The Treasured Christmas Story ~ GIVEAWAY!

Christmas is such a joyous season...and it's so fun to decorate, celebrate, create traditions and share the Christmas story with our children! One item that I've always wished could add to our Christmas decorations was a Nativity Set - preferably one that is child friendly...and not glass. :) We found just what we were looking for at Eko Bear. They carry a fabulous EverEarth Nativity Set that is perfect for families with children. Here's a few of the features that we love the most about the set:

~ It features all the regular characters from the story of the birth of Jesus
~ It is made from WOOD - so it is sturdy, durable, and perfect for children to set up, re-arrange and play with.
~ It is safe in every way including the paint which is water based and non toxic
~ The set is painted in bright colors...with simple details - and in my opinion, it truly captures the importance, yet the simplicity of the Christmas story

A blanket just for me...

Donna Hartle Creations has been featured previously on Glimpse - we've been using one of her hooded towels since spring 2010.  It has certainly stood the test of time - it still looks just as good as when we got it! :) It's so great to find someone who makes high-quality items, and even better when it's someone local!

Donna makes a wide variety of great products: spa hair wraps, aprons, blankets, baby swaddle blankets and much more. She's gradually been making the switch from her website over to an Etsy shop, so not everything she makes is pictured on Etsy yet. She also makes hot/cold packs from flax, as well as a very cute "diaper change tool belt" among other things. Donna is very careful to source high quality fabrics, and everything we've seen from her has been well-made.

When Annalies was born, Donna offered her a keepsake baby blanket. We have used this blanket so often (since March 2011), and again, it still looks brand new. (Personalization is also available on many other items.) The blanket is the perfect size (28"X38" approximately), and is backed with satin. Blanket are also available in fleece only. There are many designs available for embroidery (and it's excellently done!), and text can be done in several fonts. We chose a pink blanket (of course!) and are very pleased that it's fleecy on one side and satin on the other, as it's so much warmer (the satin makes a kind of wind barrier layer). We've used the blanket in the stroller, the carseat, as a play area (away from home, before Annalies started to crawl around)...and it's so cozy!

Another children's item that I noticed on Donna's Etsy site is the child's apron. It has a elastisized neck strap as well as an elastisized waist strap that does up with velcro, so it would be easy for a child to put it on and fasten it without adult help! Children's aprons are available with or without a chef's hat - that added touch of authenticity! :) The chef's hat (available as a set, or on it's own) has an adjustable velcro closure at the back, so it will fit different head sizes, and also continue to fit as your child grows. Aprons can be personalized with a saying, or name. This would make a perfect gift for a budding chef in the family!

Donna also makes aprons for adults. It's really neat that you can customize the apron to fit your personality (or the personality of the recipient, if it's a gift). You can choose the apron colour, ribbon colour, apron saying and embroidery colour. Aprons are made of wrinkle and shrink-resistant twill (black or brown), and have 2 large pockets and an adjustable neck strap.

Head over to Donna's Etsy site, or her website - you're certain to find a gift for someone on your list, and you'll likely find something you'd like for yourself as well!

**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Donna Hartle Creations 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 the Wysi Wipes prize pack is:

Comment #227 - Corey



And another new winner for Seventh Generation...who this time is:

Comment #345 - Anne T.

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

Rochelle's Craft Nook - GIVEAWAY!!

I'm a big fan of bringing the kids along to events and including them in our outings etc. You do have to go prepared though, especially if the kids need to sit quietly or wait for a while - both are not easy for the little ones. We've gotten in the habit of packing a bag for each one, with a few quiet things inside that will help them to keep quietly busy while we're out. It gets easier as they get older, but it's quite tricky with a baby. She's just at the age where if it doesn't move or make noise, it's not interesting for long, and of course those are exactly the toys or books we can't bring along in our quiet bag!

Winners!

The winner of a Roll Play DVD is:

Comment # 28 krystyl olson

The winner of a Silk Fleece Baby blanket from Silkberry Baby is:

Comment #34 Anonymous

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

Crime Prevention & Breast Cancer Awareness with MasterLock ~ GIVEAWAY!

This month Master Lock has two new programs on the go - both which I believe are very important. October is both Crime Prevention Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Master Lock has joined the forces to support and aid families and individuals in both these areas...let's take a peek at some of the details and tips they have to offer us...

Crime...sadly, it's so prevalent these days. Simple things like locking your doors at all times are a must now. Master Lock knows how important it is to keep families safe, and has come up with a list of tips to help families to prevent and deter crime. Here's a taste of their useful tips:

Child Abuse Prevention Month

Did you know it was Child Abuse Prevention Month? I didn't until just recently. Fortunately, I've not yet been in the position to have to decide what to do if I suspected a child I knew was being abused. What would you do? Apparently many Canadians don't know what to do, or don't wish to get involved. The organizations mentioned further in this press release want to change that, to help protect children from abuse.

Toronto, Ontario (October 17, 2011) – In conjunction with Child Abuse Prevention Month, Boost for Kids Foundation is launching a cutting-edge television and online campaign in an effort to raise awareness about the prevalence of child abuse in Canada. Entitled “Make the Call Now”, the campaign depicts a chilling reality and encourages Canadians to be more vocal against signs of abuse.

