Winners!

The winner of an adorable Miniclasix dress is:

Comment #37 - Heidi


The winner of $20 to Darling Designs is:

Comment #4 - Sweet Panda


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

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from us moms here at Glimpse! We appreciate each and every one of you and have loved sharing our blog with you this past year.

We wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a wonderful New Year! 
We are taking a short break over the holidays and will be back with some great reviews and giveaways in January!

Keep the family organized...

In case you're calendar shopping tonight or tomorrow...or next week...

The organizer calendars from Motherword are superb! With 18 years of helping families be organized, you know they're doing something right, and it's likely to help you get things under control - at least, I'm hoping! :) The calendars look so promising, I'm sure we'll be able to keep track of everything better. There's so much room to write events on each day, it will be a breeze to write down what everyone is doing this coming year. I also really like that you can start using it already in the fall (they go from September 2011-December 2012)...I always have trouble in December, because scheduling for January etc requires hanging 2 calendars, or remembering to write all the events when the new calendar goes up, and inevitably, I get a little mixed up!

There are 2 formats of calendars. Both are magnetic, with super strong magnets, so they can be featured prominently on your fridge, or other magnetic surface. Ours is on the back door, which leads right off the kitchen, and is metal, as our fridge is stainless steel, and not magnetic (one more reason to not buy stainless steel appliances in a house with kids!) Both calendars come with stickers for common events such as doctor and dentist appointments. The calendars come preprinted with holidays for both Canada and the US as well as inspirational quotes and the phases of the moon. You may wonder at the importance of the phases of the moon, but around here, it's fairly easy to tell when it's full moon, and it's nice to verify that it's the moon's fault and not some other reason for the wacky behaviour! Other features of both calendars include:

• Notes section
• Phone directory
• 2013 Holidays
• Birthstone and flower chart
• Anniversary gift guide

18"X13.5"

One calendar has 16 large monthly pages, Mom's Ultimate Magnetic Family Fridge Calendar (19" x 15"), with a hole at top for wall hanging or magnets behind if you prefer it on the fridge. It's the format of a regular calendar, with a fold in the middle, and one month for each 2-page spread.

The other calendar, Mom's Ultimate Family Fridge Calendar, features 16 large monthly tear-off pages (18" x 13-1/2"). The interior front cover can be cut out and used as a handy desk calendar. So, if you wanted, you could also use this as a desk calendar. 

Motherword has a lot of other great organizational products, and I'll tell you about some others in the New Year! If you get a chance, check them out too - they would make a great last-minute and VERY PRACTICAL gift! :)

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Motherword 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 LeapFrog Tag Jr. and Book is:

Comment #189 - Belinda McNabb


The winner of Friendship Bracelet & Ribbon Barrette Makers are:


Comment #110 - Maria


The winner of  Baby Touch and Feel Christmas is:


Comment #8 - sweetpanda




Congrats! Each of you will have 72 hours to reply to my email before a new winner is chosen.

Winner!

The winner of a copy of My Memories Suite is:

Comment #8: Corie Rimmer

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to reply to my email to claim your prize.

Amigurumi Made by Your Own Hand ~ GIVEAWAY!

I LOVE to create homemade gifts for my family and friends. There's just something special about it! Not only does it show how much you care (by the time and effort you put into making something special for a gift), but it also is a money-saver - which is great during the holiday season when we often tend to spend more than we maybe should! However...all that said, I think I have the same problem as most people - what should I make? How will I ever come up with something original, useful and fun? I'm not very creative...but if I find a great idea somewhere I can try to duplicate it - but thinking of it on my own? That most likely won't happen! ;) I recently received a book from the Complete Idiot's Guide Series called The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Amigurumi. I'd never even heard of amigurumi before this book - but I LOVE it! Amigurumi is Japanese for "crochet (or knit) stuffed toy. You know all those cute and adorable little crocheted dolls, animals, etc. that you see around? That's what amigurumi is, and that's what I'm learning how to create on my own! The best part is that the options are nearly endless with a craft like this. From adorable fuzzy critters, to sweet-looking fruits and vegetables, to dolls and other characters...if you can imagine it, you can crochet it!

The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Amigurumi includes detailed instructions on every part of beginning, creating and finishing a project, and it is very easy to understand and follow! Although I did know the basics of knitting and crocheting, I'm no expert, and I'm confident that even if you've never touched a crochet hook in your life, that this book has the instructions to guide you along in your amigurumi journey very well. In addition, the book includes a few complete projects for you to begin with - such as a very sweet set of dolls, some little hamsters and more. They are ideal for both putting under the tree or adding in as a stocking stuffer.

WIN IT!
One reader is going to win their own copy of The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Amigurumi! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


**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.

Christmas Peekaboo ~ GIVEAWAY!

