Mountain Grown, Mountain Fresh ~ GIVEAWAY!

I may be a prairie girl at heart, but I have spent some time in the Canadian Rockies. Nothing beats the freshness of the amazing nature all around. The mountain streams and fresh air are just a few of the things that make the mountains beautiful.

Mountain Sky is one company that is determined to take the best that nature has to offer, without harming it in the process. Offering amazing natural soaps and incredibly scented natural lip balms, this is definitely a company that I have fallen in love with!

I was sent 2 different soaps and 2 different lip balms to try out. The soaps are Citrus Bliss and Natural-Unscented Liquid Castile Soaps. First of all, I am a natural kinda girl when it comes to skin care. I usually go with unscented, because of my super sensitive skin. I'm really really loving this soap! It's very concentrated, so you can choose to dilute it in a separate bottle if you wish. I just squirt a tiny bit on my hands when I use it. You can dilute it even more and use it for a baby wash as well. They have some great instructions on the website for how to dilute for different purposes.

The Citrus Bliss soap smells absolutely YUMMY!! The scent is so fresh. I did find it to be a little more drying on my hands than the natural soap, but seriously, my skin is so sensitive, I'm not surprised.

I am equally as impressed with the lip balms! If I said that the Citrus Bliss soap smells yummy, well, the Love Thy Lips lip balms are incredibly more yummy smelling! I got to give Mint and Raspberry a try. Raspberry is definitely my favorite. The lip balm goes on smooth and keeps your lips moisturized for hours. Love it!

Mountain Sky has some great videos on their website, talking about the difference between their soaps and some other leading 'Natural' brands out there. Some very interesting information. I encourage you all to check it out. You might be surprised!

WIN IT!
Mountain Sky has offered to give on lucky Glimpse reader a bottle of their Natural Liquid Soap, as well as one Love Thy Lips lip balm! For one entry, go watch the videos on their website and tell me one thing you learned from watching.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
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CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA ONLY! Contest ends on May 14, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

Shape it, Bake it, Eat it!

Playdough is a HUGE hit with kids, and Tate and Emily are no exception! They could make almost an endless supply of noodles and ice cream cones and waffles with their playdough...and well, sometimes they try to eat them too. Ugh! Let's just say that playdough ice cream cones taste nothing like the real thing! :) Mrs. Tiggy Winkles is a fantastic Canadian online toy store where you can find all sorts of great products! They sent Tate and Emily a box of Yummy Dough...it's like playdough, except you can EAT IT! And it even tastes good. :) How does it work? Well, it is a unique baking mix to which you add water and it will magically become playdough for your kids. There are four different colors enclosed (or to make more just mix the colors together!) and your childrens' imaginations are the limit as to what they create with their Yummy Dough. Besides the fact that Yummy Dough is a great way to keep your kids busy and to inspire their imaginations, I have a feeling that the best part for most kids will be when they get to bake and EAT it as a treat. Tate and Emily love eating treats that they've created with their own hands - there's just something extra special about it. The Yummy Dough is a great activity for a rainy day, or even for a birthday party activity. Kids will love it, so be sure to head over and take a peek!

Mrs. Tiggy Winkle's also carries a HUGE selection of other quality, unique and educational toys for all ages! You'll find brand name toys like Thomas Railway sets, LEGO and loads more. There's musical toys, bath toys, games and so much more. They've done their work well and have searched out and provided you with toys that will be both meaningful and fun!

BUY IT!
Mrs. Tiggy Winkles is offering all our readers a 20% rebate on the Yummy Dough product mentioned above. Simply mention in the "Special Instructions" during checkout that you read about "Yummy Dough" on your Glimpse and the discount will be applied. No expiry date.

Go Ape to Zebra! GIVEAWAY!!

I've been noticing lately that the toys my kids play with the most are the ones that are versatile to be used in many different activities, in many different ways; toys that stimulate their creativity and fit the imaginary moment. I've always liked toys that made kids think while they're playing.

When I came across the toy shop Ape to Zebra, I was delighted! They have a great selection of toys – for all ages and developmental stages, from a wide variety of manufacturers. What I was really excited about was all the wooden toys they carry! They have their toys categorized by age, by manufacturer, by country of production and by theme. There are so many ways to find what you're looking for.

Ape to Zebra sent Jonathan and Daniel a Wooden Rainbow Rings set made by Grimm Spiel und Holz. There are 12 wooden rings, all different colours, all nesting together. They can make a tunnel, be stacked in different ways, used as an experiment in balancing – every time the kids play with them they're doing something different! The rings are well-made, smooth (no sharp edges or corners) and are painted with water-based dyes. And the colours are vivid and beautiful – the rainbow rings set often sits on one of the tables in the living room as decoration – especially now that all the real decor items have been put away until they're no longer endangered! :)

Take a look around Ape to Zebra's collection – you're sure to find a great new toy for your kids, grandkids, etc!