Created by Marshall Fenn Communications, the television and online videos paint a powerful picture stating that one in every three children fall victim to some form of abuse.  The online campaign is the first of its kind and takes the commercial one step further, providing the viewers with a leading, interactive role. Viewers are encouraged to call a 1-800 number. When dialled, the phone in the video rings, the call is answered by the abuser, and a dialogue is initiated that leads to the intervention and prevention of child abuse.

"The goal of this campaign is to leave viewers feeling uncomfortable, just as they would feel if they witnessed the abuse first-hand,” explains Karyn Kennedy, Executive Director, Boost for Kids Foundation. "This campaign should make Canadians feel as if they are standing between the child and the abuser and are the only means of stopping the violence.  We want Canadians to take this personally. This is what motivates people to get up, make that call and stand in the way of continued abuse."

Child abuse includes child neglect as well as psychological, physical and sexual abuse. The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies reports that a significant barrier to protecting children is the large number of individuals (54%) who would not report a suspicion of abuse.[i]

“Many Canadians don’t realize abuse manifests itself in many forms and it’s not always discernible through cuts and bruises,” explains Kennedy. “We need to educate people on the signs of abuse and encourage people to pick up the phone and make the welfare of children a top priority.”

The Public Service Announcement campaign appears in two different media types - television and online – and will run through to the end of November 2011. To view the campaign, go to www.MakeTheCallNow.ca.

“Canadians aren’t naive to the fact that child abuse happens, but the statistics show that they aren’t taking the steps to stop it,” explains James Dunlop, Creative Director at Marshall Fenn Communications. “Our goal was to develop a bold, hard-hitting campaign that amplifies the situation and provides viewers no other options but to make that call.”

Boost for Kids Foundation

Boost for Kids Foundation is a registered charity that is committed to eliminating abuse and violence in the lives of children, youth, and their families. Established in 2009, Boost for Kids Foundation works to generate sustainable funding for the programs and services offered by Boost Child Abuse Prevention & Intervention across Canada. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors with the mandate to raise funds that will allow Boost to respond effectively to the needs of children and youth who have experienced abuse. The organization believes that all children and youth have a right to grow up in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment free of child abuse.

Team of Agencies

The Boost for Kids campaign was conceived by Marshall Fenn Communications, the Canadian communications agency behind award-winning brand and advertising campaigns for companies such as Casino Rama.

Marshall Fenn worked collaboratively with Circle Productions (commercial production and editing), Silent Joe (music/sound production and editing), and COLR (visual effects and colour). All agencies generously donated their services to ensure this campaign delivered the powerful, commanding messages intended.

[i] Boost for Kids Foundation: http://boostforkids.org/LearnWithBoost/Statistics/tabid/155/Default.aspx. Accessed October 7, 2011.

**Disclosure: The press release above was written by Marshall Fenn Communications. We received no compensation for posting the release, and did so simply to inform our readers.

Who cares about this planet?

 Do you have an idea that will inspire environmental change in your community?

iQ: The Smarter Cleaner introduces the Who cares about this planet? challenge to find sustainable and innovative project ideas that make a difference for our planet. iQ will award up to $5000 to the winning entrant to kick start their project.

Develop an idea

Create a video and upload it here

Share and Vote – you determine the winner and the prize!

For more information and to visit iQ on Facebook and our contest hub here to download our Entry Toolkit to help you get started.

Are you up for the challenge?

Please visit the iQ website to learn more about iQ to see how even a small change can make a huge impact.

If you have trouble viewing the links above, copy and past this link into your address bar:

http://apps.facebook.com/promosapp/192450

Disclosure: The text above has been written by iQ cleaners. We did not receive any compensation, either monetary or in products, for this post. 

Winners!

We have had to choose a new winner for Seventh Generation Prize pack, so that is:

Comment #104 - Jennifer



The winner of a Kanga Sac Litterless lunch system is:

Comment #266 - Soozle


Congrats! Each of you will have 72 hours to contact me before a new winner is chosen.

Brighten Up Your...Floor!

The floor, it's what we walk on, what we sit on (especially once you have kids :) ) and it's what we play on, clean up on and make memories on! Come to think of it, the floor really is quite an important space in our home! One of the fun parts about a floor is that you can cover it with so many different colors, materials, etc. There's hardwood, linoleum, carpet...or we can even mix and match and have hardwood with a beautiful rug in the center of the room.

We recently moved to a new home...where the basement floor is finished, though not with carpet...which can make it cold for little hands and feet that are always on the floor and busy playing in the downstairs playroom! Rug Studio recently blessed us with a 5x5 area rug from their Signature Kids Collection. It is a beautiful cherry color and has a sweet design carved into it which Rug Studio calls "Lady". The design is a ladybug with a few embellishments around it. It's adorable...simple, yet perfect for kids! We've added the area rug to our downstairs playroom, and what a difference it makes. Not only does it now provide a soft, warm place for our children to play but it also brightens up the room, and adds a cute and fun accent to the playroom!

