motherhood | Samantha Lenz

Baby Registry with buybuy BABY Langley

July 16, 2021Business, Features, Kids, Motherhood

Note: This post is in partnership with buybuy BABY Langley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can’t believe baby girl will be here in a few short weeks – eek!

With the huge selection of baby products out there and new ones always coming out, it can be really overwhelming to get your registry just right for you and your little one on the way. I’ll be 100% honest, I never created a registry for my first (due to being a young single mom at the time) life was already overwhelming as it was that going into it a second time I wasn’t sure what to expect. The anxiety and nerves kicked in knowing there would be sooo many products to see and choose from *overwhelmed much*.

I’m super happy that I had the chance to partner with buybuy BABY Langley to create my registry and the experience was phenomenal! I seriously can’t recommend it enough for mamas-to-be. The one-on-one attention and care you get from the consultant assigned to you makes it a breath of fresh air.

While there are tons of online registries available, having an in-store option that has a huge selection (and a physical person to chat with) is really helpful – especially for first time moms!

As a mama already to an almost 6-year old, it’s been quite some time since I had to think about ‘baby related’ items and or needs and wants. Heck, there are products and items they’ve created in the years since I had my son that I didn’t even know existed! Setting up a registry and speaking with someone definitely gave me the initiative to get my ducks in a row and really open my eyes to what I really needed for baby over my wants and maybe unrealistic objectives (don’t just get products for the sake of it).

My Appointment with a Registry Expert

I actually started making my registry back when I was about 4-5 months pregnant to ensure I was comfortable and had time to pre-plan everything. Now currently being in my third trimester the thought of starting one now would just not be happening!

The most convenient and nicest thing about creating a registry with buybuy BABY is that you can get help building and managing your registry for FREE! After arriving to the store I was greeted by Rapinder (the store manager) who introduced me to Pam, my in-store Registry Expert. Pam was immediately welcoming and such a calm presence I knew I was going to be in great hands for the next hour or two.

After taking a few minutes to setup my registry — asking about my due date, babies gender, my baby shower date and going through a checklist of wants vs needs (plus items I already had), we were on our way to explore the store. The tour took about a total of 1.5 hours from start to finish, Pam gave me an overview of each of the store’s sections and some of her recommendations. During your appointment you have the ability to customize the tour to your needs. For me I completely skipped the baby-wearing section as I still have my Tula from my first baby and the nursey component as I had my crib and bassinet already from my previous pregnancy. She also asked me specific questions to get an idea of my taste and preferences. It was so nice having someone walk me through the entire process and give her take on what is the best for my lifestyle and home.

If you’ve never been into a buybuy BABY store, they’re super easy to navigate. The store (Langley specifically) is openly laid out and is broken off into sections. For instance, they have clothing in one area, feeding in another, bath essentials, etc. you see where I’m going with this. It made it super easy to know where I needed to spend my time and where I could skip out on or come back too. Between selecting clothes, gear, diaper bags, car-seats, strollers etc. the store has all your baby needs covered!

Registry Benefits & Perks

There are amazing perks of registering with buybuy BABY and these are just some:

Online Registry Tools
Interactive checklist*
Thank you list
Group gifting
Quick picks
Registry analyzer
Parent Favourites’
15% completion discount
Simple returns

*They have a checklist that is super helpful to use and follow – there were items I had completely forgotten about until I look this over! I’d strongly recommend printing this list before you register to stay organized as you select items. It’ll help ensure that your registry is thorough, comprehensive and easy for your guests to shop from. Or, if you’ve already registered, use it to double-check for items you may have forgotten. (Chances are, you’ll find something you missed!)

For those who aren’t aware, using a consultant in-store is completely free. No appointment is necessary, although you’re sure to get one-on-one assistance when you schedule your visit.

Why Register With buybuy BABY?

Here are a few reasons you should register with buybuy Baby:

Huge in-store selection with multiple brands
Friendly & knowledgeable staff
(This is a big one for me — when I am asking questions about a specific product I really want to know the person has experience and knowledge in this area.)
The ability to shop online and in-store with ‘same day’ curb-side pickup

One of the reasons I went with a registry with buybuy BABY, besides the fact that they have EVERYTHING for the baby is because of all the benefits. You can view your registry from their website directly or from the app on your phone. It’s simple to navigate through everything and it acts as your own personal checklist.