WIN IT!

Ape to Zebra is offering 1 Glimpse reader a $50 gift certificate to their shop! What a great prize! To enter, visit Ape to Zebra and comment below on something you would buy.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.

• Become a fan of Ape to Zebra on Facebook
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CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA AND USA! Contest ends on May 12, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

Winner!

The winner of 2 $50 gift cards in the Royale Reno-cation contest is:

comment #44: Sandra

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to contact me before a new winner is chosen!

Cooking in Style!

In our house, cooking and baking are VERY important. I cannot do any cooking or baking in the kitchen without my 2 little helpers. :) And even when I'm not preparing any food you can often find them cooking up some lasagna or soup in their own little kitchen. Emily has been especially fond of cooking up special dishes for her babies recently...and it's so cute! :) What makes her even cuter though is when she's wearing her adorable Reversible Apron from SquidKid Design! This apron was made for especially for little girls and not only does it suit their fun and whimsical personalities, but it's got all the things a girl needs - sparkles on the trim, four pockets to hold all their treasure and as I mentioned before, it's reversible, so that means 2 aprons in one! SquidKid has also included a few extra goodies along with the apron. Every little cook gets a matching oven mitt and a bamboo spoon and fork to aid in their cooking adventures. Emily loves her little chef's set from SquidKid and I'm sure it will be treasured for many years to come!

SquidKid's products are all handmade and are as fun and as cute as can be. The quality is unbeatable too. Head over and check out their great line of products - you won't regret it! (P.S. New products are going to be added soon too so make sure to check back for those as well!)

BUY IT!
SquidKid Design is offering all our readers a great discount! Use the coupon code: GLIMPSE for a 15% discount on your purchases. In order to redeem the coupon simple email SquidKid after you place an order (include the coupon code and order info. in your email) and you'll be refunded the 15% off your order. Expires on September 25, 2010.

Winner!

The winner of 2 beautiful Handpainted letters from Creations Elin is:

Comment #68 - Misfit Mommy aka Missy

Congrats! You'll have 72 hours to contact me before a new winner is chosen.

WINNER!

The winner of the $25 Gift Certificate to the Spa Sisters is:

Comment #87: Andrea

Congrats Andrea!! You now have 72 hours to get back to me and claim your prize!

stacey.glimpse[at]gmail.com

Chic to Cheek to Hemp ~ GIVEAWAY!

Diapers...something that all moms use! Whether they be disposable or cloth, diapers are used all over the world. Personally? We love cloth! They HAVE to be more comfortable...and better for baby too. We've used cloth diapers most of the time for both of our kids and are planning to do the same with baby #3. But when it comes to cloth diapers there are just SO many different styles and varieties out there...and I know that it's hard for a busy mom to sit down and find time to find the perfect cloth diaper. Well, to give you a head start, let me tell you about Chic to Cheek who recently sent us a fabulous one-sized Organic Hemp Diaper that really does an amazing job! As I said, this is a one-size, all in one cloth diaper - so it will fit your child from newborn to toddler-hood. Emily is 2 years old and we've been using this diaper with her during the night. Not only does it fit her nice and snug, but it's very absorbent and so far we've had zero leaks! There are three rows of snaps on the front where you can adjust the diaper to make it the right size for any child. In addition, it comes with 2 different sized soakers - one for newborns and a larger one for older children. They simply snap in and are extremely easy to use. The soakers are made from organic hemp fleece which is MUCH more absorbant than microfleece or any of the normal soakers you'll find in a lot of cloth diapers. Plus, it is soft and safe to use next to your babies delicate skin. We definitely give the Organic Hemp Diaper a double thumbs up in our home and would gladly add more of these to our cloth diaper collection! :)

Chic to Cheek offers a lot more than just cloth diapers! If you're not in the cloth diapering stage (or just haven't been converted to the world of cloth diapers yet ;) ), there is still a LOT of other eco-friendly products that I'm sure you'll find useful and practical for your home. You'll find great products ranging from custom bedding to baby slings. All the products at Chic to Cheek are either handmade or else manufactured right here in Canada and you'll find that the quality and style are impeccable!

WIN IT!
Chic to Cheek is giving one of our readers one free cloth diaper of their choice (AIO,
one-size, or fitted). In order to get one entry, head over to Chic to Cheek and let us know which diaper you'd choose if you won.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Follow Chic to Cheek on Twitter
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CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA AND USA! Contest ends on May 10, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

Snug as a Bug in a Rug (Duvet)!

