Cooking with Twinklebelle ~ GIVEAWAY!

We love to cook and bake in our home - not a week goes by where my kids and I do not spend some quality time in the kitchen cooking up meals and tasty treats together! :) I believe that cooking with my kids is so valuable...working in the kitchen together can be full of teachable moments, and fun memories - all while getting some work done as well! What a Jewel recently sent Emily an adorable Twinklebelle Children's Cooking Set to wear while working in the kitchen. It is absolutely precious and is already loved greatly by our little girl. The set comes in a cute little bag and includes a colorful, fun & stylish cotton apron, a mini wooden rolling pin, a mini wooden mixing spoon and a mitt that matches the apron. The rolling pins and spoon are made from natural wood and are completely safe - as well as virtually unbreakable. You can be sure it will last longer than the plastic ones that often accompany kids kitchen sets. Not only are the cooking utensils high quality, but the apron itself is made from durable, quality materials and is also made with workmanship that can't be beat. I could tell from my first look at the apron that it was made with care - and that it will be around for many years to come! We would definitely recommend the Twinklebelle apron sets for our readers! There are styles for both boys and girls and they'd make a wonderfully fun - yet practical - gift for kids age 2-10. What a fun birthday or Easter gift this would make for a child. :)

What a Jewel carries MANY more fabulous items as well. The shop is easy to navigate, colorful, eye-catching and best of all has a great selection of Gifts for Him, Gifts for Her and all sorts of goodies & accessories for babies and kids! You'll also find quality products for your home, and even some special items for your loved family pet. Head over and take a peek - I have a feeling you'll love the selection and prices at this Canadian online boutique & gift store!

WIN IT!
What a Jewel is giving one of our readers a great gift set for Baby! The gift set will include: a gr8x Camo Baby Bag and a gr8x Baby Blanket Set (Value $80!) In order to get one entry, simply subscribe to What a Jewel's newsletter (sent at most once a month. Information is for the sole use of whatajewel.com and is never shared) . Note: Find the subscription spot on the top right hand side of What a Jewel's home page.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Like What a Jewel on Facebook
~ Follow What a Jewel on Twitter
~ Vote for us as a Top 25 Review Blog! VOTE HERE - click on the yellow thumbs up to vote (vote once a day for extra entries!)
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter & tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.
~ Become a fan of Glimpse on Facebook
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & CONTINENTAL USA ONLY! Contest ends on April 18, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The product features expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of Use.

Winners

The winners of TWO sewing/crochet patterns each from Leila & Ben are:

Comment #101 - Amy
Comment #94 - Snowflake07

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

Beaded Canadian Beauty

"Stay on, Style on, Dance on!" This is the motto that goes along with these adorable baby Quemeez moccasins. Natural Belly and Baby recently sent us a pair of these cozy little slippers and they have been fabulous! Quemeez baby moccasins were designed by and are lovingly made by a mom. Besides the gorgeous & delicate beading, there are a number of other features that we are just loving about our new slippers! They are very soft and flexible - in fact, these are the softest and most flexible slippers we've used so far with any of our children. They also have a soft, yet grippy elastic around the ankles to keep them firmly in place...no more losing one (or even both) of your babies slippers. The quality of these little moccasins is amazing too...they are durable, and the beads are sewed on securely as well, so you can be sure that your baby won't be enjoying a "beadwork snack" anytime soon. :)

Our little Jenna's feet are kept warm and cozy in her Quemeez moccasins, and she enjoys looking at the pretty, beaded flowers on them as well. They are unique and as I mentioned before, they are the most comfortable, soft, warm & precious little slippers that we own. Head over to Natural Belly and Baby and take a look - there's some great designs for baby boys as well!

Natural Belly and Baby also carries a variety of other useful, practical and fun products for moms and babies. You'll find products for potty training, mealtime, and so much more.

BUY IT!
Natural Belly and Baby is offering a 15% discount off of any internet order over $100.00 (with a $4.95 flat rate shipping across Canada). Use the discount code: glimpse1. Expires March 15, 2011.

In addition to the great discount above, you can also take advantage of another opportunity. Orders over $150.00 will receive a free gift of “A Moment in Tile” (value of $29.95 and a made by a Canadian WAHM).

Bamboo basics ~ GIVEAWAY!!

So, you're expecting a baby, or you've just had one, and you're looking for basic clothing items. You'd like something soft, cozy, that will fit your growing baby for a while, and in neutral colours. And, you want something that will be safe for baby to wear, and, as an added bonus, produced in an environmentally friendly way. With all these considerations, where do you start looking for baby clothes?

sleeveless sleep sack and beret

Try Kinderel! They've designed a line of babywear made from organic cotton and bamboo fabrics - and they've focused on the items that are most likely to be in contact with baby's skin or mouth, or may get wet. Their line includes a great-looking sleep sack, onesies, hats and mittens. Bamboo is being used more and more for clothing, and there are lots of reasons why. Here are some of the benefits of bamboo in fabric:

• Extremely soft, cashmere like feeling;

• The round shape of the fiber makes it ideal for skin allergies, sensitivities or eczema;

bib

• Thermal regulator: newborns have a hard time regulating body temperature; bamboo fabrics keeps baby warmer in cool weather, and a few degrees cooler in hot weather;

• Highly absorbent, "wicks” moisture away from the skin, keeping the body naturally drier and more comfortable;

• Antibacterial and anti-fungal, even through multiple washings due to a bacteriostatic agent called “bamboo kun", prevents bacterial growth and odor.

