A headband for girlie!

Well, our girlie finally has enough hair to do something with, and I'm so excited! :) After 2 boys - ergo no hair clips, I'm delighted to start using hair accessories on my baby girl!

A while back we featured a super-soft onesie from Kinderel, a company based in the Greater Vancouver area whose items are made locally. Their babywear is made from organic cotton and bamboo fabrics and their focus is on basic baby clothing products like onesies, hats and mittens.

A new product to their lineup this year is a headband collection: "Pretty in Bamboo!" There are several styles of headband - a few different kinds of flowers in a variety of colours, and a more simple, tie-style headband, which we received. It's great for everyday, not too fussy or frilly. The fabric is stretchy, so while it fits Miss A's head now, it will also fit for quite a while, and she leaves it on her head, so it must feel quite comfortable!

As well as baby clothing and layette items, Kinderel sells bamboo fabrics, in a variety of fabrics, colours, and even an organic selection!

Check out their selection and order your next baby item at Kinderel!

**Disclosure: 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.

Give us a Thumbs Up!

Circle of Moms has a new contest (sort of :) ) going on! They've asked the blogs listed on their Top 25 Review Parent Blog list to tell them what the BEST product is that they've reviewed. The blog who has the product with the most votes gets some free advertising/publicity - which is a great thing for anyone who is a part of Glimpse! It's a great way to get more companies interested in your blog...and a PERFECT way to get more great giveaways to offer YOU, our loyal readers. :)

So, if you have a minute please head over HERE and click on the 'thumbs up' sign beside our description of our favorite product reviewed (which btw is the Strider Running Bike ~ though the Natura Wool Comforter was also a top review product!) You can vote for us once per day...so please...vote again and again! :)

Note: We've also updated all the current giveaways with a NEW entry - which is giving us a vote on Circle of Moms....one vote per day counts for one extra entry per day!

Chex ~ It's Worth Checkin' Out!

It seems that gluten-free diets and gluten intolerance's are becoming more and more common. And we are no stranger to a gluten-free diet either! In fact I cooked gluten-free for 8-9 months this past year for our whole family. It was definitely a challenge at first, but after a while you really start to get the hang of it, and there truly are some real tasty gluten-free foods out there! Did you know that out of all Canadians, 14% of them avoid gluten? That's quite a few, and I have a feeling it is growing as time passes.

So, what is all out there for those who follow gluten-free diets? There is good selection of products, though nothing like you could find for the non-gluten-free diet! A new gluten-free cereal (with TWO flavors!) has just been introduced! Starting in June, Chex can be found in grocery stores all over Canada ~ just take a stroll down the cereal isle and you should find it. Chex gluten-free breakfast cereal is a cereal that not only tastes fabulous, but is perfect for both those who avoid gluten, and for those who are on a regular diet. We have really enjoyed our boxes of Chex (in Honey Nut and Rice!) cereal. And quite honestly, if you didn't know that it was gluten free, you would never guess that it was different from any other cereal. It tastes completely normal, and completely delicious! Besides eating Chex for breakfast, it can also be used in a loads of other great tasting, gluten free recipes that will be 'home-run' meals for your whole family. Starting on June 17th you'll be able to head over to www.chexcanada.com and find all sorts of yummy, everyday recipes. I'm looking forward to finding some new, flavorful meal ideas, snack ideas and more.

Chex is a great alternative for families or individuals who avoid gluten, and I would highly recommend it. (Honey Nut was our favorite variety in case you're wondering...though Rice was pretty good too. :) ) Even if you're not gluten-free, this is still a cereal that should be in your cupboard!

Disclosure: I am participating in the Chex Gluten Free program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received a Chex gift pack and a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Sun, Sun, Sun, here we come! GIVEAWAY!

And with certified organic sunscreen too! :)

So, summer is here, the sun is here, and we're breaking out the sunscreen! We've tried a variety of sunscreens, from what's available at our local supermarket to "natural" formulations - in the search of something quick to put on those wiggly kids, something that will protect them, and something that will be safe for them. We think we've found the answer now!

Green Beaver Cie is a proudly Canadian company. All of their personal care products are formulated using pure, natural ingredients and are certified organic! From shampoos to hand soaps, face creams to lip balms, deodorant to toothpaste, and kids products - Green Beaver has a great product range! Started by 2 parents with a background in chemical and pharmaceutical industries, who were concerned about the chemicals used in regular personal care formulations, Green Beaver has grown to be a large company with products available online and at retail stores across Canada.

Our families have been lucky enough to try out a few of Green Beaver's products!

Certified organic SPF 30 Kids Body Lotion

Julie's Take on Green Beaver Sunscreen
Something that caught my attention about this sunscreen is the fact that it's non-whitening! We've tried other organic, natural sunscreens, and they were hard to rub in and left us looking a little ghostly! :) Green Beaver's sunscreen is easy to rub in, although it is a bit greasy-feeling at first. We've used in on our kids (and ourselves) several times lately when we've been outside for long periods of time in the sun, and it's worked very well for us. Another thing I really like about the sunscreen is that it's fragrance-free! I really don't need to go around smelling like a coconut or pineapple, or some other tropical scent! The Sunscreen is approved by Health Canada - which makes me a lot more confident using it.

Andrea's Take on Green Beaver Sunscreen
We have definitely been making use of our fabulous, ORGANIC sunscreen from Green Beaver. It was the perfect thing to use when we set up our kiddie pool in the backyard last week. They had so much fun...and since I'd applied Green Beaver's sunscreen I had no worries about sunburns on our kids. It worked wonderfully in and out of the water. I do agree with Julie on the fact that the sunscreen is a bit greasy-ish at first, but other than that we loved every aspect of it - including that it was fragrance free which makes it EVEN better for young kids or those of us with extra sensitive skin. Green Beaver Sunscreen is definitely a product that I'd buy again, as it is safe, natural and does the job well!