In our quest to find more natural products to use at home, especially for our kids, we started looking at our bedding.  We were so pleased when we found Snug as a Bug Organic Baby Bedding. They use fabrics that are sourced locally and their products are made from chemical-free fabrics that are grown using sustainable, fair trade methods. Their current, really cute, designs are printed with water-based dyes and proudly designed, printed and made locally in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The prints are so fun – I was really pleased to find something with a design, but not licensed characters, as so much of the organic fabric is beige.

This company was born out of a mother's desire for organic cotton baby bedding for her son suffering from eczema.  Also on the team is another mother looking to reduce environmental triggers of her children's asthma. With 2 kids with eczema, and 1 diagnosed with asthma myself, I can certainly relate to helping them be as healthy as possible, and it seems like natural products are the way to go.

Daniel received an Organic Duvet Cover to try and was so excited to go to sleep the first night – he was trying to climb IN his crib all by himself! :) He has never been that enthusiastic for sleep! :) I think he realized that he was just like the rest of us – he had a duvet too! The print is called Little Bit of Whimsy Turquoise, and would be suitable for either a boy or a girl. A really great feature is the snaps at the opening – the opening is big enough to easily stuff the duvet in, and the snaps help to keep it in (something our queen-sized duvet cover is missing!) It's so cozy, he'll be taking it with him when he upgrades to a toddler bed sometime later this year.

He also received a Pale Aqua fitted crib sheet, made from organic cotton and bamboo. It is so soft, stretches nicely around his crib mattress and coordinates well with the turquoise flowers on the duvet cover.  Both items wash great – it's recommended to wash them in cold water and line dry for environmental reasons, but they can be washed in warm water and dried in the dryer if you wish.

Snug as a Bug offers many other baby bedding products – and I can hardly wait until they offer twin-sized bedding for bigger kids as well! :) Check out what they have to offer on their website.

BUY IT!

Snug as a Bug Organic Baby Bedding has graciously offered Glimpse readers a generous 20% discount! Use the coupon code GLIMPSE at checkout.

Diapers for Your Sweet Pea ~ Giveaway!!

There is no shortage of options when it comes to pocket diapers these days, but the price can often deter those who would otherwise give cloth diapers a try. Let's face it, most people are looking for simplicity and ease of use, and pockets offer both. Especially one size pockets.

Bush Babies is a wonderful shop, based in North Bay, Ontario, that offers a great one size pocket diaper. The Sweet Pea diaper is affordable and a great option for those that want to give cloth diapers a try. For just $15.95, you can have a one size pocket diaper that comes with two microfiber inserts. This makes it very versatile. One of the inserts is small, so that it works well when the diaper is snapped down for a small baby. The other insert is longer for when you have an older child. You can use both for those times when you need a little extra absorbency.

I have been using this diaper on Emery, who is now just over 11 pounds. I don't think you can use it on a baby much smaller than her, as I have it snapped as small as it can go, but it should fit her for a long long time!

The absorbency is great as a day time diaper, but I'm not sure I'd trust it for extended periods of time, or overnight. I would want to add another insert. Keep in mind that I'm only using the smaller insert, since the diaper is snapped to the smallest setting. I do love how trim it is under clothing though, so I don't mind changing her often.

Bush Babies has a ton of other great products available. From natural skin care items, to adorable sunglasses, and awesome baby toys, I think every mother could find something they need at Bush Babies. I know I have my eye on these stainless steel cereal bowls!

WIN IT!
Bush Babies has generously offered to send a Sweet Pea One Size Pocket Diaper to one lucky winner! To enter, please check out their website and let me know what other products interest you.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.

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CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA AND USA! Contest ends on May 7, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

A Sleek, Safe Meal ~ GIVEAWAY!

Eating healthy is a great habit to get into! Especially when you have kids - I believe that giving them a good start and getting them eating healthy foods right from the get-go is very important. But what about what they are eating off of? I'd say that the majority of parents give their kids plastic bowls and plates to eat their food off of...and I'm included in this! Plastic bowls, plates and cups for kids are filling up my kitchen cupboards. Of course our main reason for using plastic is because it's doesn't break like all our glass plates and dishes would if they were dropped or thrown on the floor. Lavish & Lime recently presented us with an alternative to both plastic and glass though - one that I'd never really thought of before for kids dishes - stainless steel. We now own our very first Stainless Steel Children's Food Tray and it is wonderful! It's 100% non-toxic and safe...no leaching plastics or harmful chemicals in this plate! Besides the fact that it is safe, we also love that it is VERY durable, and will definitely not crack or break. Plus, it looks really sleek too. ;) This stainless steel plate is divided into three section for different types of foods and has higher edges to help keep the food on the plate. It has been a great addition to our dinner table!