Kinderel is based in the Greater Vancouver area, and items are made locally.  Their clothing is well-made; I can certainly say we're impressed with the quality of the items we've received.

Annalies in her onesie

We received a onesie for Annalies before she was born, and we loved the fact that it was a neutral colour! The sizing seems to run a little large, as Annalies at 3 months was over 15 pounds and the onesie was beautifully roomy! There is lots of room for her to grow. The fabric is so soft, even after having been washed several times, and it is super stretchy, which makes it easy to get the onesie on. It fits great over cloth diapers - the leg holes were designed extra big for this very reason. She just looks so cozy - I'd love to have jammies from this fabric as well!
 
In fact, I could: Kinderel also sells fabric by the yard, and all at reasonable prices.
 
WIN IT!
 
Kinderel is giving away a onesie to a lucky Glimpse reader! To enter, please visit Kinderel and comment on an item you'd be likely to purchase and why.
 
EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.

headband

• Like Kinderel on Facebook
• Follow Kinderel on Twitter
• Grab our button
• Subscribe to our blog/feed
• Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
• Follow us on Twitter & tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.
• Become a fan of Glimpse on Facebook
• Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment

Contest open to Canada and the United States and ends on March 11, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.


BUY IT!!
Kinderel is offering Glimpse readers a fabulous discount: use the code glimpse25 to receive 25% off regular priced baby products (excluding fabrics). Offer expires August 25, 2011.


**Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Kinderel in exchange for being featured on Glimpse.  The opinions expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way.  Please see the full Terms of use.

Write The End!!! ~ GIVEAWAY!!

Have you seen the commercials from Doritos? Where they present 2 new flavours, only one of which will "survive" the taste test, and the other one will be banished forever? The drama in this chip commercial is pretty thick! :) The end of the commercial is missing, because the surviving flavour has yet to be chosen!

Doritos is running a "Write the end" contest: the lucky winner of this contest will have written the final 20 seconds of the commercial, will win $25,000 (yes, that's right - twenty-five thousand!) and 1% of future sales of the surviving flavour! Not a bad prize! You can enter this contest here. The contest opened on Feb 4, 201, and submissions will be accepted until March 13, 2011. Voting for the favourite submission ends on March 27, 2011 at 5pm and the winner will be revealed on May 5, 2011. You have up to 400 characters to destroy one flavour and must follow all the contest rules (under FAQs).

Doritos contacted me, wanting us to try out the 2 new flavours and give our opinion. The flavours are:

BuffaloWings 'N Ranch

Onion Rings 'N Ketchup

Our family's vote is unanimous in favour of the Onion Rings 'N Ketchup. The Buffalo Wings 'N Ranch is good, but quite spicy, and it just isn't a flavour that appeals to us, especially to our kids (ages 5 and 2). The Onion Rings 'N Ketchip chips are great, nicely flavoured, with several different tastes happening, but no heat. They are great on their own or with dip. If I was a commercial writer (I wish I was better at creative writing!) I'd write an end with this one as the winner!

WIN IT!!

One lucky Glimpse reader will win a fabulous Doritos prize pack worth $150 CAD!!! To enter, visit Write The End, watch the commercial (plays on page load) and tell us something that caught your attention during the commercial.

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 only and ends on March 3, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

I have been approached by Fleishman-Hillard Canada to participate in an online campaign involving Doritos, and was sent a bag of each flavour of chips in return for being featured on Glimpse.   The preceding post is a reflection of my own personal opinions and does not represent those of the named brand.  Please view our terms of use for more details.

Cute & Cozy in Flowers or Stripes ~ GIVEAWAY!

Hats are so fun, aren't they? I don't know about your kids, but ours LOVE to wear a hat just for the sake of wearing a hat. With our kids hats are meant for both outdoor and indoor play. :) Of course, us moms are a little more practical and we like to have the right sizes and styles of hats on hand for all seasons...to keep our childrens' heads and ears warm in the winter and out of the sunshine in the summer. EllieFitz's Creations is a wonderful etsy shop that is filled with handknit goodness! Her hats are simply adorable, and she generously knit some of the cutest hats for each of our children! I love them. They fit perfectly which I was VERY impressed with especially since I didn't even have to send over any head measurements. :)

I really enjoyed the fact that we were able to choose our own colors for the hats, and it was fun picking out something that I thought would suit each of our children. EllieFitz has lots of great options for you to choose from for your knitted items. The styles are great too...I love the stripes for both a boy and girl so Tate and Jenna each got a striped hat in some real fun colors. The stripes are simple, but there's something about them that also stands out! And the flowered hats - these are ideal for little girls. I never knew that crocheted flowers could be so cute...but they are! Emily is very proud of her flowered hat. :) The quality of the hats is impeccable as well - they are made very neatly and I am certain that none of them will be unraveling any time soon! :)

EllieFitz's Creations makes a few other items besides handknit hats. Check out these sets of sweet striped mittens. They'd be great for this last month or two of winter as well as for spring. You could even match them up with a hat and create a unique little mitten and hat set! There's a few other misc. items over at EllieFitz too. I just love this handknit dress, don't you? As you can see, EllieFitz's Creations is full of handmade goodies that are created with love.

