Just Gabbing - Top 10 Favourites of 2011

I have been meaning to do this all month and I just either never have the time or I have forgotten, so here it is, my Top 10 Favourites that I blogged about in 2011!  These are things that I have actually used that I just could not have lived without this year!

Click on each link to read my original blog on the item!

1.  Boso Buddies (First Year Favourites) - my favourite baby item right now.  I use it at least 4 times a day and get very frustrated when my husband doesn't tie the car seat straps back with it!  :)  Makes life so much easier!

2.  Buggy Bubble (Summer Favourites) - a definite summer must have for babies in their car seats.  I used mine at the zoo and on the beach.  It even fit over my bouncy chair!

3.  Little Monkey Doodles (Canadian Favourites) - I just love the signs that she has created for my kids' doors!

4.  Folding Potty Seat (Bathtime Favourites) - I keep this item in my diaper bag, comes in very handy when you are at a store or someones house who does not have kids.

5.  BabyTrend Sit and Stand Stroller (Other Favourites) - I love this stroller and so do my kids!  Makes getting around with 2 so much easier!

6.  SnuggyBaby Wet Bags (Summer Favourites) - I use these every time we go swimming.  Each member in my family has one!  Fits a large beach towel and your swimsuit!

7.  Etsy (Favourite Websites) - my go to website when I am looking for something in particular that is handmade.  I have made many purchases from here and spend a great deal of my time surfing the different shops!

8.  Wrapeaze (Little Girl Favourites) - perfect for when you are just going from the car to stroller, quick and easy to put on and cute too!

9.  25 Clever Ideas to Make Life Easier (Favourite Tips) - so many great ideas and I still have many to implement in my home!  If only we could all be so organized!

10.  Bath and Body Works Lip gloss (Just for Moms) - I love this lip gloss.  I keep one in my car and one in my diaper bag.  When you just need a hint of something, this is perfect!

So there you have it, my Top 10 of 2011.  What are some of the things on your Top 10?

Looks Good - Kidzikoo

Kidzikoo is an insulated cover that fits most 8-12 oz sippy cups or bottles.  They are made out of neoprene and come in 10 different prints. 

All you have to do is stretch it around the outside of your cup and voila you are ready to go.  (It should be a tight fit so that it won't slip off or be pulled off by your child.)

Some of its features are:
-machine washable, tumble dry low
-keeps cold beverages cold & warm beverages warm
-no more ice cold little hands
-eliminates water rings on your furniture
-soaks up condensation
-soft, squishy, and comfy to hold
-easily identify which bottle/sippy belongs to your child
-protects glass bottles

I know that there are a lot of other similar items out there on the market, but I always love to support a small, mom-owned company!  The kidzikoo sells for $6.99 on their site and according to their site can also be purchased from Winners and Homesnese.

Check them out at Kidzikoo

Favourite Toys - Fisher Price Glow Seahorse

How many of you had a Glow Worm?

Well this is even better!

The Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Soothe and Glow Seahorse, in my opinion, is so much better than a Glow Worm.  First of all it plays for 5 minutes before the music and lights fade out, while the Glow Worm only plays for about a minute.  The Glow Seahorse has 8 different lullabies, while the Glow Worm only has 6.  Also, I think the seahorse is much cuter looking than the worm.  :)

Both start up and shut off with a gentle squeeze, both come in girl and boy styles, and both have two volume levels.

I put Ps in the corner of her crib, give it a squeeze and she looks at it until she falls asleep - perfect!  :)

Both sell for about $19.99 at stores like ToysRUs and Walmart.

If you are looking for a fun take on a classic toy, then I would definitely try this toy out!

Just for Moms - Travel Mug

Being a coffee addict I have tried my share of travel mugs and I think that I have now found "the one".

The Thermos Vacuum Insulated 16 oz Travel Tumbler is "da bomb".  Some of its features are that it is made from unbreakable stainless steel, it is cool to the touch when filled with hot liquids and sweat proof when filled with cold.  The best thing is that it keeps liquids hot for 5 hours and cold for 9 hours.

My hubby had originally picked one up for himself and then for Christmas I got one too!  I love this mug as it keeps my coffee hot FOREVER!  Like many of you, I find with being a mom, I never get to drink my coffee hot, so I have even been using my travel mug at home during the day and then my coffee is hot still hours later.

We got ours at MEC but I am sure that you can find this particular model anywhere.  The sell for about $25.99 but in my opinion they are definitely worth the price!  I have seen them in two colours: black and burnt orange.

Check them out at Thermos

Just Gabbing - PC Organics Baby Food Recall

I am sure that many of you have already heard about this, but thought I would post it just in case.

The recall has been made as The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Loblaw Cos. Ltd. are warning that their food may be "rancid".  Eight different types of baby food have been recalled.  Products in the recall can be returned for refund or exchange.

