The Blog has moved!

Don't panic, we haven't stopped blogging, we've just moved to a new whizzy blog within the Belly Beyond website.

Everyday we shufflin' right here

ERGOBaby gets a new look!

The ERGObaby Carrier brand is getting a new look and you, yes you, are among the first in New Zealand to see it!

From this...

To this!

The Ergobaby brand is moving forward and evolving and as their number one NZ stockist, Belly Beyond joins them in their excitement about the fun and fresh new look.  But it is going to take some time to fully transition, and for many months you may be seeing both logos. 

The main thing is there's no need to be concerned, as long as you purchase from us, you can be safe in the knowledge that you are buying a genuine Ergobaby product with the same quality and style that's made it the award-winner and parent favourite that it is!

Lamington Merino Socks - new range

The new range of colours of our best-selling baby socks have arrived and there's a wee surprise for us big people.  Having heard the cries of "I wish they came in my size" echoing around the country, Lamington have brought out adult sizes!  Hooray!

Lamington are knee-high merino socks that are guaranteed to stay up and stay on.  Super soft and comfy for lovely cosy toes.  100% merino, made right here in NZ.

Sizes:  0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-4 years and new Adult sizes OSFA

Shop the range of Lamington socks

Win a Babymoon with HOTmilk

A night away and a dinner out - bliss!   HOTmilk are giving one lucky couple an amazing Babymoon Package and you can be in to win simply by purchasing any HOTmilk product at Belly Beyond and completing the quick entry form on the HOTmilk Facebook page.

Entry is open to HOTmilk purchases from 29 March 2012 to 14 May 2012 - don't forget to keep your receipt.

Pick up these fantastic HOTmilk specials:

70 % off Ruffle My Feather Camisole - now $17.50

50% off My Everything Wrap Dress - now $49.95

50% off Shimmer Camisole - now $27.45

 

 

 

Free Cake Bra - buy any 2 Cake bras & receive Cotton Candy bra FREE

 

Cake Lingerie and Belly Beyond are rewarding mums for this period leading upto Mother's Day (May 13th). The Cotton Candy Seamless Luxury Nursing Bra is a must have for all women!

Just purchase any two Cake Lingerie bras during the promotional period, and your gift with purchase is a Cotton Candy Bra of your choice - absolutely FREE! 

Offer open 23 April - 13 May 2012 - must be purchased in one transaction

Shop for Cake online now at our award-winning maternity and baby store.

Daylight Saving - a mum's perspective

I created this card this morning after dealing with my two creating havoc with super early post daylight saving wake ups.

Judging by the likes it's had so far on our Facebook Page it's a feeling other mums can well relate to!

To commiserate we've put our BabyZoo Sleep Trainer Clocks on special at only $39.95.

A Mother's Prayer - by Tina Fey

“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes and not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the drums to the fiery rhythm of her own heart with the sinewy strength of her own arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a rough patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, for childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – and adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers and the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a bitch in front of Hollister, give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, for I will not have that shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a mental note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.”

Best Maternity Bra Ever? Cake Lingerie's Luxury Seamless Bra

Parenting board Essential Baby, likened Cake Lingerie's new Luxury Seamless Maternity / Nursing Bra to "the best-ever maternity bra". High praise indeed!

The new Cotton Candy bras provide the perfect transition and sleep option, allowing room for the breasts to grow with comfort as your body changes rapidly, especially through the initial stages of pregnancy and post birth with drop down clips ensuring it's as practical as it is comfortable!
And you know it's a good sign, when the staff dive in and are among the first to purchase - here's what the Belly Beyond office girls say:

"It is so comfortable! I realise it's not a Sports Bra, but I wore it to Tennis and it was brilliant" Sue

"Absolutely love the bra and the underwear is seriously the most comfortable I've ever worn" Karen

SHOP THE CAKE LINGERIE RANGE

Baby Names 2012

Our lovely Facebook page members submitted their baby names to help us update our Top 10 list.

10 Most Popular Baby Names

1. Ella
2. Amelia
3. Cooper
4. Noah
5. Ava
6. Charlotte
7. Hunter
8. Liam
9. Lily
10. Xavier

Special mentions:  Riley, Jacob, Jaxon, Emily, Isabella, Isla, Jack, Kaia, Ruby and Sophie   
Here is the ful unique list in alphabetical order (and by unique we mean that while you will see quite a few similar names with a range of spelling eg, Conner, Connah, Connar).