WIN IT!
EllieFitz is giving TWO of our readers a sweet little hat (striped or flowered) in the colors of their choice. In order to get one entry, head over to EllieFitz's Creations and take a look at the available sizes and colors...then leave a comment letting us know what you would choose if you won.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~Like EllieFitz's Creations on Facebook
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter & tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.
~ Become a fan of Glimpse on Facebook
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on March 9, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The product features expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of Use.

Winner!

The winner of a $25 GC to Pure Blankz is:

Comment #88 - pridelandmama

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

Wrapped in silk!

Since our 3 children joined our family, and they all seem to have sensitive skin, we've tried to use natural fibers as much as possible in their clothing and bedding. This is fairly easy to do for kids clothing, but the bedding is somewhat more difficult, especially since our kids all seem to like to sleep in a sleep sack. Many are made with or filled with synthetic fibers.

I was so pleased to find out about Silkberry Baby. This Canadian company has designed a great line of children's bedding. Their sleep sacks and blankets are all made from natural fibers: silk, cotton and bamboo! Silk is a great natural choice:

• it's odorless and hypoallergenic
• it's soft and durable
• no chemicals are used during the growing of the silkworms or the processing of the silk floss
• it's breathable and helps regulate body temperature

Annalies has been trying out a very cute, and very cozy sleep sack. The outer layer is 100% cotton and the removable filling is mulberry silk. She is always warm when we check her temperature, even though the sleep sack is very light weight. Something I really like about the sleep sack is how easy it is to get Annalies in and out: the sack opens flat, the baby lays on the back, then you fasten the front and back at the shoulders using snaps (there are 2, so the length is adjustable), and zip the zipper from the side bottom around the bottom to the other side, under the armpits. It's especially handy if she's already fallen asleep - no struggling with armholes that wake the baby up. Another thing I've found very handy about this sleep sack is that the filling is removable. The cover is machine washable, and the filling can be washed by hand. Removing the filling is no trouble - simply untie the ribbons holding the filling and the cover together. Inserting and re-attaching the filling is something you have to figure out a bit, but happily, there are demo videos on the website that make this much easier to do, and once you've done it once, it's much easier the next time! The sleep sack can be used in all seasons, either with or without the filling, keeping your baby covered up during sleep time. The sleep sacks are available in 2 sizes: 0-6 months and 6-36 months and either an elephant or bunny design. 

We also received a beautiful pink bamboo blanket from Silkberry Baby. The waffle-knit construction makes this blanket warm but also breathe. It's size is perfect for wrapping baby up, and we've also used it many times in the car seat as it's warm but not too hot. 

Silkberry Baby has other children's bedding products as well:

• a bamboo sleep sack (sold without filling) which can be used as is as a light weight sleep sack, or also as an extra cover for the silk filling
• a toddler comforter with removable silk filling
• a silk fleece blanket
• silk-filled pillows - one with removable filling

A bathing product line is in the works, and will be available soon.

Right now, if you buy a comforter, you get a pillow for free!

Silkberry Baby products are available online and at several retailers in BC.

Winner!

The winner of a diaper from Little Tush diapers is:

Comment #35: caedman

Congratulations! Please contact me within 72 hours.

This is Silly!

I don't know about you, but our kids love to be silly...and our home is often filled with silliness and giggles! And what could be better than a book that is all about being silly?! Scholastic Canada has a fabulously silly book called This is Silly by Gary Taxali. In the book Silly Billy, wacky Willy, and all of their funny friends turn silliness on it's head with goofy sayings, colorful and wacky pictures and a special surprise at the very end. The last page of the book was definitely our kids' favorite. It has a mirror where you can see yourself be silly, practice making silly face, etc. :) This was an instant hit on our home and This is Silly is often one of the books that is chosen to be read at bedtime!

This is Silly! is a delightfully fun book that is sure to be loved by all children! It is a shorter read so it's great for younger kids as well as older toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Winner!

The Winner of a Rabbit Rattle from Dress Me Up is:

Comment #142 - Dianne

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

Winner!

The winner of a Monkey Doodlez product from Diaper Supply is:

Comment #84: littlelamb

Congratulations! Please reply to my email within 72 hours.

Baby it's cold out there!

I've always felt a bit sorry for the 2nd and 3rd children in the family - they just have to go along with the family when the oldest needs to go somewhere! Thank goodness for baby carriers - it's a lot easier to take Annalies along on our walks to and from school this way. BUT (and this is a bit but!) it's cold outside. How do you carry your baby in a carrier in the middle of winter?

Annalies wears a parka - a Baby Parka! :) This awesome carrier cover allows me to wear my own warm and well-fitting coat, done up all the way, and still have her warm in a carrier!

Baby Parka has designed two products to keep baby warm in the winter. The first is a car seat cover (showercap style). The advantage of this style of car seat cover is that nothing is interfering with the straps of the car seat. Extra padding behind baby changes the way your car seat would protect baby if ever the vehicle was in a crash. With 2 zippers down the sides, it's easy to put baby in and out. The cover has elastic all around, enabling it to fit snugly on all Canadian approved car seats.

