Wordless Wednesday

Thanks to our fan Bonnie who sent in this cute pic of her son with his labelled cup!

If you'd like to see your child featured on our blog, send us a pic to social (at) oliverslabels (dot) com. We'll send you a $10 gift card toward our products as our way of saying 'thanks'!

(One submission per household, please!)

Wordless Wednesday

Thanks to one of our fans for sending in this adorable picture of her "bedheaded son with his morning sippy cup of milk".

Thanks for being a fan, M! As a small token of our appreciation, we will be sending you a $10 Oliver's Labels gift card - enjoy!

I ♥ Valentine’s Day

There’s no denying Valentine’s Day is a "commercial" holiday, but for some reason I can’t resist. I don’t buy into the notion that gifts and fancy dinners are required, however, I do think it’s important to tell our loved ones how we feel about them every day, and Valentine’s Day presents another opportunity to do so.

My favorite part of February 14th is the sweet tradition of sending valentines to friends and family. There’s something about writing and receiving a valentine that takes me back to another era, when composing letters on paper was practically an art form. I, for one, get very excited when I receive mail (real mail, not email... and, bills not included ;)… my daughter even more so. She received her first Valentine when she was two and a half and, since then, every time she gets one her face lights up.

And who can resist the yummy treats that accompany the special day? Chocolates, cookies, candy… I love them all! As a self-proclaimed sweet-aholic, I’ll take any excuse to indulge. ☺

But, probably the best thing about Valentine’s Day, apart from the cards and candy, is the opportunity to show each other a little kindness and brighten another person’s day. Valentines may seem trivial to some, but they do spread smiles! Children are evidence of this – they get just as much enjoyment out of making Valentines for their friends as they do receiving them. What a great feeling to get, and what a great lesson to learn.

So, even if you’re not a fan of Valentine’s Day, take a moment out of your day tomorrow to pay someone a compliment or spread a little kindness. Sometimes, it’s the little things that mean the most.

P.S. If you are looking for a gift for Valentine's Day, check out our Sweet Hearts line of labels and tags... so fitting! 

Wordless Wednesday

Thanks to one of our fans who sent us a pic of her daughter with her favourite "fantasy" themed mini bag tag... too cute!

Have a pic you'd like featured on our blog? Send it to social (at) oliverlabels (dot) com! If we use your photo, we'll send you a $10 Oliver's Labels gift card!

Beating the February Blahs

It’s officially February, and although the weather is getting a bit nicer here, I’ve officially got a case of the February 'Blahs'. You know, the time of year when you just want to banish the cold weather and usher in spring; when you’re eager to shed the winter coat, boots, hat, scarf and mittens in favor of a t-shirt and shorts. And, most of all, when you don’t have to worry about bringing every possible cold-weather item with you when going out with your kids. I mean, really, the amount of stuff that you need in the winter is atrocious!!

So, what’s a mom (or dad / grandparent / caregiver) to do? Well, you can either stay inside and get really creative with fun kids’ activities, or you can bite the bullet and brave the great outdoors. If you choose the latter, you need a plan!

Here are some helpful tips to help get you out of the house in the winter…

1. Create a “travel bag” and leave it by the door
Have your bag ready with all of the items you normally take with you, such as sippy cups/water bottles for the kids, snacks, diaper bag/change of clothes & travel activities (colouring books & crayons, games, etc.). Ensure this bag is always ready to go, so that you’re not scrambling around at last minute.
2. Assign each child his/her own cubby or box 
Mittens, scarves and hats are a lot easier to find when they have their own “home”. Teaching children to put these items back in the same spot each time they enter the house helps ensure they’re easy to find each time you want to leave. In my house, we have the “mat” rule… boots stay on the mat, not only to keep the house clean, but so that we know where to find them when we’re ready to leave again.
3. Keep extra wipes and a few snacks (like granola bars) in the car
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve looked in my diaper bag and found an empty container of wipes, I’d be rich. That’s why I always have a small emergency stash in the car; same goes for snacks. Nobody wants a whiny child because Mama forgot to bring the goldfish crackers! ☺

I hope these tips help you get out of the house a bit more this winter - even if it is just to visit your local rec centre! Staying in the house can be fun, but we all need a change of scenery and it feels good to get out and have an adventure now and then.  Stay well!

Wordless Wednesday

Thanks to one of our fans who sent in this *adorable* pic of her son with his beloved train - labelled, of course, with Oliver's Labels!!

Introducing Room-eez™ Wall Decals!!

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about the New Year bringing new products, fun contests and wonderful website enhancements. Well, today is the culmination of all three of those things!! Why, you ask? Because today we officially launched our brand-new product line of wall decals called Room-eez™. 

I had the privilege of trying out Room-eez™ before they launched and all I can say is "Wow"! My son's wall was transformed in a few easy steps!

Here's a little bit about Room-eez™Wall Decals...

Room-eez Name Decals and Letter Decals are the perfect way to add personality and fun to your child’s room. Completely customizable, with your choice of 19 fonts, 12 designs and over 130 colors, Room-eez™ can transform any child’s space into something that is uniquely theirs. Name Decals can also be accessorized with decorative graphics in ten of our most popular themes to add even more personality.

Made of a special material that is strong enough to stick on your wall forever, but gentle enough to not damage your paint when removing or repositioning, Room-eez™ Wall Decals are every parent’s decorating dream! Unlike many other wall graphics on the market, this advanced, high quality material is not vinyl and therefore doesn’t shrink, curl or stretch the way vinyl does, ensuring your Room-eez™ Wall Decals will stay on the wall until you take them off!

   

To celebrate the launch of Room-eez™, we are having contests on Twitter, Facebook & Google+ where you can enter to win a set of your very own! And, keep your eyes out for some reviews and giveaways by wonderful bloggers from across the U.S. and Canada who were lucky enough to get a sneak peek before everyone else!!

There's a lot going on here at Oliver's Labels and we'd love it if you joined in on the fun!