The rug is 100% nylon and seems to be strong and durable. I can definitely see it lasting a long time, and making a great little play spot for our children. The other great thing about an area rug is that we can re-locate it at any time and it is easy to keep clean. Stains won't show up easily due to the cherry color, and even if they do, it's a lot easier to clean an area rug than to clean a carpet that goes from wall to wall. :)

Rug Studio has a LOT of other rug options too. In fact, they are considered to be a top source for innovative custom rugs...that's right - you can create custom area rugs, with your own style. The children's rugs can be especially fun to create - and your child can even have a part in designing the rug. These rugs can even be personalized with a child's name, favorite character, etc. If you're looking for a rug for another area of your home, Rug Studio offers you plenty of options for rugs that are modern, stylish, simple, sophisticated...you name it! There are many sizes and styles to chose from and if you can't find what you're looking for you can always design your own custom heirloom rug which will truly be one of a kind. If you are looking for a quality rug for your home, your child's bedroom, a play area, etc. Rug Studio is the place to look!

BUY IT!
In order to purchase a rug that you've seen or created at Rug Studio, please visit the Where to Shop tab (under "Info"). The store locator will help you locate the closest location that you can shop for your Rug Studio rugs!


**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.

Cozy Jammies - GIVEAWAY!!

It certainly is long pyjama time around here again...time to snuggle up in cozy jammies and under the blankets, and try to stay there as long as possible, or at least as long as the kids will let me! :)

Up until this year, it's been relatively easy to find long, cotton pyjamas for our kids. And then our oldest turned 6. Happy birthday - now you get to wear synthetic pyjamas? Has anyone else noticed this? The same shops that sell cotton pyjamas and sleepers for 0-5 year olds, suddenly switch to polyester pyjamas at size 6. I know our sons don't sleep well in synthetic fabrics, so it just isn't worth it. Then I had the interesting task of finding a new supplier for cotton jammies - and after a bit of searching, I found Hatley. I'd heard of them before, but never bought anything before. Once we saw the jammies, we've become big Hatley fans, and my husband and I also sleep in Hatley pyjamas!

Rocky Mountain Soap Giveaway!!

This past weekend, I posted a review of the new line of face care by Rocky Mountain Soap.

Now, one lucky reader is going to get to try the face care as well!!

Scholastic Monday ~ Picture a Tree

Scholastic Monday is here again, and today we have a new release from Scholastic Canada! Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid is a delightful new book. It takes one of the most simple, yet majestic, parts of nature and pictures trees from every season and every angle. I love the way Picture a Tree helps a child (and even an adult) to imagine, and to think of a tree as more than just a plant. After, all, a tree can give and be so many things...like a shady umbrella, a bear cave, a clubhouse for secret meetings, a home, and more! And with the changing seasons, trees change too, and can bring about adventure and beauty to us and our world.

The book is full of colorful illustrations, and the story is simple and lyrical...so fun to read aloud to our children! We really enjoyed Picture a Tree...it brings alive your imagination and inspires you to look again at the trees around you and picture a tree...now what do you see?

**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.

Face Care from Rocky Mountain Soap

Sometimes, you just can't get enough of a good thing! We've enjoyed products from Rocky Mountain Soap on the blog in the past (read Stacey's review of some products she tried here). We've also tried a few in our home, and really liked what we've tried.

As a final birthday celebration review, Rocky Mountain Soap agreed to send us some facial care products. They've just re-launched their face care line, so the timing worked out great! In the pack was a collection of products for my husband and I to try - you'll quickly figure out who got to test what! :) Rocky Mountain Soap got it's start 12 years ago, making soap by hand. They've grown since then, with stores in several Canadian cities, an online shop, and a large collection of products.

Like all Rocky Mountain Soap products, the face care line is 100% natural.  None of their products contains any sulfates, synthetic parabens, phthalates or petrochemicals. As well, they work really hard to consider the environment and do not use any ingredients that have a harmful effect on the environment. It's great to read an ingredient list and recognize and pronounce most of the words. And why does natural matter? From the Rocky Mountain Soap website:

"Did you know that our skin can absorb anywhere from 21- 94% of what is put on it? Rocky Mountain Soap is committed to making only 100% natural products - to identify why choosing a natural product over a synthetic one is a healthy and safe alternative and to make it clear that we only use safe natural ingredients in all of our products."  Check out how they define "natural."

The Transformative Skin Care line consists of 4 products: Rosehip Cleansing Oil, Aloe Hydrating Toner, Beech Tree Bud Eye Cream and Pomegranate Day Cream.

I admit I was surprised to use Rosehip Cleansing Oil as a cleanser - I mean, we're generally told to take the oil off of our faces! I was willing to give it a go however, and I've decided I like it. A couple of squirts on a cotton pad, wipe it around your face, and repeat until your face is clean. I don't wear makeup (ever), so cleaning my face is maybe simpler than for some other people, but I found this to be very easy. And, it didn't make my skin feel oily (contrary to what I expected).

Next step is the Aloe Hydrating Toner. A few mists over my face, wipe with another cotton pad, done. I really was expecting that a skin care routine consisting of 4 products would take up way too much time, but I was very pleasantly surprised. The toner feels light and refreshing, and unlike other toners I've tried, did NOT dry out my face. Usually my skin feels tight after using a toner, which is why I sort of gave up any toning products. This one is completely different, and my skin feels smoother and, well, clean and soft.

The Beech Tree Bud Eye Cream is a nice touch. You do have to be careful, working so closely to your eyes, but it`s probably skin that gets neglected when other moisturizers are applied. And, that`s where a lot of wrinkles appear, so this should help prevent them from developing!