The other fabulous product, that we've been trying out, is a carrier cover. Both covers are constructed like a winter coat with an exterior shell, interlining and lining. Both covers are available in several colours.

Exterior Shell: wind and water resistant micro-fibre
Interlining: high performance insulation made from a unique blend of fine and micro denier
Lining: sub ice microfleece made for snuggling and warmth

The carrier cover has a 2-way hood, so baby can face in or out. The hood fits snugly over Annalies' head. Because she wiggles around a bit, I've always put a hat and mittens on her as well, and usually a fleecy top or sweater. The cover is easy to put on - it has a "pocket" for baby's feet, and then just pulls up over top of whatever carrier you are using. There are 2 elastic straps that click around behind the adult, keeping the cover nice and snug. Annalies has always felt warm when we've checked her, and, mostly she's fallen asleep when she's all covered up in her Parka!

BUY IT!
Baby Parka's covers are available at a few retailers, and also directly through the Baby Parka website.

Baby Parka is offering Glimpse readers a $5 discount on either carrier. Simply quote the code "glimpse" when  you email them. (The black is currently back-ordered, but the other 4 colours are immediately available.)

Modern Sweethearts

Our two year old daughter, Emily, is definitely a girl at heart. :) She loves her dresses and is always very excited when there is a new one to add to her closet. We were thrilled when Tiny Modernist sent Emily a new dress that will be perfect for the coming spring and summer weather! Tiny Modernist is a fabulous online shop that sells the most adorable and fun dresses for young girls. Each dress is handmade right here in Canada and we can vouch for the fact that the quality of these dresses is impeccable. Emily received the Mod Dots Halter Dress. Although it is in the Spring line, we also have been using it during these last few months of winter. Simply put a short or long sleeved white t-shirt under the dress and you are set! I love the design and versatility of the dress, and of course the colors are so fun and vibrant too.

Tiny Modernist is owned and operated by a fashion designer in Toronto, Canada who has created a unique line of modern kids clothes using high-quality natural fabrics and trims. All the items are pre-shrunk so you won't have to worry about it getting smaller after a trip through the dryer. As I mentioned before, the quality of the dresses is wonderful - they are sewn to last through many parties, and through many trips to the playground! Head over and take a peek at Tiny Modernist's beautiful, new Spring line.

BUY IT!
Tiny Modernist is offering Glimpse readers a discount of 15% off anything on the website! Use the code: SPRING15 at checkout to receive the discount. Expires March 3, 2011.

Winner!

The winner of a toddler sheet set from American Kids Bedding is:

Comment #50: littlelamb

Congratulations! Please contact me within 72 hours, or another winner will be chosen.

WINNER!

The winner of the DVD from Rock 'N Learn is:

Comment #54: flowerchild

Congrats! You now have 72 hours to get in contact with me and claim your prize!

stacey.glimpse[at]gmail[dot]com

Gourmet Goodness ~ GIVEAWAY!

Have you ever taken a taste of some of the baby food that is available? I know I have...and well, let's face it - it would not be my first meal choice. There are some that are not too bad, but I think the truth is that often we feed our babies food that we would not eat ourselves! Let us introduce Baby Gourmet to you...a FABULOUS organic baby food company that is filling the tummies of our little ones with food that is healthy and sooo yummy. All of their products are free of thickeners, fillers, preservatives and additives. There are foods for all stages as well. Simple, smooth, and gently cooked purees make some delicious meals for the first stage. Next you'll find the same style of food, but with multiple fruits/veggies mixed together. And finally for stage three, Baby Gourmet offers more delicious combinations of foods but with a slightly coarser texture. Baby Gourmet selects only the freshest, organic foods for their recipes, and one of the questions that is asked consistently by Baby Gourmet is: "Why feed it to your baby if you wouldn't eat it yourself?" If you're wondering if this tasty baby food is available in a store near you, head over and check out the Baby Gourmet Store Locator.

Andrea's Take
The food from Baby Gourmet is full of flavor and there is absolutely nothing bland about it. It was instantly loved by our 9 month old little girl! She enjoyed both the purees and the coarser stage 3 foods. Even I had to take a taste of this delicious smelling baby food and it was so good! It is hands down the best baby food I've ever tasted. I also love the fact that Baby Gourmet is making sure that our little ones are getting quality food without all those fillers and preservatives. It's comforting to know that when I don't have the time to make my own baby food, there is a another option out there that is just as good as making the food in my own home.

Stacey's Take
Baby Gourmet was a HUGE hit in our house as well! Emery was so cute to watch the first few times she tasted the food. She was so excited, and kept signing "more". She gobbled it all up super fast. I think the stage 1 foods were a bit too runny for her, which I expected since she's almost a year old, but stage 2 and 3 went over really well. I took a little taste of each food too, and was really surprised at how fresh and good they all tasted. I think this would be a great thing for us to have on hand now, for those times when I don't want to give Emery what the rest of us are eating.


WIN IT!
Baby Gourmet is giving away a sample pack of 9 pouches! One lucky Glimpse baby will get to try each flavor in all three stages! In order to win, please 'Like' Baby Gourmet on Facebook, and then come back here and share with us why you would like to try Baby Gourmet for your baby.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Follow Baby Gourmet on Twitter
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter & tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.
~ Become a fan of Glimpse on Facebook
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA ONLY! Contest ends on March 2, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The product features expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of Use.