Lavish & Lime's online shop is FILLED with a huge selection of eco-friendly products for the entire family. I can guarantee you that you'll find all sorts of neat things - stuff that is both useful and practical AND safe for you and the environment. (P.S. Did you know that it's Earth Day today? Why not visit Lavish & Lime and celebrate our earth and do a little extra to take care of it too! :) ).

WIN IT!
Lavish & Lime is giving one of our readers a $25 credit to their store! (the $25 does not include shipping) In order to receive one entry, head over to Lavish & Lime and let us know which one of their great eco-friendly products you loved the most.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Become a fan of Lavish & Lime on Facebook (2 EXTRA ENTRIES! Please leave TWO separate comments if you complete this task)
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CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA AND USA! Contest ends on May 6, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

BUY IT!
Lavish & Lime is also offering a ONE DAY discount for Earth Day. Take 20% OFF any order, any size with their one day only Earth Day Special. Use code EARTHDAY. Expires midnight PST April 22nd. Cannot be combined with another offer.

Winner!

The winner of a $20 GC from NoPlastic.ca is:

Comment #63 - stephy905

Congrats! You'll have 72 hours to contact me before a new winner is chosen.

GREEN Tea for Earth Day!

It seems to be harder and harder to find toys that are creative and multi-purpose, not licenced, or noise-making! At least, in the supermarkets, department stores and big-name toy stores. Fortunately there are a few toy stores that specialize in high-quality toys that inspire creative play. Bumblebee Toys is one of those! Everything they carry has been specially selected to bring lots of fun for kids, be durable and well-made – play-things that kids will go back to over and over again. Most of their toys are made from natural materials; anything plastic is guaranteed PVC-free and safety-inspected.

Jonathan and Daniel were sent a Green Toys Tea Set. They both love making and pouring tea, and serving tea and “snacks” to their “visitors!”  It has been great to see them play TOGETHER for a while, both keeping up the imaginative play! The Tea Set includes a tea pot with lid, a sugar bowl with lid, a cream jug, 4 cups, 4 sauces and 4 teaspoons. You should see them stirring their brews! :)

The tea set components are made from fun colours and are very sturdy – they've survived a few falls from the table onto our tiled kitchen floor (many other things have broken under such treatment). Designed with no external coatings, eliminating the fear of lead paint, the tea set comes packaged in only recycled cardboard.

Something special about Green Toys: all their toys are made from environmentally friendly materials (recycled plastic milk jugs), and contain no BPA or phthalates, helping reduce fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions – GREEN all around!

Just in time for Earth Day, Bumblebee Toys has a couple of great promotions for Glimpse readers!

WIN IT!

One lucky Glimpse reader will win a Green Toys Tea Set from Bumblebee Toys! To enter, visit Bumblebee Toys and comment here on your favourite item!

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.

• Become a Fan of Bumblebee Toys on Facebook
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• Fill out Bumblebee Toys' survey (by doing this you also can a chance to win another item, plus get a 5% coupon code)
• Subscribe to Bumblebee Toys' newsletter from their website
• Blog about Bumblebee Toys' website or the contest
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• Grab our button
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CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA AND USA! Contest ends on May 5, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

BUY IT!

Bumblebee Toys is offering Glimpse readers a 5% discount. Use the code GLIMPSE2010. Offer valid until September 1, 2010.

Sing a Starry Melody

Never did I think that'd I'd be a "dress-loving" mom. :) But since having Emily, I have changed my mind 100%, and although I still don't love to wear dresses, I sure love having a little girl who loves to wear dresses! It's so fun to find dresses for Emily that are fun, unique, one of a kind...and beautiful too of course. :) There's a wonderful little etsy shop that we recently discovered...Sing Me A Melody. Her shop is filled with fabulous handmade dresses that are 110% unique! They are simple, but beautiful and I love the fabrics that she chooses to use - they are so fun! Emily got a beautiful purple dress...filled with stars and starry swirls from space. As I said, you won't be finding a dress like this in Wal-mart anytime soon. :)

In addition to being adorable, all the dresses from Sing Me a Melody are handmade with care from 100% cotton fabric and are pre-washed to prevent shrinking. You'll find a variety of sizes as well - everything from newborn dresses to dresses for your toddlers and preschoolers. All of them equally as fun and fashionable for your little princess. One other feature that I love is that the dresses are perfect for both winter and summer...in summer, just wear the dress! In winter, put a shirt or onesie underneath for some extra warm and it still looks just as sweet. So what are you waiting for? :) Head over and check out Sing Me a Melody's shop - you'll never guess what kind of great designs are waiting for you! ;)

BUY IT!
Sing Me A Melody is offering all of you a great discount! In order to receive a 10% discount on your order, use the code: GLIMPSE. When you place your order, simply send Sing Me A Melody a message on Etsy and she'll make sure you receive your discount! Expires on July 31, 2010.