Green Beaver also makes an adult version of the sunscreen - check it out here!

Certified organic SPF 15 Lip Balm

You mustn't forget your lips when you're out in the sun! This lip balm works great - I like how it feels, and it seems to do the job well!

Winter Face Cream

Maybe you don't need this so much in the summer - it's a great face cream for fall and winter though! The winter air - cold and dry - can seriously cause problems for sensitive face skin, especially if you're prone to dry skin anyway. I found this cream to be a great product to use, especially after a shower, to help get my dry skin back on track. It's a thick, rich-feeling cream that rubs in easily without leaving your face feeling greasy or "over-creamed!"

WIN IT!

Just in time for your summer vacation, you could win a Kids Sunscreen! To enter, please "like" Green Beaver on Facebook and tell them Glimpse sent you!

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

• Comment on another Green Beaver product you'd like to try
• Like Glimpse on Facebook (this is different from becoming our friend!)
• Follow Glimpse on Twitter & tweet about the contest (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please.
• Vote for us & our Favorite Review Product at Circle Of Moms (click on the thumbs up sign beside our "top product" description.

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA ONLY! Contest ends on July 12, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Devon Consulting for Green Beaver 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.

Scholastic Monday ~ When I Grow Up

This time around for Scholastic Monday we are featuring a book that we LOVED! Scholastic Canada sent us an adorable book called When I Grow Up, by Lenoid Gore. The book starts off with a little boy asking "What will I be when I grow up?" He takes a look at nature which gives him some fabulous answers or ideas. My favorite one was probably a raindrop who would grow up to be a fast-running river. Or the little green shoot who grows up to be a the tallest & mightiest tree! The little boy sees that he could be something pretty great and special too...and what he chose to be when he grew up was perhaps the most precious part of the whole book - to grow up to be just like his dad. This book features the spirit of child SO well. Children are often the ones who have the time and TAKE the time to look at our beautiful world...and gain inspiration from it! And the ending - where the little boy wants to be just like his Daddy is definitely a sentiment that most children have as well.

When I Grow up also has gorgeous, colorful pictures that include die-cut illustrations as well. This makes the book extra fun for little ones, and I know my kids enjoy it immensely!

**Disclosure: 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 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.

Canadian Blog Bash! ~ GIVEAWAY (5 WINNERS!)

It's a week of CELEBRATION here on Canadian blogs across the blogosphere! :) There is a Great Canadian Blog Bash going on - open to all Canadian blogs, and many have giveaways going on too - be sure to keep reading to find out what great Canadian product we'll be giving away to FIVE lucky winners right here on Glimpse!! And if you're a Canadian blogger and want to be involved, head over to one of the host blogs and link up! Let's celebrate Canada together! Now, on to our featured Canadian product & giveaway...


BOIRON CANADA~ Soothing Kids Naturally

When it comes to natural remedies, there are some that just don't do the trick...BUT there are others that do the trick and then some! Boiron Canada is one of the companies that makes the some of the BEST natural products around for soothing your kids naturally. Boiron uses homeopathic medicines to relieve symptoms and from our experience so far, homeopathy works! My all-time favorite product from them right now is Camilia which is a natural remedy to relieve teething symptoms. With a 1 year old who is getting 6 teeth or more right now, this has been a life-saver. It is especially helpful at night...it relieves the pain & restlessness and soothes her. Besides the fact that Camila really works (97% of parents were satisfied (Legendre Lubawin, Golfarb Inc. 2001 study), I also love that it contains absolutely no alcohol, sugar, coloring, flavoring or preservatives. Put those 2 things together and Boiron's Camilia gets and A+!

We also tried Boiron's Coryzalia which provides relief from cold symptoms. Along with teething often come colds...and that is exactly what we have with our youngest at the moment, so this has also been VERY helpful to have on hand! It helps with some of the normal cold symptoms...such as runny noses, sneezing and congestion. I have noticed that our little girl has noticeably less of these three symptoms when I give her a dose or 2 of Coryzalia. I have to also mention Stodal...Boiron's cough syrup remedy. We have also put this to the test and it really, really helps with that night-time cough that always seems to keep kids awake (plus it tastes yummy!) Both of these are simple and safe ways to help a cold-ridden babe to feel a bit better! While we're on the topic of sick children, Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic remedy for the flu. How many times I have wished for a good flu remedy for my kids...and though we haven't had a chance to try this one out yet, I am certain that with the good track record that Boiron already has, Oscillococcinum will be able to the trick when it comes to the flu.

If you're on the search for some good, natural remedies (that are readily available!!) for your children, I would highly recommend Boiron. We LOVE their products and I always keep them on hand.

WIN IT!
Boiron Canada would like to offer a box of Camilia (30 doses or teething relief) to FIVE winners! In order to get one entry head over to Boiron and let us know which of their products you would love to try if you had the chance.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Vote for us & our Favorite Review Product at Circle Of Moms (click on the thumbs up sign beside our "top product" description.
~ Like Boiron Canada on Facebook
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter
~ NEW ENTRY: 'LIKE' Glimpse on Facebook (this is NOT the same as being a friend 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 July 1, 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 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.

Canadian Free Stuff!