Winner!

The winner of a great Cheerio's prize pack worth $50 is:

Comment #102 - pamalot

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

Apple Pie Goodness ~ GIVEAWAY!

Apple Pie...hair clips...binky buddies - what do these all have in common?! Well, Apple Pie Accessories is what ties these all together in a fabulous online shop that is filled with all sorts of goodies! Jenna was the lucky recipient of some really cute and fun accessories from Apple Pie Accessories. The first item was a Binky Buddy in their NEW Star design! Although Jenna really doesn't like her pacifier during the day, she loves it at night, and this clip has come in VERY handy during those dark nights. No more frantic searching for the soother so I can get it in her mouth before she fully wakes up. :) With our new Binky buddy I simply clip it to her pj's and it's within reach at all times. There's 2 features that I really love about this product (besides the fact that it keeps the paci close to your baby). The first is that the pacifier is not attached with a snap, button or velcro. It simply loops through and keeps the soother attached using only the SOFT ribbon. Secondly, the clip which you attach to baby's clothing/blanket is strong - yet does not ruin any pretty dresses or cute shirts in the process. It has plastic teeth, which do the job well yet gently.
Jenna also got some of the most adorable hair sassies. There are several different sizes of clips that you can choose from at Apple Pie Accessories. We have the 3mm size and they are perfect for her little head and fine hair. They are the perfect accessory for a baby girl! There are LOADS of possibilities when it comes to ribbons, colors and styles as well. The best part is that you can get any ribbon and any style in ANY size of clip! So many hair accessory sites only offer certain styles in certain sizes - but here the options are completely open-ended and you can create your ideal hair clips for your little girls.

Apple Pie Accessories carries several other accessories for girls as well - all equally as cute! They also have some real fun belts for both boys and girls. Their mission is the put the "fun in function" and I'd say that they're doing a great job at fulfilling this mission! :)

WIN IT!
Apple Pie Accessories is giving TWO WINNERS each a $10 gift certificate to her shop. In order to get one entry, head over to Apple Pie Accessories and let us know what you'd buy with the GC if you won.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Like Apple Pie Accessories on Facebook
~ Follow Apple Pie Accessories on Twitter
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter & tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.
~ Become a fan of Glimpse on Facebook
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on February 28, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The product features expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of Use.

Scwibble your heart out!

Scwibble, scwibble, scwibble - do your kids make you LOTS and LOTS of "art?" :) It's starting to stack up here, and although part of me would love to get rid of the clutter, how can you THROW OUT a picture your child made "especially for you, Mommy?!" The guilt... :) I put some artwork on our back door (no magnetic fridge), or on our art line (string hung on the kitchen wall), but there's a limit to how much you can put up at once, and the art just keeps on coming!

Scwibble masterpiece

Lucy from Scwibble offers a great solution! She will capture and transform your child's drawing(s) into a beautiful piece of art that you can display! You choose the piece(s) of your child's art and send them in. Each piece is designed and printed on archival quality giclée* or silk-screened by hand onto a raw silk or artist’s canvas. It is then framed behind glass or stretched on a wood frame. Voila!

Scwapbook

Scwibble also offers a Scwapbook option - a bound collection of your child's art. You could think of doing a scrapbook per year, or per theme, it's totally up to you.  Local clients can bring their children in for a "straight on the canvas" painting experience with gentle guidance. Scwibble also organizes and guides children's (birthday) parties, centering around the creation of a fabulous masterpiece!

One of the products Scwibble sells is called Crayon Rocks. In fact, they're the Canadian and European distributor of this great product! We were sent a set of Crayon Rocks, and we love them! Everything about them is carefully thought out, but when the kids use them, it's pure creativity and imagination! Crayon Rocks were designed for a special needs child who was having trouble with the tripod grip (the correct way to hold a writing utensil). This grip is crucial for letter formation, and the earlier you can get a child to do this automatically, the better, as it becomes very hard to "unlearn" an incorrect grip later on. As a teacher, I know. I've tried!

Crayon Rocks' beautiful colours

Crayon Rocks are made from soybeans and bees wax and their vibrant colours come from mineral powder. They're easy to old, and you can get a variety of different strokes, making for some great art! They come in a burlap bag, so it's easy for even the smallest artist to remove the crayons and store them back in the bag later.

Crayon Rocks also stimulate the imagination - they can be many other things than crayons! Looking like jewels or pirate treasure, or space rocks, they can be played with in many different ways (other than colouring), and this is something I've noticed especially with our set! They've been in and out of many different  containers, and part of many different stories and scenarios! A really multi-purpose product that both Daniel and Jonathan love to use!

As a mom and (former) teacher, I'm thrilled to have something that will help Daniel (age 2) start to use a tripod grip. Jonathan (age 5) already holds a pencil correctly most of the time, but the Crayon Rocks will help to firmly establish the correct grip for him as well. This, to me, is one of the most important benefits of Crayon Rocks.

Crayon Rocks would make a great present for Valentine's Day or Easter, and a great addition to your budding artist's supply cupboard! They are available at various retailers across Canada (many of which are online stores).

BUY IT!