I really like the Pomegranate Day Cream. I`ve figured out that I only need 3-4 squirts for my entire face and under my chin. So this container is going to last me a long time! It's great to find a product that you know you're going to get your money's worth. Who knew Pomegranate was a "skin superfood?" :)  My skin feels great after I've applied this cream - not greasy, just moisturized. And, unlike some creams I've tried, no extra breakouts! :)

So far it's been all about me...you're probably wondering about the poor husband! Well, he received a Shave bar! He could also use any of the above products (nothing stopping him - in fact, the toner is recommended after shaving to tighten pores). The Shave bar has been a great addition to his morning ritual. I'm all for anything that encourages him to shave! :) It smells great (not overpowering, just a nice, manly scent), lathers up nicely, even with hands, but especially using a brush, and works great! In fact, I haven't seen him with a nick since he started using the bar, while it shaves really smooth. He used to use a shaving foam, and one day, after using the bar for several days, he used the foam out of habit instead of the bar - we were shocked at how artificial and unpleasant smelling the foam was now. This is definitely a product he'll continue using - we especially like the natural ingredients list as opposed to a list of chemicals. An added bonus is that there are no restrictions on soap bars when you're flying - he had a business trip just before we received the bar, and we were surprised at all the products that are hard to find in suitably-sized containers.

On the travel size note, all of the face care products except the eye cream (it's a small container already) are available in travel size as well. It would also be a good way to try out the products if you're not sure if they work for you.


**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Rocky Mountain Soap 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!

I had a brain blip when I chose the winner of the First Alert Smoke Alarm the other day - there should have been 3 winners!

The first winner is: comment #62 edmontonjb - and I've already heard back from you!
The other 2 winners are:

Comment #178: glogirl
Comment #44 Denise Glazier

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

Keeping You Safe ~ GIVEAWAY!

A week or two ago you may have enjoyed reading through MasterLock's advice for keeping active families safe. There are some great tips in there for families now that we are all getting back into the routine of school, extra-curricular activities, etc. MasterLock's website is filled with fabulous safety products. Their selection is wonderful, but more importantly, the quality is great as well. Their products are durable and they have taken many precautions to ensure that you'll receive optimal safety when using MasterLock items!

I'd love to share one product in particular with you - the Portable Key safe. This is a great safety tool for families on the go. It simply locks onto any doorknob and holds up to five keys for your home, car, etc. This way you'll never be locked out of your home or vehicle, and even if your kids forget their house key, they can still get in without having to call for help.

Huggies Baby & You (in store events!) ~ $50 GC GIVEAWAY!

Two of my favorite companies have recently joined together to bring you something wonderful!! :) Huggies and Loblaw have joined ranks...and are busy putting together some great in-store events - for YOU! So, what's the scoop? What will happen at these in-store events, why should you go??

Each event will teach moms how to make to delicious dishes - Quinoa Panckaces for mom and Sweet and White Potato Mash for your little one! In addition to being a able to view the how-to (and probably even taste a sample!) of these meals, receive HUGGIES® coupons (yay!) and a pair of adorable tiger ears to dress your little one up in for the Halloween season (or to save for dress-up play in the future!) You'll also be able to have a peek at Huggies' latest diaper - for HUGGIES® Slip Ons. We have yet to try these great-sounding diapers...but here's a few of the features that I've heard about that make me want to give them a try:

~ Stretchy sides...so they fit both the chubby baby & the skinny baby!
~ Tabs to make diaper removal & disposable as simple as it always has been
~ Sweet graphics with Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh

In order to find out all the details, and the locations where these great in-store events will be taking place, head over to the Loblaw Baby and You Facebook page. The events are taking place between October 18th, and November 2nd, so head over there quickly and see if there is an event in your area!

WIN IT!
Loblaw Baby & You is giving away a $50 Loblaw gift card! In order to enter, please leave a comment telling us what your favorite Mom or Baby dish is.

Note: You may enter on multiple blogs, but are only eligible to win a single $50 gift card through this contest.

Contest ends October 31, 2011. Open to CANADA ONLY.


“Disclosure – I am participating in the HUGGIES® Baby and You program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Kimberly- Clark Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Winner!

The winner of a 1kg bag of Soap Nuts from Earth's Berries is:

Comment $166 - Sonia

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

Winners!

The winner of a 2-tier tiffin from Green Please for You is:

Comment #78 Debbie W

The winner of a smoke alarm from First Alert is:

Comment #62 edmontonjb

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

Learning Time - GIVEAWAY!

Is telling time something your child is ready to learn? or maybe struggling with? This DVD just might help!

Rock 'n Learn produces a variety of educational DVDs and CDs. And, education is foremost, not just an added bonus to their programs! The idea behind Rock 'n Learn's materials is to help children learn through a multi-sensory approach, using styles of music that appeal to kids.

This time, Jonathan (age 6) has been testing out "Telling Time" - a DVD that explains all about time, instruments used for telling time and shows in a very detailed way how to tell time. The DVD starts off with introducing the characters - a clock called Timothy Time and a bird called Cuckoo. They speak in rhyme, which makes what they say and teach very catchy! Jonathan seems to really enjoy watching the DVD, and over the weeks has shared tidbits of information with me that I know he's picked up from the DVD. In a step-by-step fashion, the DVD progresses through telling time to the hour, then to the half hours, and then on to quarter hours and minutes. I don't think Jonathan has learned anything about telling time in school yet (at least not formally), but he knows quite a bit about the clock face and can tell time to the hour quite successfully. He is doing pretty good with the half hours as well - and I really think the DVD has helped him quite a bit.