We all love free stuff, don't we? There's just something about the word FREE that makes us want to be involved...and know where and how to get something free as well. I recently found a great site for all of our fabulous Canadian readers. It's called Canadian Free Stuff, and it is filled to the brim with free stuff, and links leading you to where you can get even more free stuff! Here's a taste of what you'll find at Canadian Free Stuff:

Free Samples - They list where to find free samples that are sent in your mailbox, such as free beauty products, or free downloadable programs.

Free Coupons - Huge section on Coupons, including how to coupon, and weekly coupon deals found in grocery stores across Canada.

Free Contests - Listings of contests to enter.

Canada Deals - Listings of all Canada store details in retail, including coupon codes for online shopping.

If all of that is not enough, they also have a Canadian free stuff Message Board with over 17000 members sharing what sorts of deals and free items they have found!

It's worth taking a look at...and perhaps you'll even end up with some great samples or other items for free! Enjoy!

**Disclosure: I received compensation in return for promoting this company. 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.

Good Nights with Graco

Graco offers several different styles and types of baby monitors. I reviewed one of these monitor sets a few weeks back, and now I'm going to share another one with you! We've also been using and testing out the Direct Connect™ Digital Monitor with 2 Parent Units. This monitor has some neat features that I enjoy. One being the talk back feature, which allows me to talk to my kids without having to get up and go to their room! This really comes in handy at 5am or 6am when I hear them starting to giggle with each other and get just a little too noisy for that time of morning. :) It's nice not to have to drag myself out of bed...but to just be able to quietly remind them about our "morning rules" while staying in the comfort of my bed! Another feature that I enjoy on this monitor is that the child unit has a nightlight on it...and has several settings for the nightlight so you can make it brighter or dimmer, or off. A few of the other features on this monitor set include:

~ Secure digital technology for optimal clarity, performance and privacy
~ 900 MHz frequency means no interference from phones and electronics
~ 2000 ft. range
~ Parent unit displays baby’s room temperature, assuring you he’s comfortable

Our personal experience with the monitor set has been somewhat mixed. We LOVE the features it offers and the ease of use. It is very user friendly and is definitely includes all the options you need to have the peace of mind that your baby is sleeping safe & sound. On the other hand, we have had some trouble with the parent and child units not connecting properly. The parent unit often cuts in and out and occasionally cuts out long enough that it will beep - signifying that it is not connected at all anymore. We've tried various things, including re-pairing the monitor units, changing the locations of the units, etc. Even though the monitor claims to have optimal clarity because it is digital and is on a 900mz frequency, it is not very consistently clear for us. I wonder if one of our phones or wireless items may be interfering....

All in all, I would rate the Direct Connect™ Digital Monitor from Graco as a middle of the road product. It has fabulous features, and would be an amazing monitor if only it didn't have so much trouble connecting to the child unit.

**Disclosure: 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 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.

Winners!

The winner of a small wet bag from Toots n' Tots is:

Comment #82 - Tara


The winner of a Baby Gourmet Gift Basket is:

Comment #2 - flowerchild

Her best "Daddy taking care of baby story" was as follows:

My daughters first halloween my husband and i went out and bought her the cutest bunny costume..We were super excited to dress her up.My husband was bouncing her around like a bunny while i was taking pics and videos..Next thing i heard was my husband saying he thought she pooped, so i told him to change her..But to his surprise it was a blow out (the kind that goes up there backs) He was very disgusted ,not that she pooped and he had to change it but that she got it all over her new halloween costume...lol so he cleaned her up and washed out her costume by hand and thru it in the dryer..And within about 20 mins she was back in her halloween costume.

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

A Safari in your own Backyard!

Now that nicer weather is here, it's great to see how the kids play outside in the backyard. The adventures they have... :) We have a couple of little explorers, and it's fun to watch what they can dream up! They'd love to be out and about more often, but with a little baby in the family, and the family car in use most days, we're somewhat less mobile than we used to be. So there's a lot of play in the backyard.

Luckily for us, Team Mom sent us some of the latest releases in the Backyard Safari line! Backyard Safari Outfitters has designed a collection of gear to spur on your little nature explorer. Each product comes with a "pop-up" field guide that gives ideas for possible missions using the gear. As well, you adventurers can collect patches (included in the sets) as they complete missions. Sets can be used on their own, or with other items in the collection, so it's a great idea for gifts over a period of time.

We received several items from the Backyard Safari Outfitters Collection:

• Cargo Vest
• Base Camp Shelter (with mini lantern)
• Camouflage netting
• Lazer Light But Vacuum
• Hiking Stick

The boys are both really keen on all the items, although the age range is 5 and up. Daniel (age 2) doesn't really have any idea of going on missions, he just likes to be in the tent and tries to catch bugs! Jonathan (age 5) has caught on to the mission idea much more, although he likes to use the items in his own scenarios as well. I think that's one of the things I like best about the Backyard Safari items: there's ideas for when you're stuck for something to do, but everything is also open-ended enough to be used in whatever imagination you prefer.


Cargo Vest...($19.99)
is great for convincing yourself and everyone else that you're an adventurer! With many pockets and clips for all your gear, you really adopt an explorer persona! The vest is a great place to stick the iron-on patches for when you've completed missions!

Base Camp Shelter (40" tall)...($39.99)
is like a tent or sun shelter. It comes with 3 poles and sets up quite easily, especially if you're familiar with tents. It doesn't come with pegs, but on a windy day, we found that tent pegs held the shelter down nicely. There's room in the shelter for 2 "sleeping" boys :), and the camouflage netting covers the opening well. Jonathan can almost set up the shelter by himself. The shelter is lightweight and comes with it's own carrying bag.

