Because art doesn't have to be boring...

Raising kids in rainy Vancouver requires parents to be creative with indoor activities, thankfully I found Cedar Works and they did the creative thinking for me! I found Cedar Works online while searching for indoor play equipment for my kids' Christmas present and I just had to have it! It was so simple, I designed my set, received a quote, they shipped it to our door and we put it together in no time! I am very happy with this product and highly recommend them. Here is a picture of my Cedar Works creation.... with a touch of Beetling on the wall of course :)

CedarWorks has designed and manufactured custom swing sets out of Northern White Cedar since 1981.  Since that time, we have increased our product line to include three swing set lines, the basic PlayAround, bold and noble Revelry, and the artistic and stylish Serendipity sets.  Company president, Barrett Brown, likes to tell the story of how the first CedarWorks indoor playsets were born.  "Our twins were about to turn two when my wife, Lynne, anticipating another long Maine winter posed a perfectly reasonable question.  'Could we put a playset inside?'  So, we attached a slide and a ramp to CedarWorks' smallest outdoor playset and put it down in our basement playroom.  Little did we know that we had stumbled upon a big idea."  That's what lead us to create Rhapsody -- a playset line designed with the with the optimal materials, finish, and scale for inside your home.
 
Since its inception and release, Rhapsody sales have exceeded our wildest expectations.  Not only did we have a fun and beautiful product for areas where weather (both hot and cold) can be a concern with young children, we also had a product that is a play solution for even the wee one's.  And, it can grow as your children grow by adding on age-relevant components over time.
 
CedarWorks has recently expanded its manufacturing  plant in Rockland, Maine,  to accommodate the ever-growing demand for the Rhapsody sets.  Each set is manufactured to customers' specifications and delivered, with professional installation availble if requested. Everyone plays a part, every detail is considered.  The CedarWorks Rhapsody sets have found their way into homes across the US and Canada, and into daycare and preschool centers as a wonderfully beautiful piece of play furniture.  Now, with the addition of the Rhapsody bunk and loft playbeds, the Rhapsody line is really holding its own as a well-received CedarWorks product line.  Our customers love it, and we love to design and build these beautiful and whimsical pieces.


You can find CedarWorks online, Facebook and twitter

We had a great time at the Spring Family and Baby Fair in Port Moody (Thank you to Nancy from Baby Vibe) and I want to share some of my favourite finds with you! I had a hard time choosing my top 3 but here they are...

I was so amazed when I flipped through Emma's portfolio that I had to share her artwork on our Blog. Uptown Tots offers a very unique service, hand painted wall decor and accessories, beautiful murals, interior design and custom art sculpted by her Husband. I definitely see a future collaboration between Beetling and Uptown Tots, now we just have to find that lucky girl or boy! 

Ok, anyone that knows me, knows that I adore and respect good teachers, I guess Oprah and I have something in common! This is why Easy Daisies made my top 3. This business idea was hatched when Elaine Tan Comeau started teaching Kindergarten. Elaine had always posted a visual daily schedule for the kids that mapped out the daily routine and made those transitions easier. Parents were also impressed and constantly asked Elaine if she could make something for them to take home... Of course she could! Great product from a great teacher, love it, bought one for my kids.

These books are gorgeous! Barefoot Books was started by two mothers that wanted to show children the world's diverse cultures and allow them to explore with their imaginations, and they have succeeded! I was drawn to the amazing artistry and beautiful display but I fell in love with the great stories and was thrilled to see so many different cultures showcased on 1 shelf. 

If you have ever googled "things to do in Vancouver" I'm sure you have come across one of these sites... babyvibe.ca, kindervibe.ca and maybe even doggyvibe.ca. Their motto is cool vibes for smart famiilies... and I agree! I have written about their site here before and am really excited that Beetling will take part in their first Spring Family & Baby Fair.  Below you can find a little bio about babyvibe.ca from the co-owner, Nancy Owens, and you can find them on twitter and Facebook.... Better yet you can come to Port Moody on May 15th and check them out in person!

