Every visitor to the Vancouver Island Baby Fair will receive one ballot at the door, and may enter it for either one of the two Grand Prizes. Deadline for entry is Sept. 25 at 4pm (at the close of the fair). Winners will be drawn after closing and notified, plus will be announced in our e-Newsletter, blog and/or website. Some restrictions apply.

Baby Races Grand Prize (Saturday) – Value: $460

• Abby Sprouts – Gift Certificate ($30)
• Avon Canada – Assorted bag of Avon products ($30)
• BCAA – Redi Medic Emergency Kit ($49)
• earth, mom and baby – 2 pack Bumboo Diapers ($43)
• Elements of Health Centre – Initial acupuncture visit with Julia Dascalescu ($100)
• Green Bean Baby – Organic cotton knotted cap & booties ($36)
• Mothering Touch Centre – Stuffed toy & book Where the Wild Things Are ($40)
• Rainy Day Play – AC/DC For Those About To Walk t-shirt ($22)
• Style Me Modern – Gift certificate ($30)
• Undine Jewellery – Necklace for mom ($30)
• Victoria People’s Pharmacy – Weleda organic calendula baby care products ($50)

Baby Races Grand Prize (Sunday) – Value: $460

• Avon Canada – Assorted bag of Avon products ($30)
• Baby Bellhop – Gift Card ($30)
• BCAA – Redi Medic Emergency Kit ($49)
• Elements of Health Centre – 45 minute massage (for Family Friendly Fridays) with Jane Podmore, RMT ($65)
• Green Bean Baby - Organic cotton terry hooded towel & wash cloth ($54)
• Mothering Touch Centre – Stuffed toy & book Where the Wild Things Are ($40)
• Rainy Day Play – Tin Tea Set ($27)
• Snugglings – Organic cotton/bamboo blanket ($45)
• Spud.ca – Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery – Gift pack filled with snacks, treats and other great products ($40)
• Style Me Modern – Gift certificate ($30)
• Victoria People’s Pharmacy – Weleda organic calendula baby care products ($50)

Babies aged 5-11 months race in heats of 4-5 babies. Winner of each heat will receive 2 Savvy Squirrel Coupon Books (1 Spring and 1 Fall edition – $20 value) and will move on to the final race. Final race winner’s family will receive the grand prize.

Photo Contest Grand Prizes

A $10 donation to 1Up: Victoria Single Parent Resource Centre will get your chid an on-site mini portrait shoot with Vivian Kereki Photography, a 5×7 print from your session after the fair, and enter you in the contest. One winner will be chosen in each of two categories: Baby (0-24 months) and Child (2-6 years)

Winner of each age category receives a professional photo session, 8 digital negatives, one print package of two 5×7s and one 8×10, plus one gallery wrap 16×20 canvass (a more than $700 value) from Vivian Kereki Photography. Plus, the winner of the baby category will appear on the cover of Island Parent Magazine!

Advance tickets to the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair on Sept. 24 & 25 in Victoria are now on sale at several locations! There are a limited number of advance tickets available for just $5 (+HST) for a weekend pass (at the door, it’s $7/day or $8/weekend).

Get these discounted tickets while they last at:

• Abby Sprouts – 3011 Gosworth Rd., Victoria

• Bellies In Bloom Maternity – 104-4489 Viewmont Ave., Victoria

• Hip Baby – 560 Johnson St., Victoria

• JamTots Baby and More Store – 748 Goldstream Ave., Langford

• Mothering Touch Centre – 975 Fort St., Victoria

• Victoria People’s Pharmacy - 4 Locations:
  3825 Cadboro Bay Rd., Victoria;
  1594 Fairfield Rd., Victoria;
  3643 Shelbourne St., Victoria;
  1282 Fairfield Rd., Victoria

The next Vancouver Island Baby Fair will take place Sept 24 & 25 in Victoria BC and we will be celebrating our 5th anniversary and our seventh fair on the island! (Including our two shows that have taken place in Nanaimo)

At each fair we love to support a local charity that focuses on pregnancy through preschool, just like we do at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair. We fund raise through our very popular photo contest, facepainting and stroller parking. Plus, the charity we work with is provided with loads of exposure prior to, during the weekend of the fair, and after.

So far we have raised more than $11,000 and worked with these amazing charities.

Child Find BC

Success by 6

Nanaimo Child Development Centre

Foster Parent Support Society

Haven Society

Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society

We are now planning for our Fall fair, Sept 24 & 25 in Victoria at Pearkes Arena and would love to hear your suggestions for a local non-profit charity that is geared to young families. Deadline for suggestions is Friday, February 11, 2011.

Feel free to send me an email, or leave a comment here.

It’s February already! What? Already a month into 2011??!! Where does the time go?

A little update on what’s going on at Vancouver Island Baby Fair head quarters…

We are working on getting ready to open for registration for the next Vancouver Island Baby Fair which will be held on Sept 24 & 25 in Victoria BC. Registration will begin March 1st for our 2010 exhibitors and then we’ll open for general registration March 15th. For a reminder, sign up for our e-newsletter- See sign up on right hand side of this blog.