Camouflage netting (5X8')...($14.99)
can be used over top of yourself or your hideout - so you can "hide in plain sight!" So far, Jonathan still hasn't been able to hide from us for long :) but it gives the adventure that note of secrecy! Plus, if you are using it for watching wildlife (ie backyard birds), it gives enough shelter that movements don't scare the animals away. The netting is made of rip-stop nylon, is stretchy, and available in brown or green.

Jonathan admiring his "catch"!

Lazer Light Bug Vacuum...($19.99)
is really cool! I've even used it myself - when I don't want to catch a bug in the house! :) Jonathan has been busy catching various bugs outside and in (the woodlice in the basement have been keeping him busy). There is a screen at the end of the bug catcher part of the vacuum, but you'd still have to be careful not to suck up dirt that could get in the motor. The "catch" pod has a built-in magnifying glass that doubles as a way to close the pod, so your bug doesn't get away.

Hiking Stick (48")...($14.99)
comes with "carved" wolf's head on the top. Jonathan hasn't used the stick so much - he's more into the other stuff. The stick makes it outside with the rest of the gear, and then gets forgotten in the excitement of bug catching, but that's likely because there's not too much scope for hiking in our backyard! Included are several hiking missions and an iron-on patch.

Backyard Safari items are available online at Summit Toy Shop (the parent company), Amazon.com, Toysrus.com and Toysrus.ca, Mastermind Toys, Calendar Club Canada and Bass Pro Shops.

WIN IT!

One lucky Glimpse winner will be able to start (or add to) the family's collection of Backyard Safari items! They're offering Field Binocs and the 6-in-1 tool set! To enter, please visit Backyard Safari and comment on another product you (or your child) thinks is cool!

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

• 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.
• Like Glimpse on Facebook
• Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)
• Vote for us on Picket Fence Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)
• Vote for us on Top Mommy Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)

Contest open to CANADA and US residents and ends on July 6, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Team Mom for Backyard Safari 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.

Naturally Proud!

...to be Canadian that is! :)

A patriotic opportunity is coming your way - and I think a little more patriotism wouldn't hurt any of us Canadians! We've got a great country, and you've only got to travel a little bit, either within Canada or internationally, to appreciate it even more!

And, just in time for Canada Day, a great Canadian shirt for your little one! You might as well start young!

A while back, we told you about Boské Kids, a Canadian children's clothing company, based in the Pacific Northwest, aims to provide clothing items that meet the specs: soft, comfortable and natural, and ethically produced. Remember?

Boské Kids sources their materials in Peru. Items are made from Pima Cotton and Baby Alpaca Wool (from the first shearing of the adult alpaca, not from baby alpacas!).  Materials are hand harvested, dyed using natural, vegetable-based dyes and eco-friendly. The clothing is fair-trade/sweatshop free, made by family-run suppliers in Peru and made using nickel-free snaps.

We were sent a really cute t-shirt from the baby collection, made from Pima Cotton. I didn't realize how soft this knit fabric is until I held the shirt. And I love the design, perfect for Canada Day, but also great for any other summer day as well. The shirt is long enough to stay down (no exposed tummies here!) and easy to put on, thanks to the stretchy neck ribbing. It would be perfect for either a baby boy or girl - just a simple, great shirt!

Annalies' hair is getting long enough to hold a clip in, for a while, at least until she reaches up and pulls the clip right out! The clips from the Boské Kids accessories collection are super-cute, and this one stayed in surprisingly well, even on slippery, fine baby hair, although I think it would be more suited for an older child. The clips are available in various colour combinations. Once again, the flowers are very soft, made from cotton, and the clip is also wrapped in cotton on one side to prevent scratching or snagging. Annalies has received several compliments on her cute clip! :)

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Boské Kids 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.

Winner!

The winner of 4 tickets to Sesame Street Live in Calgary is:

Comment #5: Hillary

Congratulations! Please contact me within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Super Soft & Sweet ~ GIVEAWAY!

A comfortable pair of pj's for night is more important than one might think! It really does make a difference in the amount of, and quality of sleep that you get during the night. Tate recently received the sweetest (and softest!) pair of pj's that he's had for a long time. Tree House Funwear is a great Canadian shop that makes a great selection of quality products for families. We received an organic cotton 2 piece pajama set with the adorable Praying Boy image on them. Each and every product at Tree House Funwear is made by the company themselves, and the whole family can feel great about wearing and using the products from Tree House Funwear. One of the things that I really appreciate about these organic pajama's is that they come in larger sizes - even up to size 12-14! I think you will agree that most online shops focus on the smaller sizes for toddlers and babies, so it's fabulous to find a store that creates products of the same caliber - if not even better! - that are available in larger sizes.

Tree House Funwear recently has released a new product that is ideal for the hot summer months! Kool Bands are made specifically to help you stay cool in the midst of the summer heat. You simply soak the Kool Band in cold water, and tie it around your neck, where it helps you stay cool while the special water absorbing material slowly allows water to evaporate by using heat from your neck/body. They come in some fun prints too, and could even add some style to your summer outfit...all while helping you stay cool.

Tree House Funwear is all about providing you with quality clothing & products that are made with care...and you better believe that they had fun making them for you too! :) You'll find products for the whole family over at Tree House Funwear (I love their Bunting Bags for infants ~ they are just precious.) Head over and check out their fabulous & fun products and designs.

WIN IT!
Tree House Funwear is giving away a pair of PJ's to one lucky winner! In order to get one entry, head over to Tree House Funwear and let us know which image you'd choose for your pj set if you won...or let us know another product you saw that you'd like to try!