With 6000 subscribers, we are proud to be Western Canada's leading e-newsletter for new and expectant parents. Launched in 2006, Babyvibe is a free, twice-weekly e-newsletter delivering pint-sized news and reviews on innovative products and services, expert tips and family friendly events for new and expecting parents. In 2008 we launched Kindervibe (Babyvibe's older sibling), which delivers the best scoop on cool products, services and tips for the bigger kids, with a focus on healthy, natural living!


With both publications, our mantra is: involved parenting, happy kids, healthy community!


On May 15th, join us at our first annual Spring Fair, a fun, fabulous and free event, happening in beautiful Port Moody, BC. More information can be found here.

I love Granville Island Toy Co. and not just because they are Beetling supporters, because they stock some amazing products and staff some awesome people! This is why I am really excited to say that we will be setting up with them at this year's Vancouver Children's Festival at Vanier Park. If you haven't been to one of their locations, you should really check them out! Even Greg Harper from Breakfast Television stopped by for some tips and a little play time for himself. Come by Vanier Park May 17th to 24th and have some fun!


"We don't cease to play because we grow old, we grow old because we cease to play." - G.B Shaw

Progressive Parenting Network is an online community of parents, educators and caregivers that promotes physically, educationally and emotionally healthy children who surpass developmental milestones.  The goal of Progressive Parenting Network is to collect and share the best practices for helping children achieve and exceed expectations. 

SLEEP TRAINING – The nursery is painted, the crib and changing table are put together…finally.  You have created a perfectly coordinated safari scene of 3-D giraffe, tree and zebra wall art from www.beetling.com.  The only problem is that even though she is old enough, your bouncing little baby does not want to sleep in her brand new room by herself.  You and your spouse take turns every night easing her into sleep then gently laying her in the bed and sneaking out of her room only to hear that dreaded “whimper” as you tip-toe down the hall.  Then back into the room you go.  The cycle seems to continue long into the night.  You wonder how other parents seem to find time to do other things while your nights “begin” at midnight each night! 

Not to worry, new parents, there is a solution that will have you sleeping in your own beds again.  It is called “sleep training” and it is exactly what it sounds like.  Please be aware, that training your little one to sleep is not the most fun you will ever have—especially if you are extra sensitive to a crying baby; but ultimately the process is well worth it.  There are several methods of sleep training that have merit, however the one that worked for us was a cold-turkey approach, suggested by a friend whose son (born a week after our baby girl) was able to put himself to sleep without being held.  
Our little one stood up in her crib and cried for about an hour for the first night.  After she realized the crying was not working, she fell asleep standing up!  She stood sleeping, leaning on her crib for two and a half hours for the first night.  Fortunately we installed a baby-cam in addition to the audio baby monitor so we could keep an eye on the progress and make sure there were no actual problems.  The following night she only protested for about 20 minutes— probably because she was tired and likely figured that the extra effort to stay awake just was not worth it.  After a few days, our daughter was able to put herself to sleep in her room (in complete darkness) without Mommy or Daddy holding her.  For this process to work, there are several factors that need to be addressed by the parents.  To keep this post moving, however, the summary is that the child needs to be able to trust that everything will be alright when she goes to sleep and that you will be there for her when she wakes up.  Your child can feel this sense of security because of your effort on the front end – all of the loving and nurturing pays off now (among other times)!
After sleep training, our daughter knows what to expect and has a routine where she is able to put herself to sleep and remain asleep for 11 -12 hours each night with a 2 hour nap during the day.  The best part is that we are able to be adults after her bedtime and we can get the rest we need.  When you step out of your home people will not immediately identify you as the parent of a baby evidenced by your disheveled appearance and bags under your eyes. Sleep training might be the single most important thing we have done for our whole family since she was born.


You can find more great tips on their website or twitter