Wednesday, December 29, 2010

First Year Favourites - Buggy Bubble Infant Car Seat Cover



Even thought baby #2 isn't due for 6 months, I cannot stop thinking about what I am going to need for this little one. H was born in February (winter) and this one is due in July (summer) so there are a few different things that I am going to need. The one thing I know that I cannot use is my Easy Baby Car seat Cover - that I just loved. It was great for winter, but would be WAY TOO hot for a summer baby. So, tonight I did some hunting online (a favourite past time of mine) to see what I could find. After much searching I came across a very cool product that I am definitely going to be ordering sometime in the near future: Buggy Bubble.

The Buggy Bubble:
-is an all in one weather protection cover
-it fits most infant car seat carriers
-it has a framed enclosure that gives a lot of space for your little one
-it is water resistant and UPF 50+
-it is made out of mesh and therefore has good air circulation
-and more

It would be great for those summer months as it would protect the baby from sun, wind, bugs, etc., and it is also very breathable so I wouldn't be worrying about him/her overheating in it.

You can check out this product on their website at www.buggybubble.com and it is available on there for $29.99 free shipping.

If you have any other great First Year Favourites, please send them my way!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Favourite Books - Alphabet, Heads and Tails by Matthew Van Fleet




Hudson's all time favourite books at the moment are these animal books by Matthew Van Fleet. They have lift the flap pages, moving pages, touch and feel pages and more. These are his go to books and they are so well loved that some parts have actually broken off and we have had to glue them back. They are great for animal recognition as well as colours, textures, etc.

I purchased my first two from Costco, Alphabet and Heads, but for Christmas I picked him up a third, Tails, from Chapters.

If you are looking for a fun animal series, definitely check these ones out! Right now they are 24% off if your purchase them online from Chapters.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Other Favourites - Costco Photo


I have been a Walmart Photo Centre girl for years. I get all of my photos printed there, as well as my yearly calendars and Christmas cards. This year, I decided to try something different and go with Costco.

I am SUPER happy with the results. My cards look great and they were even cheaper than Walmart (Walmart was $24 for 40, while Costco was $19 for 50). The only thing I was upset with was the fact that I had a spelling mistake and put three rs in Merry instead of 2 (that's what you get for doing them on a Sunday night, at 10pm, in a hurry).

I am still waiting to check out my calendars, but so far I feel like I am converting! :)

Christmas Favourite - Elf On The Shelf


Chistine shares a new Christmas favourite of hers, The Elf On The Shelf". It is a book and a figurine in one with a really neat concept.

"The story tells about how Santa sent the Elf to be with the family in the time before Christmas so that the elf can report back to Santa each night on the behaviour of the children in the house. Every night when the family is sleeping, the elf returns to the North Pole to update Santa and the Naughty or Nice status in the household. So, every morning, the elf is in a new place in the house - my son loves running around the house looking for 'Eddie' the elf every morning - once he finds him he says "no touch". The 'no touching rule' is set out in the book because if the children touch the elf, he will lose his magic and won't be able to return to the North Pole. It ends up working to help curb naughty behaviour too - because you can always pull out the "Be good, the elf is watching".
I just went to the website and it is interactive with all kinds of fun things to explore at the North Pole - there is a workshop, Mrs. Claus' kitchen, and a registry so you can officially register your Elf's name (there's a spot in the book to do that too)."

Thanks Christine, what a cute idea. I have been trying to find one here in Barrie and so far no luck. Chapters can order one in for me, but they don't have any in stock. Christine bought hers from Take A Hike in Thunder Bay. You can also purchase them online from their website at www.elfontheshelf.com

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Favourite Tips - Humidifier Season


Christine shares this helpful reminder:

"...since many of us are pulling out our humidifiers in the drier weather, it is a good idea to give them a good cleaning. I just cleaned mine and needless to say, I'm going to purchase a new one - it was so gross; I couldn't even get all the stuff out - blech!"