Contents of the Telling Time DVD are:\

• Learning Time Today
• Parts of an Analog Clock
• Telling Time to the Hour
• AM and PM
• Telling Time to the Half Hour
• Telling Time to the Quarter Hour
• Practice Counting By Fives
• Telling Time to Five Minutes
• Review and Practice
• Telling Time to the Exact Minute
• Digital Clocks
• Bonus: Calendars, Days of the Week, Months of the Year

A feature I really like about the DVDs we've seen so far is that they ask the viewer(s) questions, and give time to answer before progressing to the answer and on to the next question or section. As a teacher, or homeschooler, you could easily pause the DVD, wait for your student's or child's answer and then continue on. This is a great way to reinforce the learning, and to check that it's really sinking in!

Daniel (age 3) watches the DVD along with his brother for a while, but it's over his head so he loses interest after a while. He's seen the clock face, and the 3 hands, but beyond that, he's really not ready for the content, and it isn't designed for him either (it's rated ages 6 and up).

From what we've seen of Rock 'n Learn DVDs so far, we've been very impressed. Check out what we thought of Sight Words and Letter Sounds here, and also what Stacey thought of Nursery Rhymes and Phonics here.

Rock 'n Learn items are available through their webstore and retailers. Canadians can order through KidSource  and Scholar's Choice as well as several retailers in BC and Ontario.

WIN IT!!

Three winners will win their choice of DVD or CD from Rock 'n Learn!!! Thanks Rock 'n Learn for helping us celebrate our birthday!!! To enter, please tell us which DVD or CD you'd choose. Contest open to Canadian and US residents and ends on November 4th, 2011.





**Disclosure: The product mentioned above have been given free of charge from Rock 'n Learn 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.

In Training ~ GIVEAWAY!

Oh, the joys of potty training! ;) We are at that stage in life again with our youngest, and even though I have successfully potty trained two children already, it is still a daunting task at times! Childish Notions has a fabulous cloth training pant though that really has helped us along while potty training. The Bambino Mio Training Pants are the BEST I have discovered so far...let me share why I think that's true:

~ They are CLOTH! So your child can feel the wetness (and they are reusable too of course!)

~ Even though they are cloth...tucked inbetween those layers of cloth is a waterproof layer and inner pad for super absorbency and to help keep messes mostly contained.

Winners!

The winner of the Life Choices Prize pack is:

Comment #119 - Karla S.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The winner of a hockey stick hat from Stickheads is:

Comment #118 - roswell


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

Belly Buttons and Babies - discount!

Once in a while, you have to reinvent yourself! You saw that with our blog this summer - so far we're liking the new design. Are you?

Companies sometimes make the difficult "rebranding" decision as well. It's a tough one - how to improve on logos and labelling without losing customers? One company we've reviewed before has recently gone through that whole process and I love the result! :) As well, they've added a bunch of new products to their collection, and we're loving them too!

Belly Buttons and Babies has been featured on Glimpse before.  We continue to use their products in our home, and continue to appreciate their goal to keep their products natural, chemical-free and safe for the whole family. Many products are geared toward expectant and new mothers and their babies. Fran, the founder, is a certified aromatherapist and natural formulation consultant. She sources Certified Organic, Ethically Wild-harvested & Fair Trade ingredients whenever possible. Every Belly Buttons & Babies product rates a "0" for toxins on the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics’ Skin Deep database; the best rating a product can receive!

This time around we tried a few of the new products:

• Natural Lavender + Chamomile Calming Massage Lotion
• Decadent Milk Bath
• Eco-Friendly Liquid Laundry Soap
• Toddler Travel Kit

It was a hard call to decide who should benefit from the Natural Lavender + Chamomile Calming Massage Lotion! In the end, I won out! Lately, it's been very busy around here, and I've had a lot of back/shoulder pain, and a massage at the end of the day has helped to loosen things up and calm me down. Of course, this massage lotion is safe for baby too - only baby-safe scents have been used. As an added bonus, the lotion is extremely moisturizing, so it does double duty for baby - great after the bath!

It seems we also had a bit of a fight about who should use the Decadent Milk Bath. Imagine, she's only 11 months old and already stealing my bath stuff! :) I love a nice long soak in the bath, and this milk bath really helps to prevent my skin from drying out too much. All of a sudden, though, I noticed that there was much less in the jar than I thought - turns out Annalies has been enjoying the Milk Bath (courtesy of her father!). The smell is divine, and the bath is thoroughly enjoyable!

Strangely enough, no one else wanted to use the liquid laundry soap! :) I got to do that one all by myself. Each load uses only 1/4 cup of soap, so the bottle does quite a few loads. I mainly use a powdered soap, but I do like liquid soap for some things (darks for example), as it dissolves nicely. The laundry soap is unscented, so clothes just smell clean, not like some fake "fun" scent idea that overpowers the whole house. Not only does the laundry smell clean, it IS clean. The laundry soap was great for getting even baby stuff clean, with a few stains and spills left untreated. (I always pre-treat tough stains, just to be sure.)