Also when you sign up online today or visit a buybuy BABY store in-person, receive a FREE Goody Bag full of great samples and a buybuy BABY coupon to help get you started!

If you’re a mom-to-be and feeling overwhelmed right now just thinking about the process of setting up a baby registry, that’s totally understandable. It can be a lot. It’s crazy the amount of things a baby needs, and sometimes we can forget what it feels like having a newborn, even if it’s not your first which is why I wanted to give you a little peace of mind and share my process of setting up a baby registry with buybuyBABY, and how fun it can actually be. Again, I’m super grateful for the team at buybuy Baby in Langley and a special shout-out to my personal consultant Pam, who knew all the things I needed and could answer any and all questions I had.

Now it’s time to bring home the most important item… baby!

For more information or to start your own registry, be sure to check out www.buybuybaby.ca or by visiting them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/buybuyBabyCanada

Long Weekend Staycation | The River Rock Casino Resort + Tourism Richmond

July 17, 2019July 22, 2019Features, Kids, Life, Motherhood

Boardwalk River Rock Casino Over the Victoria Day Long weekend, my family was fortunate enough to have been invited by Vancouver Mom to the River Rock Casino Resort for a 2-night staycation thanks to Tourism Richmond. This was the perfect little getaway for our family with May being one of the busiest months for us to-date. With plenty of deadlines, birthdays, a trip to Vegas and just life with a toddler it was nice to be able to get away from all the hustle and bustle for those few days!

The River Rock Casino Resort

If you haven’t been to the River Rock before I suggest you make it a must-visit for your next family staycation or overnight outing. Situated right along the Fraser River the views from the boardwalk alone are simply breathtaking! Conveniently located nearly 5 km from Vancouver International Airport, the River Rock which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year offers upscale dining with three on-site restaurants, an indoor pool and hot tub, an award-winning spa, gym and of course a 24-hour casino including live entertainment. Did I mention how close the bus and Skytrain station is too? You will also find FREE parking which when it comes to going anywhere in the Lower Mainland is a big plus.

The highlight from our trip hands down had to be the saltwater pool complete with a whopping 70ft slide and the amazing food. We went to the pool three times on our first night there and we only checked in at 4 pm… so it’s safe to say Ryerson would have swum all night if he had the choice. For us parental units it was all about the food. Anytime we travel or stay overnight I like knowing we have options, but also that those options are actually good quality flavourful dishes. The buffet was West Coast-inspired with options ranging from pasta dishes to the traditional roast carvings and even sushi! Plus they served chicken nuggets and french fries, so that’s a win in my books right there. You’ll also find Curve Lounge where we were fortunate enough to have a family-style brunch the Sunday morning we checked out. If going out isn’t an option with the little ones opt-in for room service where a movie and eating in your pj’s is never a bad thing!

Swimming at River Rock Our suite was very spacious for our family of three, with a queen bed and a sofa bed for the little one. The room also came equipt with a Nespresso machine, free WIFI, a 42-inch TV and complimentary bathrobes. We even had the cutest little personalized welcome gift waiting for us upon arrival. It’s truly the little things that make the trip that much more special.

Finally, no stay at River Rock is complete without a visit to Absolute Spa. Services include manicures, pedicures, massages and more. I chose to pamper myself with a pedicure seeing as we were off to Vegas in a few short weeks. I needed my feet feeling fancy and fresh! Taking some ‘me’ time during a staycation is always imperative for me. A quick break from the family makes me a way better mom and significant other!

Richmond Night Market

Remember how I said everything was in very close proximity to the resort? Well if you’ve ever heard of the Richmond Night Market and were hoping to go – now is the time as they’re literally down the street from one another. The group of us were able to pack up our families and make our way without having to fight for a parking spot. And if you know me you’ll know I have major road rage… so this was super convenient and less anxiety-ridden. Plus it gave me the chance to walk off all the food we consumed.

I had been to the night market years ago when it had a different location, but wow! I can’t even begin to recall all the food that was coming and going but just the experience alone was something to rave about.

Final Thoughts

For those who are looking to take a family staycation for a change of pace The River Rock and Tourism Richmond have you covered! We loved every minute of our time there. It was such a relaxing weekend with just the right amount of busyness added in. We’re already talking about when we’re going back (maybe this time without our kiddo in tow).

A big thank you again to Vancouver Mom, The River Rock Casino and Resort, and last but not least Tourism Richmond for their amazing hospitality and creating some life-long memories for our family! We can’t wait for our next visit!