Aaliyah
Aanika
Aaron
Abigail
Adam
Aden
Aiden
Ailea
Ajah
Alanta
Alaska
Alesandro
Alex
Alexander
Alexandra
Alexis
Alfie
Alice
Alicia
Amelia
Andrew
Anna
Annabell
Annalia
Anneke
Archer
Aria
Ariella
Artemisia
Asheia
Asher
Ashton
Audrey
Ava
Avery
Azariah
Bailey
Bella
Benjamin
Benny
Bianca
Blake
Blayze
Bonny
Brayden
Bree
Brennan
Briar
Bridget
Brodie
Brody
Brooke
Cade
Caelan
Cailean
Caitlin
Caleb
Cameron
Campbell
Carter
Casey
Castiyle
Charlie Charleigh
Charlotte
Cherie
Chiana
Chloe
Clara
Cody
Connah
Conner
Connor
Cooper
Corban
Coredlia
Crispin
Cruz
Cullen
Dakota
Damian
Daniel
Daria
Darius
Deacon
Declan
Devin
Dillon
Dolorez
Dominic
Dylan
Dyllan-Rae
Eben
Eddie
Elijah
Elise
Eliza
Elizabelle
Elizabeth
Ella Ellie
Elliott
Emily
Emma
Emmett
Ericka
Esmae
Esme
Etha
Ethan
Eva
Evangelene
Evelyn
Evie
Finn
Flynn
Franchezka
Frederick
Geordie
Georgia
Griffin
Harley
Harmony
Harper
Harrison
Havanna
Hayley
Haze
Heath
Holly
Hudson
Hunter
Illa
Indiana
Indie
Indyanna
Isaac Isabelle
Isabella
Isla
Izaac
Jack
Jacob
Jade
Jadon
Jai
Jaidah
Jaide
Jaiden
James
Jamie
Jarome
Jaron
Jaxon
Jayda
Jayden
Jesse
Jett
Jonas
Jonothon
Jordan
Jorja
Jos
Joseph
Joshua
Julia
Kaden
Kaeli
Kaia
Kaiden
Kaitlin
Kaitlyn
Kaitlynn
Katherine
Kayden
Kevin
Keziah
Khloe
Kingston
Kirsten
Kiya
Krystal
Kyran
Lachlan
Lacy
Lani-Jane
Layla
Leonardo
Levi
Liam
Libby
Lila
Lilijanna
Lily
Lincoln
Lleyton
Locklyn
Logan
Lola
Lucas
Lucy
Luka
Lukas
Luke
Mac
Macaulay
Mackenzie
Maddison
Madeleine
Madeline
Madelyn
Madilyn
Mahi
Maia
Makai
Makayla
Mana
Mason
Max
McKaia
Mekhai
Mia
Micah
Michaela
Milaan
Milla
Miller
Millicent
Mollie
Molly
Monica
Morgan
Morgana
Morghan
Natalie
Nathan
Nathaniel
Nikolai
Nivarah
Nixon
Noah
Noelle
Nova
Oceana
Olive
Oliver
Olivia
Onyx
Orion
Paige
Paige-Tayla
Paityn
Paul
Paxton
Peyton
Phinneus
Phoebe
Portia
Pyper
Quentin
Quinn
Rebekah
Reede
Rico
Rilan
Riley
Romeo
Rory
Rose
Ruairidh
Ruby
Ryley
Samantha
Samual
Samuel
Sasha
Savannah
Sayden
Scarlett
Seith
Seth
Shakayla
Shakiya
Shanade
Shelby
Shia
Shikyla
Shiloh
Sienna
Sierra
Sofia
Sophia
Sophie
Stefan
Stella
Stephanie
Sullivan
Sydney
Taevyn
Tahlia
Tamsin
Taylar
Tessa
Tobias
Triton
Troy
Tyler
Typer
Tyson
Vanessa
Vera
Victoria
Vienna
William
Willow
Winter
Xavier
Zachary
Zain
Zara
Zion
Zoe

Hopefully that will give you some ideas if you are struggling to find the perfect name for your new arrival!

Faces of La Leche League NZ

The recent vilification of La Leche League NZ (LLLNZ), by New Zealand media and members of the public has been quite an eye opener.   Slow news day was it NZ Herald and TV3?