Scwibble is offering Glimpse readers a fantastic deal! For the next month Glimpse readers can have a child’s drawing scanned, cleaned, printed and framed in a 10" x 10” for $99 (Value $195). Offer valid until March 12, 2011. Just click on the special page link and go from there!

Winners!

The 3 winners of a bottle of Wild Oil of Oregano from Hedd Wyn Essentials are:

Comment #101 - Lesley
Comment #45 - Jamaise
Comment #20 - ksceviour

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

Create it With Leila & Ben! ~ GIVEAWAY!

For a while now I've had the itch to sew...not only to sew, but to LEARN how to sew better. I can do a few basic things on the sewing machine, but I'd love to be able to do more...to sew matching dresses for my girls, or to sew clothing that actually fits our slim & trim boy! I was really excited when I came across Leila & Ben. They create original patterns for both sewing and crochet, and the best part is that their patterns come with step-by-step instructions and color photographs. Definitely what I need to help me learn how to sew! Leila & Ben sent me their Sweet Little Dress pattern for both the smaller sizes and the larger sizes so I could sew a dress for each of my daughters. It was so fun to open up the pattern (which is sent via a PDF file) and to begin sewing matching dresses for our girls. The dress has cute puffed sleeves, and a simple design - which means it can easily be completed in one night! It took about 2-3 hours to make two dresses. I found the patterns to be very easy to follow and they clearly spelled out every step of the process so that even a beginner (like me :) ) could sew it!

These dresses are a great thing to have in a little girls closet too as they are great for summer, and can also be used during the winter over a long sleeved shirt, or it can be used as a tunic once the dress gets too short. I love the new additions to our wardrobe, and they are extra special since "mommy made them!"

Leila & Ben has a variety of other sewing patterns too, as well as some really great crochet patterns. I just love the Earflap Hat. It's adorable...and perfect for our cold Canadian winters! So if you feel like making something special...something handmade, head over and see what Leila & Ben can offer.

WIN IT!
Leila & Ben is giving TWO winners TWO patterns of their choice each! In order to get one entry, head over to Leila & Ben and let us know which 2 patterns you would choose if you were the lucky winner.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Like Leila & Ben on Facebook
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter & tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.
~ Become a fan of Glimpse on Facebook
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)

CONTEST OPEN WORLDWIDE! Contest ends on February 24, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The product features expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of Use.

Make a Simple Statement ~ GIVEAWAY!

I've said it before...and I'll say it again - as much as I do love the occasional frill or patterned fabric, I really am a fan of clothes and accessories that are more on the simpler side of things. One reason is because clothing without frills, tucks, pleats and bows everywhere tends to be more comfortable, but the main reason is that I just love the look of something simple...plain...pure. Pure Blankz is all about creating certified organic cotton and eco-friendly clothing and accessories for all ages! And yep, you guessed it - all their items are in gorgeous solid colors with no prints or designs. I received an adult long sleeve crew neck t-shirt and it has topped the spot in my closet for the "best long sleeved shirt I currently own!" Although the shirts from Pure Blankz are perfect for layering they are also great on their own. The cut and fit of this shirt is better than any of the others I own. In addition, it is soft, comfortable and is ideal for using year-round.

The Designer Legging is equally as wonderful. I actually found that these fit a bit on the big side for my kids...but in my opinion this is a plus! I'd much rather order something that's a little big than find out that it is too small once I receive it. These adorable baby leggings are made with soft slub yarn fabric and are stretchy, fashionable, perfect for 'romping' around in. Yet they still maintain the simple look that characterizes the items from Pure Blankz. We love them!

Pure Blankz has a great selection of high quality clothing for your family. Besides clothes you'll find some great baby items too such as crib sheets, bibs and more!

WIN IT!
Pure Blankz is giving away a $25 gift certificate to use in their shop. In order to get one entry, 'Like' Pure Blankz on Facebook.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Sign up for the Pure Blankz newsletter
~ Follow Dress Me Up on Twitter
~ Let us know what you'd buy with the GC if you won
~ Follow @PureBlankz on twitter
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter & tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.
~ Become a fan of Glimpse on Facebook
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on February 22, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

BUY IT!
Pure Blankz is offering you 25% off any order. Use the code: bepure. Expires Feb. 18, 2011

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The product features expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of Use.

Nursing in public

Breastfeeding in public is consider a human right in Canada. Wonderful! That doesn't mean that every breastfeeding mother is comfortable feeding her baby in all locations. Nothing wrong with that - it's a matter of personal preference. And so, there have been many different nursing covers made and used, some more successful than others.

With my first son, I used a large flannel blanket. It was hard to position, especially by myself, and once he started kicked and flailing his arms, it was hard to keep positioned! If you're going to cover up, you might as well STAY covered up! :) But my son seemed to need to be separated from what was going on around him (I fed him covered, even at home, so he wouldn't get distracted), so we kept on using the blanket. With my second son, I researched nursing covers, and a good friend who sews made me one. It worked - it stayed on me because it went around my neck. But as I used it, she and I discussed what would make the cover she'd made even better for me. One of the features we discussed was a second row of boning. Another was a larger cover.

The Booby Trapper makes me look like I'm wearing a tent here, because I've draped it around my very large nursing pillow, just to show how generously sized it is.