Little Bunnies can be Stars Too!

Raking Leaves, picking Pumpkins from the path, building a snowman, splish-splashing in muddy puddles and picnics in the hot summer sun...these are the things that Emily and I have been reading about recently! :) We LOVE books in our home and read together every night before we go to bed...and sometimes just for fun during the day too. :) But I must tell you - there is one thing that really stands out to a child - one thing that makes a book SO extra special that they just have to read it every single night! What's the special ingredient? A personalized book...not just personalized with names, but with a picture as well! Little Bunny Press publishes a gorgeous line of children's books in which your child or your family members are the main characters! As I mentioned, each book also allows you to add your child's face into the story and create a character that not only has the same name as your child, but looks just like them. Emily LOVES showing us that she is on every page in the Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer book she received. She's delighted to see herself jumping in a puddle, or helping to build a snowman. Not only are the books from Little Bunny Press unique and special in the way that they can be personalized, but they also are educational! Each book will teach your child about a particular topic...animals, counting, colors, seasons, etc. What a great way to cover all the bases...reading, having fun and learning!


Little Bunny Press recently just came out with a beautiful Hardcover format in addition to the softcover books they were already offering. The hardcover format is perfect for keeping a special book like this in better condition and despite all the readings our book has had already it is still in great shape! In addition, Little Bunny Press is doing their part in helping our environment too and prints all their books on 100% recycled paper. Their website is easy to navigate and use, and you can view each book before you buy it. What a perfect idea these books are for a gift - unique, fun and one of a kind! Little Bunny Press' Personalized books are definitely the kind of gift that would be treasured and kept for years to come!

BUY IT!
Little Bunny Press is offering our readers a 20% discount PLUS free standard shipping on any of your orders! Simply use the coupon code: GLIMPSE1. Expires on December 31, 2010.

Royale Reno-cation

Don't forget to enter the Royale Reno-cation contest! It's on until June 20, 2010, and you can enter every day!
And don't forget to comment here on the blog too for a chance to win a $50 Restaurant gift card AND a $50 Home Hardware gift card! The contest on our blog is open until April 27, 2010.

WINNER!

The winner of the Inspired Life Designs gift certificate is:

Comment #86: Misfit Momma aka Missy

Congratulations! You now have 72 hours to get back to me and claim your prize!

stacey.glimpse@gmail.com

Laugh and Learn ~ GIVEAWAY!

We all like to play a little practical joke and have a little fun now and then, right? Laughter is good - and laughing together with your spouse or your family is even better. :) Danna Bananas is a great online gift shop that carries a PILE of unique and fun games, toys, gifts, novelties and products that you won't find in many other places! They've looked far and wide for their products...even in other countries!

One of their items that veers to the practical joke side of things is the Tip Alert - Toilet Seat Alarm. Some of us may have a little trouble with the toilet seat being left up in our homes. :) Well, this handy little alarm will help your loved ones to remember not to leave that toilet seat up! It simply peels and sticks under the toilet seat and plays three different funny messages as fun reminders for your boy(s). In addition to that, there is even a light that flashes every 15 seconds to tell you he has left the seat up in the dark, so it even works to your advantage at night. It's water resistant and disposable after approx. 450 play cycles. This Canadian made toilet seat alarm could change your "bathroom rules" forever.

Danna Bananas also has a huge selection of other fun and laugh-filled gadgets and gift ideas. Be sure to check them out for a unique supply of items that you just won't find anywhere else!

WIN IT!
Danna Bananas is giving one of our readers a Toilet Seat Alarm of their own. In order to receive one entry, head over to Danna Bananas and let us know what other product you thought was fun and unique!

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Become a Fan of Danna Bananas on Facebook
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~ Grab our button
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~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
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CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA AND USA! Contest ends on April 30, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

Our Earth Matters ~ GIVEAWAY!