Peekaboo is one of those games that babies just never seem to tire of, isn't it? :) It's a simple game, but it's a load of fun for young children - and it seems that even parents enjoy it a bit too, don't you think? *wink* DK Books has just the book for our peekaboo loving children. The Peekaboo Christmas board book is perfect for the holidays, and so much fun to read and explore as well!

Christmas Peekaboo makes the most of the game of peekaboo and has interactive flaps that open to reveal sweet babies, toys and more. Under each flap you get to say "Peekaboo!" and let your child feel the touch and feel part that was hiding under the flap. These range from a soft santa hat, to a shiny angel dress and you even get to feel a reindeer nose! Another aspect about this book is that it contains real photography of babies & children. The pictures are not cartoons, but are real - and that has always been a hit with our kids...they can definitely tell the difference, even at a young age. Christmas Peekaboo was a great addition to our holiday books, and I'm sure it will be enjoyed for many Christmases to come!

DK Books has a great selection of Christmas books for all ages, as well as a variety of other books to enjoy during the new year and during the break from school during these next few weeks!

WIN IT!
DK Books is giving one of our readers their own copy of Christmas Peekaboo! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


**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.

Crayola in your Stocking!

Well, actually, these Crayola products might be a bit big for stockings, unless you have very large, flat stockings! But I'm sure, no matter where these gifts are found, they're sure to be a big hit!

All 3 of these products are similar in that they're a set of colouring utensils and sketchpad, all packaged up in a handy storage/travelling case. It really is a great combination, and it's great to have somewhere to keep everything when it's not in use - although there's not much time around here that these aren't in use! Markers, coloured pencils or crayons - each has their own time and place, AND appropriate age group as we've found out here too!

Crayons

This is probably the only set that might fit in a stocking. It contains 16 Crayola Mini Twistables Crayons and a 30 page sketchbook. Twistables are fun, and especially durable, as if they drop, they don't immediately break in the middle. Also, you can control to a certain extent how much of the crayon is used at once. The sketchbook is blank, which I like much better than a colouring book - much more open-ended!

Markers


This set includes 25 Pip-Squeaks Markers with both Classic and Wacky Tips for cool effects and stickers to customize your creations! It also comes with a sketch book to colour and decorate.

Coloured Pencils

This is a great set for older children. There are 8 Graphite Sketch Pencils of varying line weights for both broad strokes and delicate details. It also comes with 18 Colored Pencils, a 40 Page Sketchbook with How-To Guide, a Pencil Sharpener and Eraser.

All 3 of these sets have been well-used in our home since we received them. The crayon set is more age-appropriate for Daniel (3), although he can use the markers as well. Luckily Crayola markers are washable!! Jonathan (6) seems to prefer markers right now - I think it's the speed at which a creation can be finished that appeals to him. He has started getting into coloured pencils lately too, and some pretty neat artwork has resulted! He hasn't really figured out the different sketching pencils yet...but I'm glad he can get a little bit of exposure to that already.

Any (or all!) of these sets would make a great gift, and it's great to have something that's not battery operated, which allows the child to be creative (and quiet!).

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Veritas Communications for Crayola 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 a LeapFrog Lettersaurus is:

Comment # 163: Soozle

Congratulations! Please respond within 72 hours to claim your prize!

Burt's Bees for "your Man!"

If you are looking for a gift for a man who's hard to buy for, you may want to consider the Burt's Bees natural skin care line for men. Introduced in 2007, this line consists of several different products, all made with the same "natural ingredient" principles as other Burt's Bees products. Specially formulated for men, the products have a "manly" scent, using such oils as lemon, orange, bergamot, patchouli, rosemary and fir. (not all at once! :) )

We were sent a bar soap and body wash for Richard to try out. He's more of a body wash person than a soap person in the shower, and has really like the men's body wash. It foams nicely, cleanses well and leaves him feeling (and smelling!) refreshed! The scent isn't strong, but pleasant. The bar soap is an energizing mix of citrus and bergamot and definitely a nice change from our regular soap!

We also received a gift tin of lip balms - 3 of Burt's Bees original lip balms in a great little gift tin. This would make a perfect stocking stuffer for someone who loves lip balms, and the tin is an attractive way to store lip balms, or anything else or that matter!

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from the Devon Consulting for Burt's Bees 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.

Last-minute luxury!!

Rodial, a UK-based brand of skincare is available in Canada! Rodial's products feature Pomegranate Ellagic Tannin, nature's most potent collagen booster and firming agent. Products are dermatologically tested and deliver targeted treatments to specific skin concerns.

We're focusing on the Christmas gift sets and products Rodial has in their collection. The 3 collections are called Socialite, Rehab and Lounge and contain items such as creams, bath balm and candles.

I tried out the Socialite gift set. It made me laugh - I'm pretty removed from the "socialite" status! The gift set consists of bathing balm and body soufflé, which is a "chic" way of saying bath bubbles and luxury cream! And, yes, luxury is the word! Both are infused with pink champagne and cassis, and smell great! The bubbles last a long time and make for a truly luxurious bathing experience. Body soufflé is a whipped body crème that moisturizes without feeling heavy or greasy. The other collections also contain a bathing balm and body soufflé, with different scents - be sure to smell the tester before purchase!