I hear ya Chris! I try to wipe Hs out (if you can even call it that) after I use it, but it is also looking pretty gross. I wish there was something you could "run through it" to help clean them out. They also have so many hard to reach grooves that make it basically impossible to get into - hopeless! It is especially disappointing if you are like me and went out and purchased a cute one that was a bit more money :)

Thanks for the great reminder!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Favourite Website - Shutterfly


Andrea shares one of her favourite websites:

"I am obsessed with a website called Shutterfly. It is a photography website that allows you to do many things with your photographs. I have made photobooks, calendars and story books with my pics. The photobooks allow you to be very creative with your pics, sort of like scrapbooking online! I have made 4 books for J already and I know these books will be something he will love to look at forever. There are many options for covers and sizes of books. I chose the leather bound books and they are very nice. For Christmas I created a family calendar and a desk calendar for my husband, all full of pics of J. One of the fun features of the family calendar is it allows you to download pics of family members and friends and print them on the calendar date of their birthday. Great for kids who can't read yet. For Christmas this year, I created two storybooks for my 3 year old nephews. One is a Diego Adventure and the other is a Sesame Street Adventure. In these books your child's name and pictures are part of the book. Again, a great gift that kids will enjoy for a long time. I find that this website is very easy to use and they always have sales. Unfortunately the shipping sales only apply to the United States but the other sales apply to all. Check it out! It's a fun website."

Thanks Andrea, I have had NO time for scrapbooking, but perhaps this is another option. Will definitely check it out!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Winter Favourites - Christmas Light Spotting


Heather E shares on her family's favourite winter pastimes:

"...a fun activity when driving in the evening is light spotting - we count how many houses are lit up, rate how 'big' the display is, and comment on the colours...so practice colours, counting, etc."

Great idea Heather! H loves to look at the lights too! We will be going for lots of drives this season to check them out for sure!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Favourite Tips - Making Your Child's Bed


Kit shares this great time saving tip:

"When you make your child's bed put a mattress cover, a sheet, another mattress cover and another sheet on it. That way if there are any accidents / mishaps during the night all you need to do is take off the dirty sheet and the cover and you have a fresh clean bed, your baby/child can go back to bed faster and you don't have to run around finding clean sheets in the middle of the night."

What a great idea, Kit! Definitely a time saver! I am going to do that as soon as we move H into his big boy bed! I hate getting up in the middle of the night and anything that can make it smoother and quicker is worth it for me! Thanks!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Winter Favourites - Personalized Christmas Stories


A friend passed this link on to me where you can create personalized Christmas stories that you can print off for your little one.

They just need a few minor details to add to the story (they don't save any of the info) you hit create and it is ready to go.

It is a cute idea and even something you could send to them from Santa.

Check them out at www.northpole.com/Den/PersonalizedStories

**There are also a lot of other neat things that you can do on this website**

Favourite Websites - Baby Wit


Remember those skull shoes that I just couldn't live without? Well they finally arrived, but unfortunately there was a small mixup and I was sent the wrong pair. I politely emailed the company (hey, mistakes happen) and they got back to me telling me to keep the incorrect pair and that they were sending me the correct ones right away! So now I have 2 pairs of skull shoes for the price of one! What great customer service!

Please check out their website www.babywit.com - they have a variety of funky and unique items for babies, toddlers, kids, men, women and dogs! They offer things that I have never seen anywhere else! Lots of vintage and rock apparel, toys, shoes - you name it!

I am so happy with how my order was dealt with that I cannot wait to order from them again! Their shipping was also reasonable and my order arrived promptly!

Thanks Baby Wit!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Bathtime Favourites - Alex Toys



Just last week, we decided it was time to replace some of Hs old bath toys (they were looking a bit moldy). I picked up the following two bath toys (both made by Alex Toys) and he LOVES them!