Did you know that Canadian households use about 54 Kilotons of general purpose cleaners per year?! Wow...that's a lot! Obviously, we must use cleaning products in our homes...yet, most cleaners contain numerous harmful ingredients...ones that will affect us in our own homes, and ones that affect our earth by contaminating the water, soil and air. When you stop and think about this...it really is a BIG deal! Earth Matters is a company that has put together a fabulous line of household cleaners that are biodegradable, hypoallergenic and non-toxic, free from animal ingredients, enzymes, dyes, optical brighteners, SLS, APEO, DEA, phosphates and other harsh chemicals, and that are derived from natural plant-source ingredients. Let's be real though...sometimes the "better" cleaners just don't work as well as they say they do, but we've been VERY impressed with the products from Earth Matters. Their cleaners are highly concentrated and just as efficient (if not more efficient!) than the chemical-filled cleaners from the local supermarket. I've summarized our thoughts on each of their products below...

Earth Matters Dish Detergent
In my opinion, one of the most important places to use a chemical free cleaning product is on your dishes...you know, on the utensils that go in your mouth and that hold, store and carry your food and water! The dish detergent from Earth Matters has been a great addition to our kitchen! It is mild enough that it won't irritate your skin, creates plenty of suds to get the job done well, and gets your dishes nice and clean! Another benefit is that since it is highly concentrated, you actually use LESS of this dish soap than of any regular detergent.

Earth Matters Multi-surface Cleaner
This cleaner comes in a handy spray bottle and can be used on a large variety of surfaces. We found that it worked fabulously to remove hard water stains and scales from our sinks, showers, bathtubs, etc. It can also be used in your kitchen, on other fixtures around your home and more. It leaves no unwanted residue behind...just a sparkling clean finished product!

Earth Matters All Purpose Cleaning Concentrate
This is a fabulous product! It's versatile and can be used for many types of cleaning. I love this because you don't have to spend money and cupboard space on a cleaner for each specific part of your home. Instead, this All Purpose Cleaning Concentrate provides us with ONE safe and effective cleaner that is diluted to fit each specific cleaning project. It can be used for mopping floors, cleaning bathrooms, sinks...you name it!

Earth Matters 3x High Efficiency Laundry Concentrate
Laundry is something that we all have to do...and sometimes we sure do a lot of it! I also believe that what we wash our clothes with is very important...especially since the clothing is touching our skin, and our children's skin all day long! Earth Matters Laundry detergent can be used in any type of washing machine and on any temperature setting. But one of the greatest features of it is that it is a TRIPLE strength concentrate, so once again you can use less per load than you normally would and your clothes still come out clean and fresh. We even used it on a few loads of dirty diapers and it worked great!

Earth Matters Fabric Softener Concentrate
Lastly, we tried the fabric softener. Believe it or not, I've actually never used fabric softener in our home - mainly due to the chemicals in it, and I figured that it just wasn't a necessity. However, I am loving the Earth Matters Fabric Softener! It is especially nice for our cloth diapers - which do come out softer than usual. Unlike all the normal softeners, this one leaves NO residue on the clothing and will not irritate anyone with sensitive skin, so it is safe for babies and adults alike.

All in all, we give Earth Matters products a double thumbs up! They are affordable, and do the job quickly and efficiently while making our home a safe place in the process!

WIN IT!
Earth Matters is giving one of our readers a great Earth Matters Gift Basket! In order to receive one entry, head over to Earth Matters and let us know which product you'd love to try the most in your home.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Grab our button
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~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA ONLY! Contest ends on April 29, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

Redfish Kids - Cool clothing for Unique Kids!

Jonathan likes to look cool. Yep, we've reached that stage too! :) That means, clothes like he sees big kids wearing. But, he also is picky about what is comfortable. Of course, Mom has some requirements for clothing too, like that it be easy for him to put on himself. So WHERE do you find cool pants like jeans, maybe even cooler than the ones big kids are wearing, that a 4 year old can put on and take off easily by himself?

I found them at Redfish Kids. This kids clothing company based in Vancouver designs stylish kids clothes, and makes them locally. They are inspired by cultures and fashion statements from around the world, making their kids clothing VERY cool! Their clothing is designed and constructed for growth
and movement, to be comfortable and to allow kids to be unique! Garments are made from 100% cotton, pre-shrunk fabric with the utmost care and attention to detail are made in North America and are 100% Sweatshop Free!

Jonathan has been wearing the pocket jeans very often. With an elastic waist, these are great for play but also super for nursery school. They wash up great, and the denim keeps being soft and comfy for him to wear. The drawstring (fake) looks trendy and is still safe! The jeans fit perfectly – not too tight to squeeze him at the waist (a frequent complaint) but tight enough to stay up through the various activities of the day - luckily, as we've had some other pants start to slip down! :) They were warm enough for him to wear in the winter, but the fabric is lightweight enough that in warmer weather they'll be fine as well. All in all, a great pair of jeans!