This was very ironic. BECAUSE...when I was pregnant with Annalies, I started looking at nursing covers again. I wasn't going the blanket route anymore; I could use the nursing cover I had, but we weren't totally happy with it's design. Then I found out about the Booby Trapper. And here's the irony: the Booby Trapper has 2 rows of boning! One right at the top of the cover, at your neck, and one about a stretched hand's breadth down. Exactly the distance my friend and I had discussed! :)

Another great feature of the Booby Trapper is it's size. It is definitely big enough to cover even an older baby or nursing toddler and keep Mom covered up too. It can also be used as a shade canopy (think of attaching it to a stroller), or a "nap shelter" for baby if you're in a busy place.

easily see your baby while breastfeeding

The Booby Trapper is made from lightweight breathable cotton fabric and an organic option is available. It's machine washable but hang to dry. I've found that it "folds" up to a size easy to fit in my diaper bag, so I always have it with me. And it's available in many great fabric selections!

BUY IT!

You can order a Booby Trapper nursing cover directly from the website, or find it at many retail locations.

Glimpse readers can get $5 off online orders by using the code "glimpse" at checkout.

Winner!

The winner of a $10 gift card to Boston Pizza is:

Comment #19: Heidi

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen (although if you want to use the card on Valentine's Day, you'd better be much quicker!) :)

Winner!

The winner of an EIO kids cup from Polka-dot Pond is:

Comment #61: Kristy

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Winner!

The winner of a 3 month supply of Nature Made Sleep is:

Comment #23: 409cope

Congrats! You now have 72 hours to get in contact with me and claim your prize!

stacey.glimpse[at]gmail[dot]com

Time is Running Out!!

Only ONE week left for you to apply to become our NEW Glimpse Mom!! So if you are at all interested please contact us and we can answer any questions you may have and give you more in-depth details. This is a fabulous opportunity for a great Canadian Mom! :)

Head over here to read the full Search Post and get more information.

Winners!

The winner of some real sweet Valentine's Day Cards is:

Comment #9 - Dianne


The winner of a copy of The Phytozyme Cure is:

Comment #32 - mtbchick

Congrats! Each of you'll have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

For Little People...

When it comes to kids clothing there are a few things that I like to look for...such as quality products that will last for more than one child...products that are versatile (so could be used for boys/girls or in summer/winter)...and although I do love the frills and vibrant colors at times, I also am a huge fan of the simpler side of things. These are the main reasons that a new little shop called Little MoSo caught my eye. They carry childrens' undergarments, clothing, accessories and bath items that are absolutely great. Each item is made from 70% Viscose of Bamboo and 30% Organic Cotton, so they are incredibly soft and comfortable. Besides the fact that their clothes are made from quality fabric, each item is also 100% natural in color with zero added dyes or bleaching. From the first touch of these items from Little MoSo I could tell the difference...you forget what the raw, natural fabric feels like anymore when almost every item you own has been dyed or bleached!

They sent Tate a pair of boxer shorts as well as a long sleeved t-shirt. Both have become quick favorites! Not only are the boxers comfortable, but they are incredibly cute too...let's just say that the motorcycle print on them was a big hit! There are several options for different images you can add to the boxers if you'd like. The fit great and and are definitely the softest pair of undergarments that he has in his drawer. The Long Sleeved Shirt he received is no different...as soft as a kitten and warm too! The great thing about bamboo is that it is warmer in the colder weather and cooler in the warm weather. It is also an option to add a print on this shirt and it's great for both boys and girls. We love using it to add an extra layer under a t-shirt during these cold winter months.

Little MoSo carries some great items for babies and girls as well! There's some really adorable dresses...and even a sleep sack to keep your littlest ones warm. Need some new bath towels or wash cloths? Little MoSo sews these as well...all equally great in softness and quality! So if you're in the market for some quality kids clothing or accessories try adding some of Little MoSo's simple but great products to your home.

BUY IT!
Little MoSo is giving YOU a discount of 15% off sitewide. Use the code: "WELCOME15". Expires February 28, 2011.

Scholastic Monday - Ivy Loves to Give

Giving...the actual season of giving has just past us (Christmas), but that doesn't mean that we should quit giving! A gift is a wonderful thing to receive...and let's admit it...we all love receiving gifts once in a while. :)

Scholastic Canada has a simple little book called Ivy Loves to Give by Freya Blackwood. The book is so simple - yet portrays the beauty of giving in a very real way. It's perfect to teach a child about the gift of giving - even if sometimes you end up with the "wrong" gift. The book is silly, sweet and serious as Ivy tries to give the cat a pacifier, the dog a pair of glasses, and eventually she finds some gifts that fit just right. The book finishes off with Ivy receiving a gift - yet she still portrays that childlike attitude of giving and gives one of the best gifts of all - a hug. This book just warms my heart...and I love reading it with my kids! It's not long, so it's perfect for younger kids who have a shorter attention span, and the pages are filled with simple, colorful drawings for your little ones to look at. Ivy Loves to Give gets a double thumbs up from us! It's a little bit fun, a little bit serious and full of simple thoughts on having a giving heart.

Little Tush - GIVEAWAY!

A lot of people I've spoken to about using cloth diapers have mentioned the price of each diaper as a strong deterrent to switching from disposables to cloth. It's certainly true that some brands of cloth diaper are a little on the pricey side. But there are many others that are reasonably priced, and Little Tush is one!

