Every year, I give myself a birthday gift. Yes, I'm a little self centered like that - but hey - I'm deserving. It's usually something like a new bag, or a pair of shoes, and it's most definitely not something I've bought myself for like a year or more. (those of you who know me, know I am NO fashion maven. My favourite purse is a messenger bag and as for shoes, give me a $7 pair of flojos slippah and I'm a happy woman.)
This year, my purchase is something that is useful for the whole family. (Well, except the dog)
A Sakura Bloom linen ring sling.
I love babywearing.
I love the closeness it brings to me and M.
I love the ease of throwing it on to run into the market or down to the post office.
It packs light and shoves into any crevice of your diaper bag - and is especially useful at concealing that post baby bump. = )
We currently sport 3 different babywearing devices. A BECO Butterfly2 (LOVE), a KangarooKorner Solarveil Ring Sling (still on the fence) and a BabyBjorn (ugh).
The Sakura Bloom slings are well known for their beauty and craftmanship - they use beautiful materials and most compliments seem to go to the silk slings. I, myself am no a silk girl, so when I found out that SB makes their slings in linen also, I was intrigued. Their shoulders are bunched to help support the weight of your newborn - toddler, and like all slings you can carry cradle, kangaroo, hip and back. I had never seen a video of the back wearing , and this happy family makes it look really easy so it'll have to be a test for us soon.
Check their blog too, it's quite nice - and the music video submission had me giggling.
When M and I are out and about with our KangarooKorner sling, we always get compliments. And I'm always a little withdrawn from the praise for I haven't been entirely satisfied with my Solarveil sling. (problems with ordering, scratchy material (not the manufacturers problem at all) the fabric bunches easily and doesn't un-bunch with entirely as much ease and the rings slip ALL THE TIME so I'm constantly adjusting.) These things are easy to overlook when you are just using your sling for little 5 minute jaunts around town. I think if my sling was a little more user friendly towards us, I'd use it a lot more. Enter the Sakura.
While I honestly haven't worn one yet, I am SO looking forward to getting mine from the cranky FedEx guy on Wednesday! M and I have an appointment at DMV week after next, I'll let you know how it stands up to a CA Department of Motor Vehicles trip with a newly walking toddler. =) Ultimate test time.
Happy [a wee bit early] Birthday to Me!