Check out the other clothing items Redfish Kids makes! Very cute dresses, girly but not too fussy or frilly, t-shirts with various prints available, leggings, shorts and skater pants, and the cutest kimono onesies for babies! The fabric choices look great – stylish prints and unique combinations.

BUY IT!

Purchase an item from Redfish Kids (minimum purchase $50) and you'll get a t-shirt or leggings for free (depending on if you're ordering for a boy or a girl)! After ordering, email Redfish Kids using the contact form on the webpage, and mention the code: Glimpse – review. Offer expires May 31, 2010.

LiLiKiK's Winner!

The winner of a fabulous LiLiKiK's Clothing Item is:

Comment #114 - jakiesmom

Congrats! You'll have 72 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen.

Handpainted with Love ~ GIVEAWAY!

I have to admit...I'm not much of a "decorating" type of mom. Usually I use photographs for decor...and that's about the extent of my decorating abilities! :) When it comes to our kids though, there really is something fun about finding and using decor that is meaningful, fun, whimsical and that suits their personalities. Creations Elin is a wonderful online shop that creates personalized, hand painted accessories and decor for kids' rooms! Eileen, who is the artist behind all the beautiful items you'll find at Creations Elin, is VERY talented and her creations are definitely made with much love and care. They are durable as well, and can be customized with names and colors to fit your child. We received 3 adorable handpainted wall hooks for Tate, Emily and the baby on the way! There is a great selection of wall hooks for girls, boys or gender neutral and it was so fun being able to choose hooks that we knew our kids would love. Tate received an airplane, Emily a duck, and the baby has a sweet little fish. We're currently using our new wall hooks by the door. It's a great way to teach your little ones how to hang up their own jackets - and the fact that they're hanging their jacket on an airplane or duck makes it extra fun! ;)

Creations Elin offers a lot of other decorative items too - all perfect for a child's room, a playroom, or wherever you may want to use them! For example, check out the painted wood wastebaskets, or the nursery hampers. Her products cover all the bases - adorable, colorful, fun and unique and high quality. If you're looking for something unique and one of a kind, Creations Elin is definitely the store for you!


WIN IT!
Creations Elin is offering one of our readers 2 wall letters with ribbons (for the first & last initials of the child’s name). These goregous, hand painted wall letters would brighten up any room! :) In order to get one entry, head over to Creations Elin and let us know what caught your eye.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Join the Creations Elin Mailing List
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~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA AND USA! Contest ends on April 27, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

Discover Kiri - Discover Creation

There's something great about kids clothes that have been created with a purpose...and that have been created for a specific reason. People that have been inspired to build a business and that want to build their business to inspire others are often hard to find. Kiri Kids is one company that fits this bill! They were inspired while watching some of the greatest creatures in the ocean - whales. They started with an adorable humpback whale logo and have expanded their clothing designs to include all sorts of beautiful images from nature. The great thing is that their inspiration comes from nature itself...from a visit to the park, or a trip to the aquarium. It's the real deal, and you can tell by the fabulous designs that you'll find at Kiri Kids. Tate received a gorgeous Kiri Whale Kids Sweatshirt Hoodie. He loves it! It's perfect for the cooler spring weather we're having right now and fits him SO well. I love that the hooded sweatshirt is not wide and baggy like they often are. Instead, it hugs him...it is loose enough to play in, and tight enough to keep him warm. The quality of the hoodie is unbeatable too. We love that the whale is embroidered onto it instead of simply printed on, and even the fabric itself is so very soft.

Kiri Kids wants their designs to inspire you! Creation is beautiful - there's nothing quite like it and Kiri Kids wants you to see exactly this and to lend a hand in helping to care for and conserve our world. At Kiri Kids you'll find a great selection of clothing for babies, toddlers and older kids too. Their clothes are 100% sweatshop free and are designed and created right here in Canada. Head over to Kiri Kids and be inspired!

BUY IT!
Kiri Kids is giving our readers a 15% discount off any purchases you make! In order to receive the discount use the coupon code: glimpse15 Simply enter the code during checkout to redeem the discount percentage. Expires June 30, 2010.

Soothe Your Body Naturally ~ Giveaway (2 Winners)!

In our home we pretty much all have very sensitive skin in one way or another. I have long given up on commercial products that claim they will improve my dry, sensitive skin. Instead, I use products that are as natural as possible. Some of the nicest ones I have tried are from the Spa Sisters.

