a flying bird seems like a circus act to my mind. 


As we're talking she captures one and climbs up to deposit it in the nest. We rearrange some more and finally catch the next one but as she is replacing it another one evades her and drops behind the fridge. We play a game of hide and seek, using a broom to gently shoo the little one into my hands and get it safely home. It's so cute and tiny! I love animals and, as Ashley and I agreed, there are too many examples of humans taking over their habitats and displacing them, I'm glad these little ones are unharmed and back where they will be cared for by their mom.

Sealed up, we actually replaced this with cardboard as they tried to escape again.
We managed to get some pictures of our winged Ohana before we sealed their home from our side. Apparently these little ones are ready to have some adventures, I think they'll need to discuss that with their mom though because Auntie Ashley and Auntie Anna have decided that Baby A is not the place they are going to be having their fun. We love to hear them chirp and they're welcome to stay there, just... not causing commotion in our stockroom (after all, they could get hurt!).



Welcome to the Ohana Little Birdies!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Super Balls

I come to you with a hidden laundry secret, particularly for my cloth diapering mamas.

Wool dryer balls will save you time and money.

These seemingly simple little balls reduce drying time, are safe to use (all natural fibers also make them antimicrobial and they can be safely scented too!) and will help you keep your diapers longer because the less time they are exposed to the high heat of a dryer the longer they last. That time you save also cuts the electricity you use so, bonus savings! They have also been shown to naturally soften your clothes and diapers without chemicals and reduce static.




So how do they work?

They work by improving the circulation and air and heat in the dryer. Unlike the plastic ones you may have seen, these are quiet and chemical free, they have no rough surface bumps to catch on your clothes and the natural fibers of wool reduces any unpleasant smells too. Just toss a few in with your clothes or diapers and let them work their magic! The more you throw in the bigger the savings but the makers recommend you start with four in each load.

You can find these amazing dryer balls at Baby Awearness of course, and I highly recommend them to any cloth diapering mamas because they really will help your diapers live a little longer. After a while PUL that has been washed and dried on high temperatures will start to wear out, or the aplix will start to curl and need replaced, these are normal in the life of a diaper but this is a simple, effective way to reduce that wear and tear.

As far as a sustainable living choice, you don't have to have a baby in diapers to benefit from these little laundry savers because the same magic works for your clothes.  If you're concerned about the environment the decrease in the use of electricity is great and since they're made of wool and not plastic they are less harmful to produce (plus sheep can grow more wool).  Less time spent waiting on laundry or buying new clothing, less static and softer clothes with no chemicals and more money in your pocket is a good thing for any family!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Happiest Baby On the Block is back!

Saturday February 19th
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
$60 (up to 2 parents)

We are thrilled to repeat the Happiest Baby Workshop! It is so popular that we are going to offer it quarterly. To register, please contact Michelle Richardson at 366-8111 or the store at 988-0010.


 


Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Healthy Pregnancy Lecture: Pregnancy Nutrition

Wednesday, February 2nd
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Led by: Kate Greenwell

Cost: FREE!

There's no greater motivation to eat healthy than knowing that your diet affects the health and well-being of your precious little one. Research clearly indicates the importance of a healthy diet during pregnancy for the ideal growth and development of your child. Find out how to give your child a head-start on health by attending the October Healthy Pregnancy Lecture on Nutrition!

This super fun and informative event will include topics such as:
  • How what we eat affects the growth and development of our babies
  • Which foods to devour and which foods to avoid
  • Fact vs. Fiction when it comes to the safety of certain foods, supplements, and products during pregnancy
  • Key nutrients -- what are they, what do they do, and how to ensure you are getting enough
  • Tools to combat morning sickness and constipation
  • Tricks to keep weight gain on target
  • The low down on pregnancy complications: Gestational Diabetes, Preeclampsia
Feel free to also email personal or specific questions prior to class to kate.wellnourished@gmail.com.

As a Registered Dietitian and food enthusiast, nutrition is Kate's passion.  Also a Licensed Massage Therapist, Kate uses her 9 years of experience in the health and wellness industry to collaborate with clients and develop realistic and sustainable lifestyle changes.  Kate's solid foundation in Clinical Nutrition combined with experience in Holistic Wellness gives her the distinct advantage of providing her clients with a well-rounded perspective of optimal health. Expecting her first child in November, Kate is the go-to expert for all things related to pregnancy and nutrition. 

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