Baby products are great - but what about when baby grows up? Maybe they don't want to smell like a baby anymore, especially if there's another baby in the house. Being "grown up" is the big thing around here (pun intended). The toddler products are exactly right - fun smell, definitely not babyish. The travel kit is perfect for a sleepover at the grandparents' house, or even for airplane travel - containers are all under 100 ml each, and the bag is transparent and reclosable. (my husband used the bag on his last business trip and it went fine)  This travel pack includes 2in1 Body Wash/Shampoo, Soothing Body Lotion, Calming Bubble Bath and a handy wash cloth. We've tried them all and really like how they clean and moisturize.

BUY IT!

Belly Buttons and Babies is offering Glimpse readers a great deal! Get 15% off any purchase over $20 using the code Glimpse3. Just enter the code in the coupon space in the shopping cart and then recalculate to see your savings. Offer open to Canadian and US residents and expires November 30th, 2011.

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Belly Buttons and Babies 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.

Easing into Cloth - GIVEAWAY!!

It's very fitting to feature this company during our 3rd birthday celebrations! After all, Mother-Ease Cloth Diapers was one of the very first (if not THE first) reviews posted on Glimpse way back when this blog was just a new blog-baby! :)

Mother-Ease Cloth Diapers is a Canadian cloth diaper manufacturer. The owners have been cloth diaper users since 1981, and, little by little, have designed and developed several styles of diapers, that they first used on their own children, and later made available to the rest of us (world-wide!) as their business took off. Like most mom-preneurs, Mom Erika's first cloth diaper design came to be as she tried to find a way to make cloth diapering easier for her and more comfortable for her child. This first diaper, Sandy's, is the one Stacey tried. You can read her thoughts about it here. Mother-Ease Cloth Diapers are all produced in Canada, with materials sourced in Canada or in North America as much as possible. Materials are only sourced outside North America when a comparable product isn't available on our continent.

Roll Play Live - we loved it!

I want to tell you about our fabulous Saturday last weekend! :) Although it did involve some racing around to get to everything on time, we had a great time.

We were given tickets to Roll Play Live - The Animal Party - hosted by Splash'n Boots! The show is geared at children, probably best for 10 and under, maybe even 8 and under, but there's plenty for the adults to enjoy too! The show features music from the TV show Roll Play, on Treehouse, and is performed by characters such as DJ robot, Splash'n Boots and the band trio. It certainly does get the kids up and moving, with animal actions and sounds, as well as songs with catchy beats!

Winners!

The winner of a Splash`n Boots DVD is:

Comment #34 Becky Boo

The winner of a maternity/nursing tank from Ellabella is:

Comment #20 Jennifer L.

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to claim your prizes!

Winners!

The winner of a $50 Gift Certificate to Well.ca is:

Comment #97 Soozle

The winners of the Sticker Mule contest are:

$100 store credit:
Comment #44 Heidi

$25 store credit (10 winners):
Comment # 60 krystyl olson
Comment # 100 loriag
Comment # 85 Tara Elias
Comment # 27 Suzanne Ds
Comment # 179 Kerry
Comment # 103 angela m
Comment # 154 Tara Gauthier
Comment # 130 Diana
Comment # 94 Tania Mask
Comment # 40 Melody Farnworth

Congratulations! You each have 72 hours to contact me to claim your prizes.

Style for Little Ones ~ GIVEAWAY!

There are two things that I love finding in products for babies or children. That is: quality and unique-ness! I think most moms would agree that these two requirements are definitely a big part of what "sells" a product to us. KIOKKO is a great Canadian online store that meets both of these requirements! The quality is unbeatable. Everything is handmade, and I've always found that handmade items have superior quality - KIOKKO is no exception! And unique-ness...just take a peek at these products we received from KIOKKO and it will give you a taste of how fun and unique their fabrics, designs and products are.

Our sweet, but messy little eater received a KIOKKO bib. It has been wonderful for keeping her a little cleaner. The bibs are a nice size - not huge, but not so tiny that it barely catches the mess. It covers her front nicely, and really is the ideal size for a bib. Each bib is made with premium designer cotton and backed with the softest plush minky. The design of the bibs is unique too. I love how they snap shut on the side - not in the back - and it's not just any snap either that you'll be using - no, it is a gorgeous pearl snap. My only issue with the bib is that the neck hole is a bit too large for my daughter. That said, she is definitely on the skinny side right now so I have a feeling she may grow into it a little better yet! Overall though, we love the bibs and I would be pleased to own more KIOKKO bibs for our little ones or even to gift them to other moms.

Winner!

The winner of the Infantino Pound and Play is:

Comment #326 - Kerry

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

The Safe Scent ~ GIVEAWAY!

We all love a home that smells nice, don't we? I know that I love walking into a room or house that smells sensational - it really sets the mood! :) However, with young kids around, it just isn't wise to burn a lot of candles to get those delicious scents wafting through our home. Safety really can be an issue with the regular candles - even when you don't have young, curious children. Scentsy equals the solution to this problem! They have come up with a simple yet safe idea - a wickless, flameless alternative to the regular candles. Instead of using the traditional flame, Scentsy gently melts scented wax with the heat of a light bulb. Pretty clever, wouldn't you say?!

Scentsy also has piles of different styles and sizes of warmers to choose from, as well as over 80 different scented wax packages you can purchase! I just love the sound of the Blueberry Cheesecake scented bar...or Cinnamon Vanilla! There's so many great ones to pick from - and definitely one to suit each season of the year.

Label your Stuff!! GIVEAWAY!!

