Every person who attends this weekend’s Vancouver Island Baby Fair at Beban Park in Nanaimo will have a chance to enter for free into one of two grand prize draws, plus there are great prizes to be won for participating in the Photo Contest and Baby Races!

Grand Prize #1: Expecting Parent Package – Value $1323

• Abby Sprouts – $50 Gift Certificate
• Arbonne International- $50 Gift Certificate
• Creative Memories - $100 Gift Certificate
• Etheridge Photographic - Photo Session- includes $50 print credit (Value $200)
• Gary Anaka - Book: Your magical brain: How it learns best
• Hard Candy Baby Boutique - $100 Gift Certificate
• Huckleberry Baby Shop - $50 Gift Certificate
• Hudson & Saige - $50 Gift Certificate
• Nicole Williams Photography - “1-2-3” Photography Package: Maternity, newborn & 6-12 month portrait sitting plus 8×10 enlargement & online album (Value $199)
• Organic Family Natural Home – “I am Organic” Onezie, All Natural Baby Bliss Salve, Monster Away Spray & Sun Bliss Sunscreen  (Value $57)
• Sacred Baby - Sacred Baby Pouch Sling (Value $65)
• SeaSide Studios - Portrait session, 11×14 enlargement & 10 5×7 digital prints (Value $300)
• Tokyo Baby - Leg warmers & 2 Kids Monkey Pants (Value $58)

Grand Prize #2: New Parent Package – Value $1396

• Abby Sprouts - $50 Gift Certificate
• Apples to Oranges Consulting - Selection of gluten-free, dairy-free snacks & goodies (Value $50)
• Arbonne International - $50 Gift Certificate
• Bellies In Bloom Maternity - See Kai Run Adelaide Boots (Value $54)
• Core Essentials Personal Training & Rehabilitation – One month (8 sessions) Baby Stroller Bootcamp Classes (Value $95)
• Hard Candy Baby Boutique - $50 Gift Certificate
• Mabel’s Labels - Big Combo label package (Value $55)
• Hudson & Saige - $50 Gift Certificate
• Maman Bidule - $65 Gift Certificate
• Nicole Williams Photography - Family portrait sitting, 12×18, 2 8×10 & 4 5×7 prints (Value $395)
• Oma Gosh! Designs - $50 Gift Certificate
• SeaSide Studios - Portrait session, 11×14 enlargement & 10 5×7 digital prints (Value $300)
• U-Weight Loss Clinic - U Weight Loss protein powder: Whey Vanilla Flavour (Value $60)
• West Coast Strider Sales – 1x 750ml stainless steel water bottle, 1x 250ml stainless steel water bottle and a childs size WestCoast Strider T-shirt plus $20 gift certificate (Value $50)

Baby Races Grand Prize (Saturday, June 5) – Value $285

• Arbonne International - $50 Gift Certificate
• Bellies In Bloom Maternity - See Kai Run booties- Ainsley Sandal size- 12-18 months (Value $39)
• Gary Anaka - Book: Your magical brain: How it learns best
• Mabel’s Labels – Camp/School label package (Value $34)
• Peekinz Baby - Footed playsuit with Peekinz pocket (Value $30)
• Tupperware - Divided feeding dish, sippy cup, Ideal bowl and snack cup (Value $30)
• Water’s Edge Organics - Natural wood teether & organic cotton onesie 6-12 months (Value $50)
• West Coast Strider Sales – Gift bag with Strider t-shirt, kids water bottle, adult water bottle & frisbee (Value $30)

Baby Races Grand Prize (Sunday, June 6) – Value $344

• Arbonne International - $50 Gift Certificate
• Discovery Toys - “My blankie” book & yellow fleece blanket & $10 Gift Certificate (Value $45)
• Gary Anaka - Book: Your magical brain: How it learns best
• Kit n’ Caboodle Quality Children’s Consignment - $30 Gift Certificate
• Nicole Williams Photography - Portrait sitting & 8×10 enlargement (Value $105)
• Playpants - Playpants Original Bloomers in “Sail” & “Cocoon” (Value $32)
• Tupperware - Divided feeding dish, sippy cup, Ideal bowl and snack cup (Value $30)
• West Coast Strider Sales – Gift bag with Strider t-shirt, kids water bottle, adult water bottle & frisbee (Value $30)

Plus the winner of each Baby Race heat will get a $10 Gift Certificate to Hard Candy Baby Boutique!

Photo Contest prizes

A winner will be chosen in each of two categories: 0-24 months and 2-6 years old. Winner in each category receives a $300 Portrait Package including a portrait session, 11×14 enlargement & 10 5×7 digital negatives from SeaSide Studios – our official Photo Contest photographer!