1. Rub A Dub Hoops In The Tub - it is a net that suctions onto the side of the tub. It comes with three squirting balls and the mesh net does not have an opening so the balls stay put.

2. Magnetic Boats In The Tub - this is a set of three soft vinyl boats that can either be played with separately or chained (magnetized) together as a set of three. They float great and don't have any openings where they can take on water. The magnets are all inside of the boats, so there is no worry about them getting loose or rusting either.

They both were fairly reasonable and totally worth it as they have already given H tons of fun in the tub!

Check them and other bath toys out at www.alextoys.com/category/62460/Bath

Monday, November 15, 2010

Pregnancy Favourites - Babytones


Just the other day I remembered one of the things that I just couldn't have lived without while I was pregnant - my fetal doppler that I rented from Babytones.ca

Now, you may be asking yourself, what? So I will explain.

I was very nervous and anxious during my pregnancy and was constantly worried that there was something wrong with the baby, so I found this company online that rented out fetal dopplers. This way, I could listen to the baby's heartbeat whenever I wanted, instead of either a) stressing myself out or b) having my husband take me to emerg every time I thought there was something wrong.

Babytones is a Canadian company that is based out of Toronto. They rent their dopplers by the month and their usual rate is $49.95/mth, but the longer you rent it for the better the savings. It is shipped to you within 2-3 days and comes in its own carrying case with a tube of ultrasound gel as well. Shipping is a flat rate of $19 across Canada, $12 across Ontario.

I kept my doppler for quite a few months up until I could feel the baby move quite often. It was peace of mind for me!

Even a few other moms that I know have rented one themselves after hearing about it from me.

If you are an expecting mom, and a nervous one like I was, I would highly recommend getting one yourself!

Check them out at www.babytones.ca

Right now they have a special where their monthly rate has been dropped to $37.50!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Favourite Snack - Mini Wheats


Right now, my little Hs favourite snack is Mini-Wheats. He asks for them ALL of the time, breakfast, snack and even tonight for dinner! He likes them dry and with milk. Currently, his faves are the Blueberry Muffin and the Strawberry flavours. We have also tried the Little Bites and he likes those too, but we keep the original size ones in the house for us, so we just cut them in half for him. We think that they must be somewhat healthy (and fibrous).

If you are looking for a new snack, I would highly suggest trying these!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Stonz Mitts on Sale

I was just on the Stonz website and they have their mitts on sale right now for 15% off for a limited time.

Toddler Favourites - Me in Mind Shoes


OK, so many of you have heard about my small obsession with dressing H in skull apparel. (I just love anything that has skulls on it!)

So, awhile ago I purchased him these cute pair of slippers from one of my baby discount websites and I fell in love with them. They are soft, yet have a bit of a sole (unlike Robeez) they are easy to put on and one other thing that I didn't realize when I purchased them - they are vegan construction (no leather used).

The company sells boys/girls footwear, and some clothing and accessories. I am not a big fan of really any of their other products, but I do LOVE these shoes.

If you are into the "rocker" kind of stuff for your little one, give their website a check at www.meinmindfootwear.com

FYI - I just ordered H a bigger pair and their shipping is outrageous ($!7)! I found the shoes I liked from another online store and the shipping was only $3, so if you find something you like try to see if another store sells the me in mind product. I got mine from www.babywit.com which is another cool online store that sells very unique items.

Looking For - A Good Parenting Book



Hello there mommies! I have a friend who is looking for a good parenting book with suggestions/advice for things like fighting with siblings, biting, hitting, tantrums, increasing confidence, teaching morals, etc. I know of Barbara Coloroso, but who else is out there?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Favourite Books -



Andria shares some of her little ones (and hers) favourite books:

1. A Busy Bugz Pop UP Books Series. www.busybugz.com
From their site:

"The Eight books of the core range: Buzz off I'm Busy, When I'm Big, Mayday to the Rescue, In a Spin, Home Sweet Home, Sparkles in the Dark, Toolbox Trouble and Sarge in Charge!"

2. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler
Chapters WriteUp:

"A gruffalo? What`s a gruffalo?" "A gruffalo! Why, didn`t you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws." And so begins the story of a quick-witted mouse as he encounters a host of predators who seem to think he might make a tasty treat. As he ventures deeper into the deep dark wood, stumbling across a hungry fox, a not-so-wise owl, and a slimy snake, spinning ever-extraordinary yarns about the scary, scaly gruffalo, he quickly realises that the hungry beast he has been talking of isn`t imaginary after all. A witty, sly little story that wrings giggles from the belly of the reader, The Gruffalo is both stylish and hilarious, simple in its execution, as it plays skilfully on a child`s fears and then shows that even the most threatening of monsters are not always as scary as they seem."

I am familiar with both of those books and they are great Andria. I don't have either but am going to add them to H's book list.

Thanks for sharing!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Favourite Snacks - Cookie Cutter Jam Sandwiches and More



Lana shares:

"L is starting to really like jam sandwiches cut into a shape with a cookie cutter. She picks the cutter - and we make the shape together...I even had her try pb and banana. Another fave is mini muffins."

Thanks, Lana, those are great ideas! I will try and give those a go soon! H is pretty stuck on his usual: crackers, cookies, yogurt, craisins, etc. It would be really nice to try some different things.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Winter Favourites - Stonz Boots




Allyson sent me this awhile ago, but I thought I would hold off on it until the snow was closer. We had snow here in Barrie last week, so I guess it is time.

Another one of her faves are:

"Stonz - going on the same advice of my chiropractor, she recommended these 'boots' for P's first winter. Most boots are too bulky and cumbersome. A new walker generally can't walk in his/her first winter boots, making outings very frustrating. These thinly lined covers, fit over the child's shoes or booties with a very thin tread to keep them from slipping. The top closes with a drawstring."

Thanks Allyson, I saw these last year and really thought about them, but H wasn't even close to walking yet so I was unsure.

I was just on their website and they offer a lot of other items other than just boots. The mitts look really cool too! Two other perks are that they are a Canadian company (which is also nice to support) and shipping is free too if your order is more than $50.

Check out their products at http://www.stonzwear.com/default.aspx?

Monday, October 25, 2010

First Year Favourites - Easy Cover Infant Carseat Cover


Just the other day a friend of mine was asking if I used a snowsuit that first winter with H when he was just first born. I had to really think about what I did. I knew that I bought him a snowsuit his second winter, but I couldn't, for some reason, recall what I used for everyday transporting to here and there in the car when he was first born. Then it hit me - how could I forget one of the best inventions yet? I had an Easy Cover!

The Easy Cover is this great contraption that goes OVER your baby carseat. It is quilted for warmth and has this peek-a-boo opening that you can open for baby to see out or close to protect them from those winter elements. It also had two zippers which made the opening bigger which helped with getting your little one in and out of the carseat. It also has a safe backless design so there is no chance of movement inside of the carseat and it is recommended by Keepsafe Canada. Another great feature is it machine washable. It comes in blue, black, hot pink and light grey.

We LOVED ours and have even lent it out now to two friends!

If you need something to keep your little one warm this winter season and do not want to attempt a snowsuit for trips to the grocery store or friends pick one of these up.

I purchased mine from Serenity Birth Studio here in Barrie, but I am sure you can find them online as well!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Favourite Updates - Mabel's Labels and Dapper Snappers



I just wanted to update you on two products that I had recently mentioned on the site, but have just recently purchased.