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Vote for us & our Favorite Review Product at Circle Of Moms (click on the thumbs up sign beside our "top product" description.
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter
~ NEW ENTRY: 'LIKE' Glimpse on Facebook (this is NOT the same as being a friend of Glimpse on facebook)
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)
~ Vote for us on Picket Fence Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)
~ Vote for us on Top Mommy Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on July 4, 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 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.

Winner!

The winner of TWO Saguenay 8900 pillows from OBASAN is:

Comment #533 - Annie1

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

Welcome to Canada iVillage!

Over the years, I've spent a fair bit of time surfing around iVillage's website, all the while mentally filtering information that wasn't applicable to us in Canada! In early May, in partnership with Rogers, iVillage.ca was launched, providing Canadian women with a one-stop online destination for engaging content, community and a ground-breaking multimedia campaign.

Many of us in the Glimpse community are parents or grandparents, and have probably looked online for information or advice on parenting or related topics. When I poked around the new iVillage.ca website, I noticed features on:

• pregnancy and issues of interest to pregnant women
• hot topics related to parenting and children's health
• recipes and nutrition articles
• and much more!

Best of all, it's all tailored to us in Canada, with a little serving of international news and interest on the side! :)

"iVillage.ca will feature original content, alongside top features from iVillage.com and stories from popular Rogers Media brands such as Chatelaine, CityLine and sweetspot.ca. The community-driven site will also connect women to their much beloved iVillage.com discussion boards and feature new discussions for Canadian women about issues important to them. iVillage.ca is proud to bring a slate of A-list experts and contributors to the table for launch, including one of Babble’s top 10 Canadian mommy bloggers, Catherine Connors (Her Bad Mother) who will write an exclusive weekly column titled “Straight Up from Her Bad Mother”; Home Heist’s Cheryl Torrenueva who comes on board as the iVillage.ca home expert; and Lianne Phillipson-Webb, author of SproutRite, who will dish out weekly nutrition advice for the family.   

iVillage.ca is all about passion and what better way to launch than with The iVillage Passion Project  – an interactive program that invites Canadian women to share their passions for the best things in life; for things like family, fashion, fitness, celebrity, work and relationships. It’s also a chance to watch other women – including CityLine’s Tracy Moore and Sportsnet’s Martine Gaillard – talk about the things that matter most in a collection of over 50 vibrant original videos. 

Watching videos also gives viewers a chance to WIN one of over 250 prizes – instantly – plus score daily entries into a grand-prize sweepstakes, where one lucky participant will pick up a trip for four to Universal Orlando® Resort. To collect bonus entries, users are invited to add their passions to the dynamic iVillage Passion Wall. Editorial about all-things-passion will live throughout the site during the months of May and June and is sponsored by Pantene Pro-V®, COVERGIRL NatureLuxe, Pampers and Olay Regenerist."

Seriously, all you have to do is watch a video about someone's passion (the one I watched today was about someone who really likes music!), and you might win an instant prize (I didn't :( ). But YOU might be luckier than me - I'm not known to be the luckiest person around! I once won a marshmallow in junior high school! Very exciting -not! Anyway, you are also entered to win the grand prize - a 3 night trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort! The grand prize includes:

• Roundtrip airfare to Orlando, Florida
• Ground transfers to/from airport in Orlando
• Admission to both Universal Orlando theme parks
• Accommodations on-site at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort

Even better - you can watch a different video every day, for more chances to win! While I'd love to win a trip to Orlando, some of the "instant win" prizes look pretty good too! After all, who doesn't like winning!

Speaking of winning...

WIN IT!

In conjunction with the launch of the iVillage Passion Project, Foxy Originals has designed a heart necklace. One lucky Glimpse reader will win a necklace ($30 value), in either silver or gold! To enter, please visit iVillage.ca and comment here on something you liked about the new website.

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

• 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.
• Like Glimpse on our new Facebook page
• Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)
• Vote for us on Picket Fence Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)
• Vote for us on Top Mommy Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)

Contest open to Canadian readers only and ends June 30, 2011. Please view our giveaway rules for more info.

**Disclosure: I will receive an iVillage Heart Necklace in exchange for this post. Information regarding iVillage.ca has been copied from their press release dated May 9, 2011. Please see the full Terms of use.

Delicious & Nutricious ~ GIVEAWAY!

In the last year or so our family has become a LOT more in tune with what is good for our bodies. Let's face it...there's a lot of good tasting "bad stuff" out there! :) I'll be the first to admit that I love a good chocolate bar, or even a big bowl of dry cereal in the morning, but when it comes right down to it, those things are often filled with ingredients that are not good for our bodies. That said, we are always on the lookout for healthy foods that taste great! Gillian's Herbs is an amazing website that provides the highest quality of herbal products at prices that are affordable. Everything they sell is made with fresh ingredients and is made from certified organic or wildcrafted herbs. Gillian's Herbs sent us a few treats (the kind that our bodies will love :) ) to try out.

We received a jar of Mineral Mix. This stuff is good! Not only is it filled with minerals, vitamins and micro-nutrients, but it is VERY tasty. It is a delicious mixture of nutritional yeast, roasted organic sesame seeds, organic granulated garlic, pacific kelp, wildcrafted nettle and spirulina. We've used it on all sorts of food...in our cereal, soup, any meals, etc. But our favorite place to use the mineral mix is on the food that was recommended to us as the most popular - popcorn. YUM! That popcorn quickly disappeared, and our whole family enjoyed it! Did you know that eating kelp, spirulina and garlic (three of the ingredients in the mineral mix) are extremely helpful in removing radioactive toxins from the body?? I found this to be SO interesting - especially with all of the latest radiation fears coming from Japan. Regardless, the Mineral Mix from Gillian's herbs is definitely worthwhile - we LOVE both love the taste of it - put that together with the tremendous benefits your body will receive and you've got a winning product!