The Spa Sisters sent me a wonderful package that included Bum Spray, Organic Shea Butter, and Boobie Balm. I have had a chance to use these products over the last weeks, and I've been very impressed with the quality and effectiveness.

Bum Spray is something that I wouldn't have thought to try before, but it's really nice. You know when your newborn makes a mess in their diaper while they are sleeping, and you only get to it an hour or two later? It's stuck on and not pretty! Bum Spray is really effective at gently removing all the nasty stuck on bits ;) I've used it with cloth wipes and bought wipes, and I found that it's an excellent addition to either. It would be great to throw in the diaper bag as well.

The Organic Shea Butter is probably my favorite product of the three. As you can imagine, with three little people, I am washing my hands (and the dishes, etc) a million times each day. By the end of the day, my hands feel like sandpaper! So I've been using the Organic Shea Butter for me :) By the morning my hands are feeling much softer again. I have also used it on Emery, and it really helped clear up some dry patches of skin she had. I love that it has nothing extra in it to irritate our delicate skin. Just organic shea butter, jojoba oil, and vitamin E!

Unfortunately (or not!) I haven't had sore or cracked nipples at all since I received the Boobie Balm, so I've been using as a lip balm instead! And I absolutely love it. Just ask my husband, I can be a bit of a lip balm addict. Since I've switched to using natural lip balms though, I haven't had the addiction problem. My lips stay hydrated much longer. The Boobie Balm does the trick, no matter where you use it!

The Spa Sisters have a bunch of other really great products. They would all make fabulous gifts for any new mom!

PURCHASE IT!
The Spa Sisters have offered our readers a 10% discount. Just use the code "GLIMPSE" when you check out!

WIN IT!
I'm so excited to be able to give away 2 $25 gift certificates to The Spa Sisters! So that's 2 lucky winners who will get to try out some excellent products! To enter, please check out the Spa Sisters website, then come back here and list one product that you would like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog
~ Follow us on Twitter
~ Become a fan of Glimpse on Facebook
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment
~ Tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA AND USA! Contest ends on April 23, 2010. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

Mama's Night Out!

Recently I reviewed a diaper and wiper pack from Bambino & Sprout. Soon I will be reviewing some personal care products from Tiber River Naturals. Both are local Winnipeg-area companies with a great selection! If you live in the Winnipeg area, you should check both of these companies out!

They are hosting a Mama's Night Out event next week and here are the details!

Date: Tuesday April 13, 2010

Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location: Tiber River Naturals, 3-1650 Kenaston Crossing (By Sobey’s)

Do You have a BABY? Expecting one? Know someone who is?

OR

Do YOU just need a night out with your mama friends ... This party is for you!!!

Come enjoy a night of mini manicures, tasty snacks and shopping. Check out awesome productsfrom Bambino & Sprout...the newest and coolest in Canadian-created baby & toddler gear!

Donations will be made to Fill the Cradle- Helping to provide the necessities to local new moms with little ones!

Awesome products from:

Bambino & Sprout

Rock-a-baby Designs

Slingsisters

Bugalug

PU Toes

Baby Sherpa

Otterbottle

Momzelle & More…….

If you mention that you're a Glimpse reader, Bambino & Sprout will give you a 10% discount! :) See you there!

Winner!

The winner of a dragon tail and headband set is

Comment # 10: Andrea

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to contact me before I choose a new winner.

Let the Fun and Games Begin!

What kid doesn't love a good game? A game that is unique, creative, fun...and in the midst of the fun, you might even learn something! ;) Hey, even I love to play games. I find that playing a game is a fabulous way to get to know someone better, or to bond with your child more, and to just enjoy some good, clean fun and some quality time together. Now here comes the "but!" Buuuut, sometimes (no matter how creative we think we are), we just run out of ideas. And it's times like this when we've been turning to our new "It's All Fun and Games" book from OwlKids! We've had a lot of fun giving some of the games in this book a whirl! There are games for a variety of ages as well - so some will be perfect for your preschooler, while others are just right for an older child. You'll find card games, beach games, indoor games, word games, car-trip games, songs, rhymes and that's just the tip of the iceberg! The resources in this book are many, and we are definitely looking forward to making good use of "It's All Fun and Games"!

OwlKids has a truckload of amazing books and resources for kids. They have three fun & learning-packed magazines for kids, as well, there are loads of great coloring pages, experiment ideas, jokes, etc. for free, right on their website! If you're looking for quality books that will entertain, teach and be downright enjoyable, head over to OwlKids Online and you'll find books for all ages of kids!

BUY IT!
OwlKids Online is offering all of our readers a great discount! In order to receive 10% off any order over $30, use the promo code: GLIMPS1. Expires on May 31, 2010.