I love, love, love my Mabel's Labels. I especially like them for H's sippy cups as I send one with him to daycare and some of the other little ones have the same one so the label makes it easy for my daycare provider to figure out whose is whose. I have put my cups in the dishwasher many times already and the labels look just like they did when I first put them on. I bought them in a multi-pack that also came with labels for shoes, clothing and some bag tags. LOVE THEM!
www.mabel.ca

The other product is Dapper Snappers. They are sort of belt that just loops around the back of a pair of pants. They make changing much easier than using a belt as there is no undoing in the front. H is a tiny guy so these come in very handy as most of his jeans are too big in the waist. I think that this is a great idea and will especially come in handy when we are potty training as a belt would make it difficult for both of us to undo in time.
www.dappersnappers.com

Check both of these products out!

Favourite Snacks - Veggies and Hummus


Heather E shares on of her little guy's favourite snacks:

"For the best snack ever (lots of 'yum' and healthy too!): veggies and hummus. No brand, but it ensures that even if he fills up on snacktime, he's getting his vitamins and protein!"

I love HUMMUS, and decided to try this with H the other day but sadly it was a no go. Now it was a roasted red pepper hummus, so I might try something a bit blander. I think it is a super snack and I agree - a great way to get in some protein as our little ones often don't eat a lot of meat.

Thanks Heather, I will keep trying with H until he likes it!

Don't forget to send me your little ones' favourites, moms!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Other Favourites - Frozen Dinners, Sports Pants and Flushable Wipes




Heather M shares some more of her favourites:

"-Frozen prepared meals and chicken divan (recipe is on the low fat cream of brocolli soup)
-Sports pants from Bonnie togs for boys- $12 a pair with a drawstring for the skinny kids
-Flushable wipes, just trust me on this one, doesn't matter the brand or make, the cheaper the better, life is just better with them..."

Heather these all sound like great favourites that will make any mom's day so much easier! Thanks for the great tips, I will definitely be checking them out!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Favourite Toys - Melissa and Doug Play Food




Lana shares:

"Melissa and Doug Play food - especially the Ice Cream set. L loves it! She takes your order, sometimes charges you money for it, and brings you your ice cream as requested. All of the food is good quality and leads to hours of imagination and fun. I purchased the cookie set for her for Christmas and there is also a pizza set that's on my list too!"

Lana, the Ice Cream set must be a hit, another mom mentioned it as well. I have also heard of the cookie set. It is so neat when they can pretend play like that and make real world connections. Those are great ideas for Christmas and good for either gender. Melissa and Doug make great toys and are a definite Mommy Favourite! They can be purchased from many toy stores and even online.

Check out their products at http://www.melissaanddoug.com

Thanks for sharing, Lana!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Other Favourites - MagZ BagZ




Maureen shares:

"I Love my Magz Bagz Bag... great fabrics, and totally functional".

I have to be honest, but I had no idea what this was when Maureen first sent it to me. My first reaction was that it was one of those bags made out of recycled magazines or something?? But after checking out their website, I instantly fell in love at first sight. The patterns and colours are AMAZING and that was even before I read that they are:

•Hand crafted in Canada
•Designer fabric throughout
•Laminated 100% cotton fabric
•Mildew (anti-microbial) resistant
•UV inhibitors built-in to lengthen the life of your bag
•Spills and dirt easily wiped away with a wet cloth

The bags come in three different styles: Backpack, Sling and Messenger. From here you can choose from a variety of fabrics, designs and colours. They range in price from $75 to $115.

After spending a bit more time on their website I learned that they must be a very popular product as many fabrics are currently sold out. Good for them; bad for us!

They also offer some other accessories such as a diaper pouch or change pad.

The line seems to be geared towards new moms and diaper bags, but I can see you using this bag after as well.

Check out their cool bags at http://www.magz-bagz.com

Friday, October 8, 2010

Bathtime Favourites - Boon Bath Goods


Kim shares:

"Boon Bath Goods - they are great little foam shapes that stick on the bath tub or the wall when wet. Also it comes with a little scrubber and some floating balls. A loved arranging them and catching them when they floated in the water."

Thanks Kim, I am somewhat familiar with Boon as they make that cute Frog that suctions to your tub and holds your bath toys. I have yet to buy it, but it sure looks cute!