I've also been enjoying a cup of Whole Body Health Tea every evening for a week or two now. Gillian's Herbs has a variety of organic, herbal teas that nourish your body and
aid specific parts of your body as well. This particular tea is an all-round, good-for-you tea that is really meant for the whole body. This tea has quickly become a favorite of mine! I love the variety of herbs it has in it, and it honestly tastes great! You can even make it into a cold 'ice tea' drink if you'd prefer.

Gillian's Herbs also carries a variety of helpful salves, Aromatherapy products and more. One thing I love about Gillian's Herbs is that each and every products was created and formulated by the owner, so it is unlikely that you will find anything else just like it on the market. We were thoroughly impressed with Gillian's Herbs and would definitely recommend her products. They are full of nutritious ingredients, are high-quality, they taste wonderful and they truly are affordable! (Both the tea and mineral mix mentioned above are only $8 each!!)

WIN IT!
Gillian's Herbs is giving away a jar of their delicious Mineral Mix as well as a container of either Seven Herb Healing Salve OR Hard Working Hands Salve (winner's choice!) In order to get one entry, please take a look at Gillian's Herbs and let us know which item you'd love to try the most, or something you learned while you were browsing.

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ Vote for us & our Favorite Review Product at Circle Of Moms (click on the thumbs up sign beside our "top product" description.
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter
~ NEW ENTRY: 'LIKE' Glimpse on Facebook (this is NOT the same as being a friend of Glimpse on facebook)
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)
~ Vote for us on Picket Fence Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)
~ Vote for us on Top Mommy Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on June 30, 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 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.

A great chance to win...

If you are in the Calgary area, or will be from July 29-31st, check out our Sesame Street Live contest! The contest closes June 18th, and right now there are only 4 entries, so your chances of winning tickets are really good!

Winner!

The winner of a wonderfully fun Motorik "rollercoaster" rattle from HeidiKids is:

Comment #41: Dianne

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to contact me to claim your prize!

Splish splash, Dora's taking a bath!

It's great fun to play in the bath! Next best to taking a bath yourself, is to play bathtime with your toys! What better way than with Dora's Bath Time! This Mega Bloks set is really fun to add to the blocks collection, and contains some really great pieces!

Once again, you can "build" Dora, by changing her skirt! This time you can switch the turquoise skirt for a bright yellow one, and hang the other one on the hanger (2 included) on the clothes rod! Dora can jump in the tub with her rubber ducky :), blow her hair dry and style it in front of a mirror and scrub up her friend Boots too! Stickers are included to add bubbles to the scene, as well as a bar of soap (stick on a block).

Once again, the set is rated 3+, because of the small pieces included, but probably also because of the fine motor skills needed to put the pieces together, although Daniel is only 2 1/2 and does fine.

Both boys like the bath time set, especially when used in conjunction with other blocks. It's easy to add to your block house, so all the characters can jump in the tub! I think this is what I like best about block sets - you can add them together to make a bigger building or story, and it really does encourage their creativity. I've heard both boys giving a running monologue as they build, making their characters "talk" as they go from place to place - it's really cute to listen too! And, every time you can build something new!

Dora's Bath Time retails for approximately $17 in Canada ($15 US), and is available at Kmart, Toys "R" Us (US, Canada and Online), Wal-Mart (Canada, US and Online), some Target locations and Amazon.com.

Join the Mega Bloks Family Club!

Members receive:
coupons, offers and promototions and can enter contests
a newsletter containing information on new toys, great building ideas etc.
You'll also be able to read blog entries by a leading panel of mom bloggers (not yours truly this time!)

To sign up, visit : familyclub.megabloks.com


**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Mega Bloks through Team Mom 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.

Did you know??

Glimpse Reviews has a new Facebook Page? Instead of liking us on our Facebook profile, we can now build out our own fan club! Become a fan of Glimpse Reviews! From now on, our contests will point to our Fan page - please join us over there!

Daddy's Taking Care of Baby ~ GIVEAWAY

We've done a number of reviews/posts & contests before on the fabulous Canadian baby food line known as Baby Gourmet. And the fact that it just keeps showing up on our blog is a confirmation that this stuff really is GREAT!

In case you're new to our blog and haven't heard of Baby Gourmet before, let me give you the scoop. :) Baby Gourmet is an organic baby food company that makes the best tasting baby food on the market. And this is no exaggeration! Just listening to friends say how their babies gobble up the stuff, and watching my own kids do the same is proof that the baby food is delicious...and I hear that even moms and dads like to sneak a taste now and then! It is delicious, nutritious and is made from 100% Organic ingredients, no thickeners or fillers, no added sugar or salt, and is packaged in BPA Free, re-sealable (and very handy!) packaging.

With Father's Day being just around the bend, Baby Gourmet is looking for YOUR funniest "Daddy taking care of baby story!" I've often heard the saying that "Daddies do things differently!" ;) I'm sure there are a lot of good stories floating around out there of how Dads do things when mom's not around, and I can't wait to hear them! Let's get the ball rolling with a story of our own...

I had put out piles of clothing for each of our kids and went to take a shower. Daddy was in charge of dressing them...so taking each pile and putting it on the correct child. After a refreshing shower I come out to find a very funny sight. :) Our 4 year old boy was wearing some very small 2 year old GIRL'S clothing and our 2 year old girl was wearing some very large 4 year old BOY clothing! haha. :) It was quite funny...and he hadn't even noticed that anything was strange about the clothes the kids were wearing. ;)

Now it's your turn!!