So - for those of you with kids in school: how many times have they lost something this year already? We've gone looking for 1 mitten and 1 water bottle, happily both were found. Have you ever taken a peek into the "Lost and Found" box? I was surprised at the beginning of last year, when we were also looking for a mitten, how much stuff was in the box already. And I was surprised at what the stuff was too - nice new gym shoes (singles and pairs), whole gym bags full of gym kit, backpacks, socks...REALLY! If the stuff was just labelled, it could easily find its way back to the owner - schools really don't want to collect the children's stuff and donate it at the end of the year.

But labelling isn't as easy as it sounds. Not everything can be written on, and pen/marker eventually fades over time and washing. Plus, who has time to write on each and every item? There is an easier way:

Lovable Labels!!

Winner!

The winner of a Mediflow pillow is:

Comment #468: Debbie W

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

Seventh Generation Gives...and Gives!

I'm sure you've heard that old saying "It's more blessed to give than to receive." And although sometimes it truly is hard to give with a cheerful heart, the rewards of giving are always worth it in the end! Seventh Generation is a company that knows this and is embracing it to the fullest. They have set a goal to give away up to 240,000 diapers to various shelters in Canada. These are not just the big, popular shelters either...they include many, many small, local shelters that rarely would receive this type of donation or help. I love this aspect of their donation program!

I was able to be a part of Seventh Generations diaper donation program, and it was a blessing indeed. We had to opportunity to donate four packages of Seventh Generation diapers (approx $80.00 value!) to a location of my choice. I choose to give to our small town food bank. The churches of the town run this little food bank and were looking for both non-perishable food items and baby items to help families out during the Thanksgiving season. It indeed was a blessing to be able to give a big box of quality diapers to be distributed to those who need it most. The whole experience, along with the season of Thanksgiving reminded me once again that we really do need to be thankful for what we have been blessed with...and when we have an abundance...to share it with those who are in need. There is something about the aftermath of giving that truly makes it worthwhile! It is obvious that Seventh Generation understands this and has reached out to give in a way that will bless so many this fall.

Now...what can YOU do? Seventh Generation is offering a "Buy One Give One" coupon so that you can enjoy the gift of giving as well. In order to receive this coupon, head over and join the 7th Gen Nation. It's free, and as a member you'll have access to all sorts of coupons, special offers and great tips. It's a great opportunity to support Seventh Generation as well as be the first to find out about new coupons and the latest information. If you still want MORE Seventh Generation goodness, take a look at their facebook page. It's a perfect place to find and chat with other Seventh Generation lovin' parents!

So, let's band together with Seventh Generation and help them give, give and give some more....because, as I have experienced once again, it really is "more blessed to give than receive."


**Disclosure – I am participating in the Seventh Generation program by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Wipe it Up on the Go ~ GIVEAWAY!

It seems that as a mom I am always wiping up one mess or another. And it's not all the fault of my kids either! :) It seems like when they're not around to accidentally create a mess, I create one of my own. Or what about when you have a mess but aren't at home? Now this can get tricky quite fast...I remember plenty of messes that have happened in the van or in public and I am scrambling, trying to find kleenex, or anything that will help me clean things up. A while back I discovered the most fabulous product though that has been in my diaper bag ever since! Wysi™ wipes are biodegradable wipes that come in a compact (and it really is TINY!) 3/4 inch roll. Yet, when you wet this little wipe it instantly turns into a nice, large, 9x10 inch wipe or wash cloth. They are amazing...perfect to stuff into your purse or pocket and just the thing you need to clean up an unplanned mess, wipe dirty hands, etc.

Hallmark for Hallowe'en!

Have you visited Hallmark.ca lately, or been in one of their stores? Like many other retailers, it's full-on Hallowe'en! :) Ghosts and goblins and witches - OH MY!

Our Hallowe'en pack from Hallmark contained some really fun new themed items. Our kids have been invited to a Hallowe'en party and they're very keen to contribute the decorations! And, they've been very keen to try out the items in the meantime! :) Many of them are on special offer right now - check out your nearest Hallmark store!

The favourite in the pack is the Hokey Pokey Skeleton! He signs a modified version of the Hokey Pokey, while dancing and putting his head up on his shoulders and off again. It's fun in a creepy sort of way! He's also glow-in-the-dark, and would make a cool addition to your Hallowe'en get-together. My favourite feature of the Skeleton is that it has an off-switch! The song is cool, but like anything, you can get tired of it after hearing if many many times in a row! :)

The Hocus Pocus treat presenter is a close second. This case, shaped like an antique spell-book (think Harry Potter!) is a great place to hold the treats you're giving out. When opened, there are a few speech options, all said in a ghoulish voice.

There are a couple other interesting ideas for decorating your party room, or your front door for the trick-or-treaters...the Flickering Witch Candle we received (battery operated, so no worries about flames) is very realistic considering it's not a real candle. Another lighting option would be the Hocus Pocus Hurricane Lamp - with it's shadowy lampshade, it's sure to make some spooky light in the room.

"It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" sound book features sound clips from the television classic. This is a great story to read in the lead-up to Hallowe'en. You can press the buttons along the side to hear clips from the television show as you read along.

The Rockin' Talkin' Witch's Hat also reminds me of Harry Potter. The hats moves and sings a Hallowe'en song when the button is pushed.