Little Tush is a new Canadian company that wants to help more people get started using cloth diapers. They want to provide a good quality cloth diaper at an affordable price, making it easier for more people to make the switch.

The Little Tush diaper is a one-size pocket diaper. It's made of waterproof PUL on the outside and a soft microsuede material on the inside. Each diaper comes with 2 large microfiber inserts. The diapers fit most babies from 7 – 35lbs and come in a variety of colors. Little Tush also has biodegradable liners which are designed to make messy clean up easy.

We were sent a Little Tush diaper in green and a roll of liners to try on our new baby. The diaper fastens easily with snaps, and has 2 rise adjustments as well as several width possibilities. The inserts are quite absorbent, although a little bit bulky on a very small baby. The diapers are easy to care for, and helpfully, have a care tag on the inside of the pocket. The Little Tush website provides many helpful tips about washing and using the diapers.

WIN IT!

Little Tush is giving one lucky Glimpse reader a cloth diaper in colour of choice! To enter, please visit Little Tush and comment on the colour you'd choose.

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

• Become a fan of Little Tush on Facebook
• 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 Canadian residents only and ends February 19, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for details.

**Disclaimer: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Little Tush in exchange for being featured on Glimpse.  The product features expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way.  Please see the full Terms of use.

Discount on American Kids Bedding!

I recently published a review of a toddler bed set from American Kids Bedding. They've now created a special discount for Glimpse readers!


BUY IT!


American Kids Bedding is offering Glimpse readers a 10% discount. Use the code AKB2011 at checkout. Offer valid for Canadian and American residents and expires February 19th, 2011.

Valentine's Pizza - GIVEAWAY!

Is your family as fond of Boston Pizza as ours? Our boys love pizza, and their favourite is Boston Pizza! In fact, this is the first restaurant Daniel (age 2) recognized as we drove down the steet, and requested! He loves going there with his Oma and Opa, and also with us. Boston Pizza has been going strong since it first opened a restaurant in Edmonton in 1964, and something they're known for and proud of is their contributions to charity.

"Boston Pizza established the Boston Pizza Foundation in 1990, a public foundation focused on raising funds to help people of all ages living in and with difficult circumstances throughout Canada. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised more than $10.5 million for three national charities: the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Kids Help Phone as well as a host of other regional and local charities. 

From January to February 14, Boston Pizza guests can purchase red paper hearts for a $1 donation and write a Valentine message to someone special. Franchisees will post the hearts throughout the store to fill the halls with love. Donations collected from paper heart sales go to the Boston Pizza Foundation in support of its many charities.  

Especially for Valentine's Day, Boston Pizza is once again making their heart-shaped pizza! "Celebrating Valentine’s Day with a heart-shaped pizza at Boston Pizza is a great way for our guests to have some Valentine’s Day fun and support great charities. Heart-shaped pizzas are available in individual, small and medium size and can be ordered for dine-in, take out or delivery in any of Boston Pizza’s gourmet and create-your-own pizza varieties.  Boston Pizza expects to make more than 50,000 heart-shaped pizzas on Valentine’s Day. One dollar from the sale of each heart-shaped pizza on Valentine’s Day will go to the Boston Pizza Foundation in support of its many charities."

WIN IT!

You can win your own heart-shaped pizza! :) To enter, please share your favourite Valentine’s Day Memory or your idea for the “most romantic” Valentine’s Day gift. One lucky Glimpse reader will win a $10 gift card to Boston Pizza.

Contest open to Canadian residents only and ends at NOON CST on February 8th, 2011 (so your gift card can arrive in time for Valentine's Day).

Rattle with a Rabbit ~ GIVEAWAY!

Chewing, rattling, discovering and playing are all a huge part of a baby's life! I know our little 9 month old girl LOVES to discover new things...and chewing on everything is a must. Shaking all her toys to see if they make a noise is also a must around here. Sometimes it's the simple toys that mean the most to a baby. Dress Me Up is a fabulous etsy shop filled with toys that are both simple and entertaining for our little ones! This time I'd like to feature their Organic Rabbit Rattle...it has all the makings of a wonderful baby toy! The rattle is made from certified organic cotton and lamb's wool. Inside this soft rabbit is a wooden bead rattle that gently "rattles" when your baby shakes it. The great thing about it is that this quieter form of rattle is gentle on baby's ears...and on mommy's ears too!

The quality of these each of the Organic Tree Ring Rabbit Rattles is unlike other baby products...why? Because each rattle is made one at a time in Dress Me Up's Canadian studio. Every rattle is also one of a kind as the exact pattern placement and colors may vary. But you can be sure that the quality and the enjoy-ability factor of the Rabbit Rattle will not vary, but will be consistent...and perfect for the littlest loved ones in your home.

WIN IT!
Dress Me Up is giving away a Rabbit Rattle to one lucky winner (in the color of their choice). In order to get one entry, head over to Dress Me Up and let me know which other item you'd like to own.

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

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on February 18, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclaimer: The product/s mentioned above have been given free of charge from the company or PR firm in exchange for being featured on Glimpse. The product features expressed in this post are those of Glimpse and have not been influenced in any other way. Please see the full Terms of Use.