We are very excited to announce our upcoming giveaway in the next issue of our monthly e-newsletter going out May 5th!

Skip the tricycle and the training wheels!
Strider running bikes are two wheeled bikes designed to allow your child to teach themselves to balance on two wheels, without the interference of pedals or chains. Weighing only 6.9 lbs and with a seat that lowers to just 11″ from the ground, children as young as 12 months up to 5 years (50 lbs) can easily handle the Strider running bike and gain the confidence they need to balance on two wheels. Stand back and watch as they teach themselves to balance. You will be amazed!  Strider running bikes come in six vibrant colors: Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Orange and Yellow.

Your preschooler can come try out a West Coast Strider bike in the Kids Corner at the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair, June 5 & 6 in Nanaimo but in the meantime, check out their website for full details on these great bikes!

Just in time for summer, we will be giving away one West Coast Strider bike in the colour of the winner’s choice in the May issue of our e-newsletter, “Inside the Pea Pod” so subscribe today (right hand side of our blog) for your chance to win!

We recently did some giveaways in our e-newsletter “Inside the Pea Pod” and would like to send out a BIG Congrats to:

Jennifer B. from Gold River, BC who won the Milkie’s Milk Saver from Bellies In Bloom Maternity

Leslie D. from Victoria, Chrissy W. from Duncan and Julia W. from Campbell River- Each won a pair of tickets from our recent Franklin the Turtle giveaway!

There are still tickets available at each of the upcoming Franklin shows in Victoria, Nanaimo & Campbell River! Check here for details!

In our May issue of “Inside the Pea Pod” we are giving away an awesome bike from West Coast Strider Sales. Sign up on the right hand side of our blog to receive our monthly e-newsletter & to be eligible for our exclusive prize giveaways!

Franklin the Turtle is coming to Vancouver Island for a series of live shows, and we’re going to give you a chance to win tickets to the shows in Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River!

The ticket giveaway will happen in our next e-Newsletter, going out on Wednesday, April 7 – if you don’t already receive the e-Newsletter, you can sign up using the form in the right-hand column of the blog.

Join Franklin on a quest to recover the lost “Golden Necklace” of Princess Harriet. Along the way, the gang must prove themselves worthy in an attempt to win the “Silver Shield” – the most treasured prize of knighthood.

On their crusade, they come upon all sorts of obstacles, including a fierce fire breathing dragon, 2 riddle loving Gargoyles, and a Wily Winged Beast!

Is Snail too small to be a hero? Will Beaver outwit the Gargoyles? Who will prove the mostworthy knight and win the treasured “Silver Shield”?

This musical adventure will have the whole family cheering and clapping to the original songs, music and dance as they join Franklin and his courageous friends and save the day!

Franklin The Turtle – The Adventures of the Noble Knights

Monday, April 19, 2010 – McPherson Theatre in Victoria
#3 Centennial Sq., Victoria, BC
Doors 3:00pm – Show 3:30pm
Tickets: $25.50 + s/c. Available at: McPherson Box Office, by phone: 250-386-6121 or online at www.rmts.bc.ca

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - Port Theatre in Nanaimo
125 Front St., Nanaimo, BC
Doors 3:00pm – Show 3:30pm
Tickets: $25.50 + s/c. Available at: Port Theatre Ticket Centre, by phone: 250-754-8550 or online at www.porttheatre.com

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River
1220 Shoppers Row, Campbell River, BC
Doors 3:00pm – Show 3:30pm
Tickets: $25.50 + s/c. Available at: Tidemark Theatre Ticket Centre, by phone: 250-287-7465 or online at www.tidemark-theatre.com

Today we attended Baby Days at Sears in Nanaimo North Town Centre and had the pleasure of meeting many new and expecting parents and grandparents! We did a draw for 4 pairs of Weekend Passes to the upcoming Vancouver Island Baby Fair, June 5 & 6 and would like to congratulate winners Rhonda S., Chrissy T., Trevor H., and Sue P.

Thanks to everyone for entering to win!

Those who missed out can still take part in upcoming giveaways by signing up for our e-newsletter. (See e-newsletter sign up on right hand margin of our blog)

We are thrilled to be part of the Sears Baby Days this weekend!

You’ll find us at Sears in the Nanaimo North Town Centre-4750 Rutherford Road this Saturday, March 20th from 9:30 until 1pm.

Come say hello and enter to win Weekend passes to the upcoming  Vancouver Island Baby Fair taking place June 5 & 6 in Nanaimo, B.C. at Beban Park Social Centre.