We also received several Hallowe'en greeting cards. There's a wide variety of cards available, and suitable for many ages. Some of the cards are on the cuter side while others are a little more scary. One card we received has "invisible" ink - that becomes visible when heated (touch or breath). Another one has glow-in-the-dark pictures. Still more contain Hallowe'en badges or bracelets as a keepsake.



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

Glimpse Holiday Gift Guide 2011

Glimpse is planning on hosting a Holiday Gift Guide this year! We're busy planning it already, and will publish mid to late November.

Do you, or the company you represent, have a product you'd like to have us feature? Please use the form below to tell us all about it! We'll be sure to be in touch right away!

Happy Holiday Planning!
~Andrea and Julie

Silky Sleep - GIVEAWAY!!

A while back, we featured Silkberry Baby, a Canadian company designing baby and children's blankets and bedding made from silk and bamboo. Silkberry Baby has recently expanded its collection to include baby clothing, hand knit crochet hats and booties and accessories. These items are also made from silk and
bamboo.

Create a Litterless Lunch ~ GIVEAWAY!

School's back into full swing, and parents and children are finally all back into a routine of some sort...right? :) I know that we have settled into a nice routine in our home for the school year. And though, I don't actually pack a lunch for my son each day, I still LOVE the idea of using reusable lunch bags and lunch products for the days that we do pack a lunch - or for long trips to visit Grandma and Grandpa.

Bummers is an online store that is full of products that are natural, safe, and great for both your kids and the environment. We received the ultimate set of reusable lunch bags from them - the KangaSac Litterless Lunch System. These high-quality, durable bags are perfect for creating a completely litterless lunch for your child, you...or anyone! The bags come in a variety of sizes and can be used for sandwiches, snacks, etc. And the bright colors were a hit with our kids as well - they so are vibrant and fun. In addition to all these benefits, the KangaSac bags are easy to use - even for a smaller child! They simply open or close with the tug of a zipper and are made from water resistant material that will not let anything spill. And when they get dirty? Throw them in the washing machine - or simply spot clean or wipe it out if it's just a few crumbs you're trying to get rid of.

Scholastic Monday - Oonga Boonga!

 Welcome to our first day of Glimpse's 3 year Blogiversy!! We have loved working on this little blog...and getting to touch base with so many of our fabulous readers throughout the past 3 years. I thought it might be fun to start off with a company that is tried, tested, true and has been a big part of Glimpse in the past year or so. Scholastic Canada...this is a company that I love...a website filled with fabulous books for kids and teens! There's educational books, plain ol' fun books, and so much more. To kick off our celebration I thought it would be great to feature one of my favorite books from the last package we received. Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky is SO VERY FUN! Our kids loved it and yes...even us parents did too. It's just that cute.

The story is that baby Louise just won't stop crying...nothing helps! Lullaby's? No way! Hugs? Not a chance. Food? Drink? Toys? Nothing helps her crying until her big brother comes home and bends down and says the "magic" words "Oonga Boonga!" Problem solved, right? :) Not quite...it starts all over when big brother goes to school again the next day, and turns out that baby Louise just wants her big brother nearby. I just LOVE how the story portrays that siblings can be SO special. Even at a young age. The book is filled with bright, fun, eye-catching illustrations as well. Definitely a great book for families to own and enjoy together!

**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.

Winner!

The winner of an apron from Sophia Grace is:

Comment #82: Soozle

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to respond to my email.

I sleep in my own bed...

book cover

Really, I do! :) I do not wander at night, join other people in bed, and I'm not afraid of sleeping in my own bed! :) Luckily... :) But I'm an adult, and kids can be totally different. We have one who sleeps in his own bed all night now (but spent a while as a toddler visiting us), one who is in the "visit Mom and Dad's bed" stage, and one who can't get out of her crib yet, and seems to be ok so far sleeping on her own. We'll see how that progresses...:) It's interesting how children can be so different and yet be so much the same as well!

Many children are afraid to sleep alone at night. Such was the experience of Glenn Wright's son, and this inspired him to write and illustrate the book "I sleep in my own bed." The book goes through many places in and around the house where children do not want to sleep, and helps them to feel more comfortable sleeping in their own room, in their own bed. Illustrations convey a variety of facial expressions and help show the atmosphere of the room pictured.

"I sleep in my own bed" would be great for kids who are transitioning from a crib to a bed, or moving rooms. It's often reassuring to find out that other kids aren't so sure about their own room, like the little boy in the book. At the end, he "discovers" he really likes his bed, his room, and the goodnight stories, tuck-ins and kisses. Along the journey in and around the house, your kids might giggle as the character decides he's not going to sleep in the garage, or the bathroom! :) My kids enjoyed listening to the story, and laughed about the funny places to sleep. Daniel, the one who ends up with us most nights, agreed that his own bed was a good place to sleep, and that it was just his size, still comes. He doesn't have trouble falling asleep in his own bed, or being afraid of his room, he has trouble staying in his bed all night! We haven't totally figured out why he wanders, but we've made some progress in the last little while with taking him to the toilet if he wakes, and then escorting him back to his own bed. The problem is, I don't always wake up when he crawls over me to the middle of the bed. Anyway, some day, he too will sleep in his own bed. In the meantime, he enjoys story time, and this one is great for bedtime! Maybe subconsciously, the thought will stick soon!

"I sleep in my own bed" is available at Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders.

**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from NV Media Inc. 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.