WIN IT!
Baby Gourmet is giving a basket FULL of fabulous Baby Gourmet products to one family. In order to enter please share your funniest "Daddy taking care of baby story" in the comments. We will select our favorite Dad story and it will be posted on Baby Gourmet's Facebook page.

OPEN TO CANADA ONLY! Giveaway ends June 18, 2011.

P.S. IF you are selected as the winner you will have a chance to win a second time (Baby Gourmet will be choosing the best story for all the sites participating in this contest) - and this time the winner will receive a year's supply of Baby Gourmet! Yum!

**Disclosure: 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.

Scholastic Monday ~ Meow Said the Cow

It's time for Scholastic Monday again, and this week Scholastic Canada is featuring a fun book that is perfect for any toddler or preschooler that loves animals and making animals sounds! My 3 & 4 year olds are all about pretending to be lions, horses, cows, cats, etc...all complete with animals sounds! Meow said the Cow by Emma Dodd is a book that would be thoroughly enjoyed by any kids who love animals and the sounds they make. The story features the cat who thinks the farmyard is entirely TOO noisy! So with a flick of her "magical" tail everything changes. The sheep are barking, cows are meowing, chickens are oinking and the animals are not at all pleased with their new sounds. The story has a fun ending with a silly twist that is sure to create some giggles.

Besides the fact that the story is entertaining, I also love the idea that little ones can participate in the story with animals sounds of their own! It's an easy book to use to engage young readers and captivate them for the duration of the story. The illustrations are colorful and fun as well. All in all, it is a fun (and perhaps even a little bit of a noisy!) book for parents/ teachers and kids alike.

**Disclosure: 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 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.

Carry your little one!

One thing about babies, most of them like to be carried around, and until they've reached a certain age, you need to carry them a lot! I don't know about you, but my arms, hip, back etc get pretty tired after a few minutes of carrying our squirmy, "have to see it all" little girl! :) So we've been experimenting with different carriers, as there are so many styles available.

Throughout my childhood, I heard a lot about the country of Peru, as one of our family friends was a missionary there. I've always been fascinated by the stories she told us and the pictures we've seen from there. And, I've always thought that their traditionally-coloured, woven cloth, was so beautiful.

So it seemed ironically fitting that, when I was asked if I'd like to try out a carrier from Snaps 'n' Snails, it would be one made in Peru! We chose a Mei Tai, from the Felizzy brand. We've reviewed a couple of other items from Snaps 'n' Snails: a cloth diaper and a Ring Sling.

Snaps 'n' Snails is an online shop that carries mainly cloth diapering and babywearing products. Many of their items are unique, and very different from what I've seen before! The carriers they sell are all from the Felizzy brand: Mei Tais, Ring Slings and Pouch Carriers. Felizzy products are handmade in Peru, by men and women artisans in the Andes mountains. The wool in each carrier is hand loomed and sewn onto each one, using traditional Peruvian style and technique. Felizzy products are fair trade, which is something I feel good about, and a philosophy I like to support.

The front panel of the Mei Tai carrier is made from a traditionally woven wool fabric, in a beautiful design we associate with Peruvian weaving, and available in many different colours. The inner layer, shoulder and waist straps are made from an organic cotton. It's recommended for babies from 6 months and up, and can be worn in the front or back - the front position can be used for babies under 6 months. A Mei Tai is made so that one size fits most people, which is handy if you're looking for a carrier that can be used by more than one caregiver. Another advantage of this Mei Tai is that it folds up to a very compact size, so it's easy to pack and take along.

As with any carrier, it takes some practice with getting it on and off, and Richard and I found it helpful at first to put it on while the other one was there watching, to make sure everything was going right, especially with carrying Annalies on the back. It's fairly easy to do the front carry, because you can see what is happening with baby and the carrier, but it's a little trickier when it's all happening behind you!

With Annalies growing so fast (she's over 19 lbs now at nearly 7 months!), and my back issues (a couple of car accidents resulting in whiplash), I'm having trouble carrying her in any sort of carrier for a longer time now. That said, the Mei Tai has been very useful for short-time carrying, especially just running in to a store here or there. With straps over each shoulder and on each hip, the weight is distributed and Annalies seems to sit comfortably!

Check out Snaps 'n' Snails here to see the cool products they have to offer!

**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Snaps 'n' Snails 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.

A SnugRide for Baby

When it comes to our children, we definitely do our very best to keep them safe, don't we? Graco is all about creating and manufacturing products that are safe, handy and perfect for parents and children. Among their fabulous selection of products you will find the SnugRide® 35 infant car seat. It is top-rated and has won several awards...which proves how fabulous it really is. The seat was constructed with lots of careful planning and of course, with very thorough safety testing which included side-impact testing.

There are several features that really stand out to me in the Graco SnugRide 35. One of these is that the car seat is good for rear-facing infants who are up to 35lbs and 32 inches tall. This is unusual for an infant car seat as all of the others that I've looked "expire" at much lower weights and shorter heights. The seat also comes with a base which stays in the car and has a VERY handy one-hand dial adjustment to make sure that you'll have the proper angle. The seat is easy to use, easy to install and well...it's easy to see why it has been named a favorite across the country! Here's a few other benefits that you'll receive with the SnugRide 35:

~ It includes EPS, energy absorbing foam for effective impact energy management
~ Base features integrated belt lock-off for easier seat belt installation* (*versus using the locking clip)
~ 5-point, front-adjust harness helps you get baby in and out
~ Compatibility with most Graco strollers lets you create custom-built travel systems

In our opinion, Graco's SnugRide 35 is a top-notch infant car seat! It's built to be safe, comfortable and easy to use. In our books, it definitely meets each of these standards and we would highly recommend it to other moms or families. Head over to Graco to take a look at the different styles/colors! Or just take a peek and see what other great baby products Graco can offer your family.