Family at River Rock Casino

This post was in collaboration with Vancouver Mom, The River Rock Casino and Resort, and Tourism Richmond. All opinions expressed are my own.

Social Media To My Social Circle: Bonds That Mean More Then A Like

November 21, 2017November 20, 2017Business, Kids, Life, Motherhood

We live in a society where we are constantly comparing ourselves to others and basing our self worth on the amount of likes and followers we have on social media. I’ll admit, I have fallen victim to this exact thing. Watching my number rise and decrease as though it actually has an impact on how I live my life… when in reality it means absolutely nothing.

I’ve been in the media and freelance world for almost a decade and jumping into the “blogger” world was something so foreign and unfamiliar to me. I had always written for pleasure, and kept a handful of journals/diaries. But I had never given it a ton of thought that my writing would be put on the internet for other’s to read. So how, and where did I start?

Networking!

The first thing I did was look on my social media channels and analyzed what I thought was “real” and “honest”. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard to know who is genuine and authentic – but you’ll be able to catch on real quick. I’ve been ghosted by other bloggers and met some who have been less then who they portray themselves to be. I’m here to tell you they aren’t all like that. Especially the lovely lady you see in these pictures with me.

Heydy Lopez from Raising Jay & Abel was the first person I reached out to when wanting to take the leap into blogging… and guess what?! Over a year and a half later we’ve become extremely close friends. When we first met it was a brief meeting at Subway. I asked her a handful of questions (I took notes… laugh all you want), and we simply kept in touch after that.

Now you may be thinking, well that’s simple. Yes, and no. Fortunately for me, Heydy and I had a lot in common and were able to relate to each other far beyond a surface level friendship. She has always been someone I look up to and someone who genuinely cares about her family, friends, and the community around her; what you see is what you get!

Collaboration Over Competition

Over the past year, it’s definitely taken me some time to realize and know who exactly is in “my tribe”. The blogger world is cut throat and fierce. At the end of the day it’s nice to be able to rely on those with whom you trust and look up too. I have never felt like lesser of a person because my Instagram following is far more minimal then hers. She is the first one to give me advice, critique me, and offer support where I need it.

At the end of the day I am far more grateful for the friendships I have formed through blogging then anything else. Social media has its ups and downs but the connections that can be made are so valuable and some I’d never thought I’d make if I didn’t venture on this journey.

Photography by: Diana of Happy Bees Events & Studios

{A big thank you to Hunni’s in Langley for providing mine and Heydy’s outfits!}

Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are solely my own. Head to my disclaimer page for more information.

Fresh Prep Review: Making Life Easier for This Single Valley Mom

October 30, 2017October 30, 2017Business, Life, Motherhood

As a mom, yet alone a single, work-from-home mom; meals can be challenging. Especially when you have an almost two year old who is a super picky eater. With there just being the two of us (me not being a great or big eater myself), meal-time is extremely frustrating and painful! Don’t get me wrong, I love to cook. But when it’s just for myself and a little one, what’s the point?

Here’s how it works.

Jump on over to Freshprep.ca, create an account and you’re ready to place your order. You will first select whether you’d like the meals to provide two or four servings and how many you’d like for the week (two, three or four different meals). They also ask for your dietary preference: gluten free, vegetarian, etc. At this point you can have them select the meals for you if you don’t want to sort through the options, or you can modify the order to your specific choices.

When it comes time to cook, everything was washed, prepped, cut up and labeled with directions to follow and a promise (with minute by minute instructions) on how to get the meal on the table within 30 minutes. And sure enough it did. I was amazing at how fresh everything still was – considering I waited a few days to make the first meal.

It was simple and hassle free!

One of the things I really like about this service is that you don’t have to be home to receive the order and you get a notification where the driver is. Is it creepy for me to note, you are actually able to track his driving status? Once they arrive you receive another notice that they’ve delivered your food. The food comes in cooler bags with ice packs allowing it to be left at your doorstep. I loved the fact they were able to communicate exactly where they were and when they left. I didn’t have to be concerned that I was going to miss them or my food never showed up.

Convenience at its finest!

I can’t stress enough how much I enjoyed receiving these meals and cooking them! I tried out the chickpea curry as well as the cauliflower detox bowl. My vegetarian choice was not planned, and I was so surprised how much I enjoyed them. It was nice making something I wouldn’t normally, and not having to waste money on ingredients I wouldn’t normally buy or have too much leftover. Plus you can somewhat tack credit for “making” your meals, right?