Also, I’m the new host of the Real Parenting radio show on CFAX 1070, Saturday mornings from 10-11am PST. This has been an absolute blast and I am really loving it! Check out my website, listen to podcasts of some past shows & be sure to connect with me on facebook & twitter if you’d like to follow the show or send show ideas!

Warmly,

Shirley

The Vancouver Island Baby Fair e-newsletter is coming on Thursday, Dec. 9 – if you’re not already subscribed, do it now! We’ll have an exclusive giveaway of this Kemby Sidekick DiaperBag Carrier from Cat and Fiddle Kids!

Cat & Fiddle Kids has everything your organic, earth-friendly child needs, and something for Mom too. You will find their products are specially chosen from reputable manufacturers and represent the leading edge of safety, innovation and style.

Pop by their spacious store at 735 Cloverdale Ave. (between Douglas St. and Blanshard St.) to do a little Christmas shopping, plus you can check out their website and join them on Facebook for updates!

The Kemby Sidekick DiaperBag Carrier: With all the organizational elements you expect in a well-made diaper bag – plus innovative features to simplify your outings – the Sidekick is a must-have for families on the go and is gorgeous too! To enter to win, you have to be signed up for our e-Newsletter Inside the Pea Pod, so be sure to sign up now (you can also sign up over in the right-hand column of this blog)!

As always, it was a very tough decision… but the judges have spoken and we are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Vancouver Island Baby Fair Photo Contest!

Congratulations to Samuel A., winner of the 0-24 month old category, and Kailan G., winner of the 2-6 year old category!

Samuel’s family will receive:

• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Family & Baby session plus 4 high resolution digital negatives & 2 11×14 mounted portaits ($695 value)
• BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation – $100 “Room Makeover” Gift Certificate from Cloverdale Paints
• Become the poster child for our next Baby Fair in Victoria
• Appear on the cover of Island Parent Magazine

Kailan’s family will receive:

• Jennifer Jonker Photography – Family & Baby session plus 4 high resolution digital negatives & 2 11×14 mounted portaits ($695 value)
• ROCKBEBE – Gift Certificate ($100)

Visit our gallery of past Baby Fair faces. You can also visit the entire Victoria 2010 online gallery of contest entries here.

All participants in the contest can pick up their free 5×7 print at ROCKBEBE in Mayfair Shopping Centre, but only until Nov. 15! Pickup details here.

Through the Photo Contest, stroller parking and face painting at the Baby Fair, we raised more than $2700 for the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society.

We are so excited to tell you that Toopy and Binoo are bringing their first live tour to Vancouver Island with shows in Victoria, Nanaimo and Duncan in January! Pre-sale tickets will be available for a very limited time, starting Tuesday, Nov. 2nd:

VICTORIA – Jan. 9 at 1pm, MacPherson Playhouse: Buy online.

NANAIMO – Jan. 10 at 6:30pm, Port Theatre:
Buy online.

DUNCAN – Jan. 11 at 6:30pm, Cowichan Theatre: Buy online.

ABOUT THE SHOW:
In a brand new live production, Koba Entertainment brings you the theatrical debut of Canada’s big sensation Toopy and Binoo!

Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon brings to life these two fun-loving and adorable characters, whose antics are driven by their out-of-the-world imagination. Their unpredictable adventures inspire children to push their own limits!

You only get to make a first impression once! Preparing for his stage debut, Toopy has to not only find the perfect song to sing, but he also has to find the perfect place to perform it!

As Toopy and his best friend Binoo embark on their most important musical quest ever, they encounter a Blue Cat Blues Band, a Loud Mouth Crooner Fish, some Rock n’ Roll Sheep, a pair of Love Struck Dragons and many other zany characters along the way.

Entertaining and whimsical, Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon is a fairy-tale for our times; it incorporates music, theatre, dance, puppetry and innovative multimedia technology to weave a story that will tickle the imagination of the entire family!

About Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon
Toopy and Binoo and the Marshmallow Moon is a 90-minute theatrical production by Koba Entertainment. Led by award-winning choreographer, Patti Caplette as writer and director, our creative team includes JUNO Award winner Norman Foote as co-writer and music director; Andrew Beck as scenic designer; Luc Lavergne as video designer; and costume designs from Maydwell Mascotts, Sue Dicks Design, and Anne Armit and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet wardrobe department.

Toopy and Binoo is based on the best-selling children’s books by Dominique Jolin. The characters made their television debut in 2005 and quickly climbed into the hearts of children in hundreds of countries including Treehouse TV (Canada), Tiji (France), Rai Sat (Italy) and Sun TV (India).

Toopy & Binoo is the top-rated program for kids from 2 to 6 years old. Visit the official tour website: www.ToopyandBinooOnTour.com

Participants in the 2010 Vancouver Island Baby Fair Photo Contest may now pick up their free 5×7 print at ROCKBEBE in Mayfair Shopping Centre.

Photos will be available for pickup only until Nov. 15.