Their website says that Bath Goods are a collection of fifteen bath appliques, 3 balls and two mini-scrubbies. They do not absorb water which therefore reduces the risk of mold and mildew. Sounds pretty neat to me! I know that I constantly squeeze out all of the water in H's bath toys EVERY NIGHT and then worry about what is growing inside of them - so these would be a good alternative.

Toys R Us sell a lot of the Boon products, but I am not sure that they sell this particular one.

If you are looking for some modern designer bath toys - pick this cool pack up for your little one's bath!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Toddler Favourites - Grab A Scab





I saw this today on one of my discount websites and decided to post it right away (in front of all the others that you wonderful ladies have sent me) before I forget it.

Grab A Scab is a Canadian company that makes fabric sticker patches that come in a variety of colours and designs. They can go on just about anything and are said to be very durable and machine washable. They just stick on, so there is no worrying about ironing or sewing like the patches we are familiar with. They offer a few different collections: Original, Button, Allergy, Safety and Mini Monster. They even custom make scabs for teams or organizations!

Some neat features I found while checking our their site are:
-the allergy ones alert that your child has a food allergy so they would be good to put on your child's lunch bag
-the safety ones are reflective so they would be good for bikes and outdoor clothing
-the more you buy the cheaper they are (e.g., 1 scab is $6.99, while 2 are $11.99, 5 are $27.50 and so on)

Check out their products at www.grabascab.com

They are a pretty neat idea!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Toddler Favourites - Hatley Raincoats



One of Heather E's faves are Hatley raincoats.

"They are great for fall/spring. Completely waterproof, terry-cloth lined, and super-duper cute. R's has brown and black dogs sailing, my nieces' have apples and flowers."

Heather I love the Hatley stuff, especially the raincoats! They have such cute designs and lots of selection. They even have coordinating rain boots and umbrellas to match! This may be something that we ask Nana to get H for Christmas!

Hatley products can be found in many gift shop type of stores and they also sell their stuff online (my favourite way of shopping).

I actually have been searching EVERYWHERE for this one T-Shirt that they make, it is a bear skull and crossbones, but have yet to find it. (Keep at eye out for it please, mommies!)

Check out their products at www.hatleystore.com

Friday, October 1, 2010

Just for Moms - Wine, wine and wine




One of Heather M's favourites that she sent me was:

Peller Estates Cabernet Merlot, a lovely yet inexpensive wine less than $ 15 a bottle. I have tried this wine, Heather, and it is quite yummy! Peller Estates is an Ontario winery.

From their website this wine is described as, "Juicy red and black berry flavours with a touch of spice fill the mouth and carry through on the finish. A great medium-bodied sipping wine."

Bruce and I have been trying a lot of different reds lately and two that I really like and are also inexpensive are:

Fuzion - Shiraz: this is a wine from Argentina and is described as, "aromas of crushed berries and spice; dry medium-bodied, flavours of candied berries and black pepper."

Open - Cabernet Merlot. Open is an Ontario wine and has been described as, "red currant, earth and cocoa powder; light bodied". This one is my top fave at the moment!

The only downfall with these wines is I find that they need to be drank quickly as they have a short length - but who can have just one glass?

What is your favourite wine?
Check these wines out if you like a good red!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Other Favourite - Camilia Teething Relief


Jaana shares:

"My favourite medicine for teething pain is Camilia. It is homeopathic and it comes as a box of 30 drinkable 1 ml unit-doses. I love, love, love this stuff as it has really worked for J and it is so handy and easy to use. he willingly opens his mouth to drink it. You can find it at Wal-Mart, Zehr's, Superstore, Amazon, etc."

Camilia is made by a company by Boiron and after some web searching all say that it is perfectly safe and recommended by many doctors.

Thanks Jaana, I have never heard of the stuff, but have been going through some awful teething with H so I will definitely give it a try.