It was so much fun being able to have Ry help me out in the kitchen, watch me cook – and not be stressed about it, and if he didn’t eat a ton of his dinner, I wasn’t overly concerned. He tried it and for that, I will call it a win!

If you’d like to try them out, you can use this special link (click here) to get 3 FREE plates with your first order!

Have you tried Fresh Prep or any other meal delivery services? What did you think?

Thank you Fresh Prep for providing the delicious meals featured in this post! All opinions expressed are my own.

It’s My Birthday!

June 21, 2017Life, Motherhood

*Photography done by the lovely: Amber Leigh Photography*

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to… wait… me! (Well a belated, since I am posting this late – my birthday was actually on the 25th of May). I seriously need a good kick in the butt to post things like this on-time!

Yes, you’re reading this correctly, I am indeed another year older today (as of 3:14 pm). How old might you ask? Old enough where I am starting to cringe and not wanting to tell people my age. Many of you will think I am being silly for freaking out about turning 26 – but honestly, I am. It’s partly due to the fact I had hoped I would be married or in a serious relationship by now, possibly having accomplished some big career milestone, or just wanting to have done ‘more’.

Then again, as I reflect back on what this last year has brought and taught me I feel a sense of ease knowing that there are some bigger and better things ahead… or so I’d like to think.

So this time last year I wrote a piece about 25 Dating Do’s & Don’ts I learned by 25, however this year I decided to go a different route. Without further ado – here is my list of 26 things I have learned this past year!

1. Coffee is good all hours of the day.
2. Tea isn’t a replacement for coffee.
3. I really need to start drinking more water.
4. 1 a.m. is a great time to get work done.
5. Trying to eat healthier isn’t as hard as it seems.
6. A good set of nails will class you right up.
7. Eyelash extensions are where it’s at.
8. Throw away your clothes from highschool – they’re not cute anymore, even if they still fit.
9. Having purple hair is awesome – but boy does upkeep suck.
10. Just because I am a mom doesn’t mean I can’t put myself first sometimes.
11. Being sober isn’t uncool.
12. I really don’t see the need to drink alcohol anymore… (I am sure any other mom reading this is going to think I am insane for not wanting a glass of wine when the kid goes to bed).
13. Once you have kids you really see who your true friends are.
14. Everyone is going to have an opinion… take it with a grain of salt.
15. The mom world is way clickier then the “popular” girls in highschool.
16. Tinder sucks.
17. Know how to properly budget and write down your expenses!
18. Comparison is healthy – don’t get caught up in it though.
19. Forgive others on your own time.
20. You’re still going to make huge mistakes.
21. Learn when to disconnect.
22. Continue to ask “why”?
23. A booty call isn’t fun anymore…
24. Stop feeling sorry for yourself.
25. Parts of life aren’t that exciting anymore (yay for motherhood!)
26. Just be you!

All About That Mom-Hustle!

February 14, 2017April 14, 2017Life, Motherhood

Back in late 2016 I was graciously asked and invited to be part of my very first ‘blogger’ photo shoot with another mama and baby duo. The whole theme was around ‘Moms who Hustle’, and being a single mom who works from home, I could definitely relate with the concept behind this shoot.

I will admit I was extremely nervous arriving for hair and makeup the day of. For one, I am far from a model, I have no idea what to do when you say pose (Amber did an amazing job trying to get me to loosen up), and I’m bringing my unpredictable baby (who was just around a year at the time). Sounds like the perfect combination right?

Sure enough the day went a lot better then I had imagined. Not to mention there were a few hiccups and uncooperative moments – but you just go with it, or better yet hand your baby off to the makeup artist – Shayla!

Looking back on this shoot I’ve had a chance to really reflect on what it truly means to hustle. Being a stay at home, single, working parent my days are all over the place. I try and keep my days strictly to Ry and focusing on him and being the best mom I can be. Not to mention how hard it is to type or answer an email when your child is constantly grabbing at the screen! Once Ry is down for the night I am usually able to get some work done. I will admit some nights I don’t get much accomplished. Raising a very active toddler is no easy task and once he’s asleep, sorry, sometimes this mom wants to get some shut eye as well.

For all the moms who work full-time, raise a family, and maintain an active blog – my hats off to you! I’m still trying to find that balance. None the less I am proud to be a hustling mom!

Photos by: Amber Leigh Photography