Winners of the contest will be announced on Nov. 1. If you’d like to see a sampling of some of the cuties or browse all the entries, you can visit Jennifer Jonker Photography’s special online gallery.

We are so proud that this year’s Photo Contest, along with donations received through stroller parking and face painting at the Vancouver Island Baby Fair, raised more than $2700 for the Greater Victoria Down Syndrome Society! Thank you to Jennifer Jonker Photography and all who participated!

If you joined us at the recent Vancouver Island Baby Fair in Victoria, you might have noticed the stunning Bumbleride stroller from Sprouts Children’s Boutique we had on display near the Grand Prize booth…. well it’s nearly time to give it away!

In our next e-Newsletter, due out this Monday, Oct. 18th, we’ll run a contest exclusive to our ‘Inside the Pea Pod’ e-Newsletter subscribers, with the Bumbleride stroller as the big prize! If you already receive the e-Newsletter, you’re all set. If you signed up for it at the Baby Fair, you’ll receive your first issue on Monday (be sure to add “info@vancouverislandbabyfair.com” to your spam-blockers!).

If you haven’t signed up yet or are not sure, no problem… just add your name and email to the form in the right-hand sidebar, or visit our newsletter sign-up page. Then watch for the e-Newsletter and follow the instructions in it to enter to win!

Sprouts Children’s Boutique has provided the Bumbleride Indie stroller for the give-away. Be sure to drop by their brand new website, just re-launched to include a full online shopping component. Be sure to join their facebook fanpage, follow them on twitter or go say hi in person to owners Shari & Tracy at their fabulous store front at 536 Herald St. in downtown Victoria.

The stroller prize includes:

• Bumbleride Indie Stroller
• Carrycot (Bassinet)
• Raincover
• Multi-purpose bar – bumper bar that converts to a car seat adapter
• Tire Pump
• Cup Holder
• Footmuff – sleeping bag that can be used in the carrycot or in the stroller

At the recent Vancouver Island Baby Fair (Sept. 25 & 26, 2010 in Victoria) we were so pleased to offer a free copy of Leah Douglas’ book The Gourmet Pregnancy to the first 40 people to arrive on Sunday morning. Leah sent us this guest post:

“There are two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle. The other as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein

I wish I could have joined you all at the fantastic Vancouver Island Baby Fair – but my second baby (our new little miracle) arrived on September 10^th, so I needed to stick close to home.  I’ve been focused on a few important things (like taking care of my new baby and active toddler, obviously!), as well as making healthy, easy and delicious meals to keep my own body nourished and energized.

Nearing the end of my second pregnancy, I started reflecting on how focused I have been on eating healthy and diverse foods during pregnancy – and how easy it would be to forget to keep it up with all the positive dietary changes I’ve made.  Lots of other things to do!

But perhaps I can think of my health, my needs, myself as another miracle.  I would want nothing less for my own daughters, if they choose to become moms.  It is a simple shift in thinking, but one that can certainly help me maintain my commitment to nourishing and nurturing foods.

Maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy is so important, and I tried to eat a wide variety of nutritious foods. Between cravings, food aversions and morning sickness, I made every effort to focus on a balanced diet of protein, fruits and vegetables, calcium-rich dairy products, whole grains and good fats (such as those found in fish, olive oil, avocado and nuts).

The recipes in this book really helped me avoid the stress of eating the “right” foods by focusing on the sensual tastes of sumptuous meals. They’ve all be screened by a medical doctor to ensure they are safe to eat during pregnancy.

For all you beautiful pregnant gals – you may be giving up a lot during these nine special months, so perhaps it’s time to add in some excitement and culinary adventure. I hope the positive and luxurious focus of The Gourmet Pregnancy will help you to feel posh, sexy and connected with your body, baby and partner.

As a bonus, many people believe that exposing baby to lots of foods and flavours in utero is a surefire way to have a child who is open to eating lots of different foods. So why not have some fun with gourmet cooking? Celebrate your pregnant body, pamper your palate and start loving up your kitchen!

Now that this special time has ended for me, I will still delight in small servings of delicious, fabulous food that are truly and genuinely satisfying. I will always take pleasure in preparing and eating fantastic and healthy meals, and in spending time with friends and family.  So I will continue to use these great recipes that my family has come to know and love.

Pregnant or not, so many of The Gourmet Pregnancy recipes are quick, simple, and use fresh, wholesome, and seasonal ingredients.  For Fall, you might want to try the French Fusion Onion Soup (p. 100), the Spiced Caramelized Cauliflower and Candied Curry Pecan Salad (p.110), or the Sautéed Sablefish with Eggplant Caviar (p. 128).  Yum!

The Gourmet Pregnancy is available at Chapters, Indigo, Coles, Borders, and Amazon.com, as well as select local retailers.  You can also check out our website at www.gourmetpregnancy.com for great sample recipes.

What is the best change you made to your diet while pregnant?  Did you keep it up after your baby was born?  Let me know on Twitter (@gourmetprgnancy) or on Facebook. Your suggestion could inspire a recipe in the next edition of The Gourmet Pregnancy, with your name beside it!

Cheers,

Leah Douglas