This great article by Donelle Bellanger Taylor raises the most valid of points in this whole debate.  Most people have absolutely no idea who LLLNZ even is.  She notes:  

I don't understand why people find it so hard to comprehend that hospital midwives are not La Leche League, lactation consultants are not La Leche League, Plunket nurses are not La Leche League, and random grumpy old ladies aren't La Leche League either.  

La Leche League is made up of volunteers who give their own time to work with women who call them or come along to meetings. Women come to them to get support and information to help them succeed in breastfeeding."

I agree that LLLNZ has a bit of an identity problem.   Many people seem to believe that it's full of hairy-legged hippies who sit around with their norks out, feeding their 7 year olds and because they are a volunteer organisation, there is not and will likely never be, any funding for a big glitzy marketing campaign to change that misconception.  This means the fantastic work they do every day in our communities (providing support and information to breastfeeding mums) and the real face of LLLNZ as it is today, simply doesn't get shared.

So here they are - just some of the faces of LLLNZ members and supporters, mostly ordinary NZ mums just like you and me - hardly the horrific hairy-chinned "breast feeding nazis" they've been painted! 



More images are being added all the time, but we had to start somewhere.

Please note:  This video has been put together by me, through my connection with other LLL members and is therefore completely independent of LLLNZ.

Final thought:  Putting aside deliberately inflammatory reporting and incorrect identifcation of LLL personnel, if even half the horror stories are true then perhaps it's time for LLLNZ to reassess training and it's level of intervention.   In some situations the goals of LLL (as a breastfeeding support organisation) and parents won't match, and that's likely to be where the breakdowns are.

Brolly Sheets on Breakfast

Check out this great item on Brolly Sheets from TVNZ's Breakfast this morning.

Both Heidi and I swear by Brolly Sheets and they are still a feature on the beds of our youngest kids.  My daughter took a very long time to be totally dry at night (like years!) and Brolly Sheets were such fantastic piece of mind at home as well as an easy solution when went away.

Brolly Sheets are soft to sleep on and if there's an accident, you simply pull off the bed and stick in the wash without having to strip and make the entire bed (not a fun thing to do at the best of times and certainly not at 2 oclock in the morning!)

They come in single, king single or queen size and are one of the best reviewed products on Belly Beyond, here's just some of the feedback from happy customers.

BROLLY SHEETS CUSTOMER FEEDBACK:

I have just got one of these and they are so good. I sleep easy knowing that there will be no mess in the morning and it is so much easier than removing and washing the sheets especially when you have five kids! I will be telling my friends because most of the baby gear is word of mouth.

LOVE these. It definitely makes the nights less stressful coz all you have to do is whip it off the bed and put a new one down. No more stripping the entire bed. But I do recommend you buy 2 though.

I wouldn't be without these while toilet training, and will also be using them with #2 when its his turn.

School Holiday Drama as Head Explodes

A bizarre story surfaced today, when a woman's head exploded at her home in Auckland.

It appears the woman , who has not yet been named, had just posted on Facebook that her head would explode if she had to say "leave your brother alone" one more time.

A six year old and four year old were found watching DVD's and eating milo straight out of the packet.

Yes this is an update of an old blog - but ever so relevant with just a week to go!

Belly Beyond TV Relaunched!

Belly Beyond TV is back in 2012 with great new opening and closing credit graphics (thanks to Nykie @ Noo).

This episode I make good use of my almost-7 year old as she mooches around during the school holidays.

And don't you love the new True Blue ERGObaby Performance colour!

ERGObaby Performance Coolmax Insert

If you have a summer baby you might find the standard Heart2Heart insert a bit hot when the temperatures get above 25 degrees.  In the heat of NZ summer (if it ever arrives!) we recommend that you dress your baby in just a singlet and nappy when they are in the insert, or a summer shortie onsie is fine too.

But there is another option now too.  ERGObaby, always the innovators, have just released a new Heart2Heart Performance Insert with CoolMax, the wick away fabric designed to draw moisture away and keep baby comfy and cool at the same time.

Perfect with the ERGObaby Performance Carriers, but it also fits all the other ERGObaby Carriers as well.

Available right now, only at Belly Beyond, buy the ERGObaby Performance Insert here