Read more about this at President's Choice recalled baby food may have gone ‘off’

Just For Moms - PlastiChic

Are you looking for a unique accessory to add to your wardrobe?  Then you definitely have to check out the watches by PlastiChic.

About PlastiChic (from their website):

"PlastiChic created a cultural phenomenon in Italy, with everyone from royalty, sports stars and celebrities wearing their favourite colours and watch styles. Millions of colourful watches were sold throughout Europe and Canada quickly discovered PlastiChic was the next best thing to come out of Italy since the pizza. With huge press coverage in magazines such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and InStyle, PlastiChic continues to cause a fashionable frenzy with 19 different colours and a variety of styles.


These Italian watches are also coated with tourmaline, a mineral that aids in emitting negative ions from the body, which can increase relaxation and reduce stress. Colourful and good for the soul!"

I like my watch as it is easy to put on and take off, it is durable and it is cheap enough that if something happens to it I won't be too upset.  I chose the fuchsia colour pictured above.  The only drawback I have found so far is that the time takes a bit to get used to as the hour is on the top and the minutes below and if you set the month/date option it cycles back and forth from the time to the date.  But after I got used to that I have no complaints!

They come in a variety of funky colours (that remind me of the 80s).  The plain watches sell online for $24.99 and the crystal ones for $29.99.  I purchased mine from one of my discount websites for half of that.
Check their products out at PlastiChic

Looks Good - Mommy Mitten

If you are an avid winter walker then I may just have found the thing for you!

The Mommy Mitten is this contraption that you put on the handlebars of your stroller to keep your hands warm while walking.  It takes the place of wearing gloves or mittens and makes helping out your little one a bit quicker as you don't have anything to take off.

It is fleece lined and water resistant and has a little pocket that you could store things like your cellphone or keys in.  It comes in two colour options: black with pink fleece lining or black with aqua fleece lining.

It costs $29.99 and can be ordered directly from Mommy Mitten.

Just For Moms - YA Fiction

Ever since I read the Twilight Trilogy I have been obsessed with YA Fiction.  A few months ago I blazed through the Hunger Games Trilogy (LOVED THEM!) and have ever since been looking for some more great YA reads.

I feel a little funny perusing the YA section at Chapters, but I just can't seem to get enough of vampires, werewolves, witches and the whole dystopia theme.  That's also what makes having a library card so great!

I am a member of this site Goodreads that helps match you up with books that are similar to the ones that you have read and liked.  All you do is put in some of your faves and then it just "bam" compiles a list of other suggestions for you to read.  Pretty neat!  The site also gives you a quick synopsis of the book plus thousands of ratings and reviews by other people.

On this site I came across two lists that I have started to read from:
Best Books of 2011
YA Novels of 2011

I am currently reading, Divergent by Veronica Roth and City of Bones (Mortal Instruments Book #1) by Cassandra Clare.  So far I am liking both.  Divergent reminds me a lot of the Hunger Games while City of Bones is more about witches and demons.

Do you like to read YA?  What are some of your faves?

Check out the lists above  by clicking on them, and pick a few for yourself!

Feeding Favourites - Baby Food

With H and now with P, I have 2 handy websites that I like to "refer" to when it comes to solid food.  I use the word refer lightly as I didn't follow either exactly but used them as a guideline as to what and how much my kids should be eating as babies.

The first one, which I am sure many of you have already heard of, is called Wholesome Baby Food.  I love this one as it was extremely helpful as a first time mom.  It gave guidelines as to when to start what foods (food charts), how to prepare them, sample day menus and great recipes.  I also like how it stresses that baby should drink their breastmilk/formula first, and then eat, as many moms focus more on the solid foods instead once their child reaches 6 months.  Breastmilk or formula are still the most important thing at this young of an age. (I have created links to each of these sections of their site for your easy reference.)

The second one is kind of dated, from Washtenaw Public Health, but I like the monthly guideline it gives you as to what and how much your little one should be eating.  Again, I didn't follow this to a T, but use both and kind of fall into the middle as to what and how much I am feeding P.

If feeding is a stress for you (as it is for many moms out there) check out these two websites that I find to be very helpful!

Feeding Favourites - Constructive Eating

H got the cutest utensil set for Christmas from my parents, it is made by Constructive Eating.  It is a set of 3 utensils: a "Fork Lift" Fork, a "Bulldozer" Pusher and a "Front Loader" Spoon.  The utensils are PVC free, lightweight, the handles are textured to help with gripping and they are dishwasher safe.  The set of 3 sells online at most stores for about $19.99.

What a great way to get your little guy or gal to stay at the table longer than to give them a set of utensils that are also toys!

H loves his and uses them all of the time.  I really like the idea of the Bulldozer Pusher instead of a knife to start to teach them how to use it to push the food onto their fork. 

You can learn more about these cool utensils by checking out the following onlines stores:

Constructive Eating

Applause Toy Store

They also make a cute girl set as well - Garden Utensils!