**Disclosure: 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 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.

Mama and me with [BIS.KOT]!

It's so exciting to hear back from companies that we've featured on Glimpse, and especially to hear that they're doing well and have branched out! This spring, we've featured Omaïki a couple of times - and we're still loving the cloth diaper and nursing pads they sent us! New to the company is [BIS.KOT], a line of maternity and nursing clothes! The 3 tops and 1 dress in the collection can all be used during AND after pregnancy, easily! Plus, there's a child-sized top in the collection as well, matching Mom's colours exactly! :)

The clothing pieces are made from modal, which is a form of rayon made from spinning reconstituted cellulose from beech trees. (thank you Wikipedia!) Modal is smooth, soft and breathes well. It's machine washable and resists shrinkage. Each piece in the collection has an Asian name, and a distinct Asian flair to it's styling.

Annalies and I each received a top from the [BIS.KOT] collection. As well as being smooth and soft, they're stretchy - super for expanding tummies - and very very comfortable. The fabric is light-weight and very easy to wash and wear.

I received the Sakura top in blue (it's also available in a beautiful spring green). This wrap-style top goes on like your favourite t-shirt and has a matched insert, making it less revealing around the neckline - isn't that where little fingers always want to grab and pull? :) The attached ties can be knotted in the front, at the side, or the back, wherever it fits and suits you best. Unless you are (or have been) a nursing mom, you probably wouldn't ever suspect that this stylish top is a nursing top. What I really like about the Sakura top is that it is easy to wear anywhere, and easy to adjust so baby can nurse well.  It's designed so extra exposure is minimized while still allowing baby full access and the necessary skin-to-skin contact.

Annalies looks great in blue - it really emphasizes those big blue eyes of hers! (not that they need emphasizing, really, they're big and bright enough on their own!) The baby t-shirt, Youji,  has lap-shoulder openings and is super easy to get on! :) (even on a baby who doesn't like things going over her head!) Another plus is the stretchy fabric, as this shirt fits Annalies well, even with her round tummy, without making her look huge! The baby shirt is also available in black, with a stars motif, and matches well with the Miruku top with it's corresponding design on the back!

Check out the Takara top, with rouched sides, and the Keiko dress - elbow-length sleeves, knee-length full skirt and beautiful purple wrap ties.

[BIS.KOT] is available at retailers in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta as well as online directly from Omaïki. To inquire about carrying the collection in your shop, please use the contact form on the wholesale page.


**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from [BIS.KOT] 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.

Winner!

The Winner of Chuggington Interactive Railway set is:

Comment #2 - Jennifer

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

Winners!

Congratulations to the 3 winners of the Crest/Oral B Pro Health FOR ME contest:

Comment #227: Jennifer L.

Comment #425: D. Calvert

Comment #55: ksceviour

Please contact me within 72 hours or new winners will be chosen!

Keep the Wet Contained ~ GIVEAWAY!

We are no strangers to cloth diapers in our home. (Though they have been put in a box for the past month as we moved from one home & town to another!) I am definitely looking forward to finally being able to use our cloth diapers again. Toots n' Tots recently sent us an accessory that is a must for any cloth diapering household...a wet bag. The wet bag is made by Maxwell Designs...which is Toots n' Tots' very own brand. The quality of the bag is definitely up there, and we have had no leaks so far with the bag. It's even VERY effective at keeping any smells hidden! We also love using our wet bag for other "wet" outings, such as swimming lessons.
It is SO handy to be able to throw your wet swimsuits into our wet bag, zip it shut and not have to worry about leaks or moisture. The wetbags from Maxwell Designs also have a feature that I've never seen in any other wet bag...two separate compartments! There is a larger one in the back, and another smaller, zippered & waterproof compartment on the front. I think this is a great feature...and as I said, it's one that is unique to these wet bags. One of my other favorite parts about the wet bag is the fun designer fabric that it is made with. I just love the colors and designs. They are unique and eye-catching! Choosing cloth diapering accessories from Toots n' Tots gets even more fun when you realize that you can co-ordinate your wet bag with your diaper bag, change pad or case.

Toots n' Tots carries a lot more than simply wet bags (though these are an exciting NEW product for them!) As I'm sure you've guessed, they are all about cloth diapers and cloth diapering accessories. You'll find everything you need to make your cloth diapering experience successful and hopefully enjoyable. :) So, if you want to add to your cloth diaper stash, head over and take a look. Or if you're not into the whole cloth diapering phenomenon yet, head over anyways...you may just be inspired! :)

WIN IT!
Toots n' Tots is giving one of you a small wet bag of your own! In order to get one entry head over to Toots n' Tots and let us know what your favorite product was that you saw in their shop!

EXTRA ENTRIES - Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry.
~ "Like" Maxwell Designs on Facebook
~ Tweet about the giveaway and include @tootsntots in your tweet (tweet ONCE PER DAY for extra entries and leave the link in your comment(s) please).
~ Grab our button
~ Subscribe to our blog/feed
~ Follow our blog via Google Friend Connect (publicly)
~ Follow us on Twitter
~ NEW ENTRY: 'LIKE' Glimpse on Facebook (this is NOT the same as being a friend of Glimpse on facebook)
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in your comment (5 entries)
~ Vote for us on Picket Fence Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)
~ Vote for us on Top Mommy Blogs (vote ONCE PER DAY for extra entries)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on June 20, 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 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.