Rodial products are available in Canada at several locations of The Bay and Murale. For specific addresses, please check the "stockists" page of the Rodial website. (and please ignore the reference to Gee Beauty in Miami FL, that must be a mistake!) For our American readers, Rodial products are available to you as well - again just check the stockists page!

**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Devon Consulting for Rodial 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 $20 gift certificate to Oliver's Labels is:

Comment # 44 Kerry

The winner of a $30 gift certificate to Single Source Party Supply is:

Comment # 40 Kerry

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

Scholastic Monday ~ Happy Birthday Hamster

School is nearly out for the Christmas Holidays and I thought I would share a title from Scholastic Canada this week that is just plain fun! Happy Birthday Hamster is a fabulous little book that is ideal for the younger crowd (though I must admit I enjoyed it as well ;) ). The story revolves around Hamster's favorite day - his birthday! But is it possible that Dog and all of Hamsters friends have forgotten about this special day? Not a chance! Hamster has the best birthday party ever from his friends when they throw a surprise party with all the fixings...cake, balloons, and more!

Happy Birthday Hamster is a whimsical story, and with the bold, vibrant illustrations and the fun, rhyming story it was a hit for sure! There is humor in the story as well which both kids and adults alike will be able to chuckle and giggle along with. Happy Birthday Hamster is a great little book to enjoy with your young children. It's one that they can relate to well (as I don't know any kids who dislike birthday parties!) and will enjoy reading with you, or even on their own.


**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.

Holiday Safety with Master Lock ~ GIVEAWAY!!

Christmas is just around the corner, and most of us are dreaming of food, fun and time spent with family and friends! However, in the midst of all that dreaming most of us also find that this can be one of the busiest, most hectic times of the year. I for one know that when I get too busy things often go wrong - due to mistakes or unintended accidents! Sometime slow and steady is better than a whirlwind, huh? ;) Master Lock has developed a Holiday Safety Checklist for keeping families and their homes safe and secure and I'd love to share a few of their holiday tips with you along with a great Master Lock product for traveling during the holidays or at any time of the year!

First, the Master Lock product I'd like to feature this time around are their Luggage Locks. These are fabulous little locks that are just perfect for traveling! The Luggage Locks allow TSA screeners to inspect and relock baggage without damaging the lock. In addition to this they have a handy front access keyway which makes opening the lock a lot simpler. The colors are fun as well - pink, purple, blue...it's a great way to spot your luggage easily! The locks are very sturdy and durable, and can be used for a variety of bags such as luggage, backpacks, sports bags, briefcases, computer bags and more. Now...for some holiday safety tips to keep in mind this season - whether you are traveling or staying at home these are great tips to remember!

1. Travel Safely. Whether you're planning a road trip or flight, be sure to take all the proper safety precautions. If driving, check tire pressure beforehand for optimal handling and traction and consider having your car winterized by your mechanic for added safety. Stock your car with a safety kit and check weather forecasts and road conditions before heading out. If you're flying to your destination, remember to secure your luggage with TSA-accepted locks, such as one I described above. If you're flying with holiday gifts, keep them unwrapped to avoid security checkpoint delays.

2. Secure Your Home. During the holiday season, you're likely to have guests coming and going from your home for a number of get-togethers. Be sure all entry points, including doors, windows and sliding glass doors, are locked before and after guests depart to help keep your family, home and valuables safe. If you're traveling out of town, enlist a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your home while you're away.

3. Shop Smart. To stay safe while enjoying a fun holiday shopping trip to the local mall or shopping center, be aware of your surroundings. Park in well-lit areas, avoiding spaces next to large vehicles that can block the line of sight to your car if possible, make sure you aren't followed when exiting the mall and lock your doors immediately upon re-entering your vehicle. Keep purchased gifts out of sight -- in the trunk of your car or under a blanket -- to prevent theft.

4. Decorate Strategically. When decorating the home to reflect your festive mood, check lights for frayed wires and loose or broken plugs. Check manufacturers' instructions for the maximum number of light strands that can be safety strung together, and don't exceed that maximum to minimize risk of a short circuit or electrical fire.

5. Don't Play with Fire. While it's easy to get distracted when you're hosting friends and family, never leave your stove unattended while you have food cooking. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the U.S. If you plan to light a fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers and decorations from your fireplace and make sure that the damper is open. Never burn wrapping paper in a fireplace. It ignites suddenly and burns intensely and can cause a flash fire.

WIN IT!
Master Lock wants to help families stay safe this year and is giving one of our readers a set of 2 Luggage Locks! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below. Open to Canada and USA. Contest ends Dec. 31, 2012.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


**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.

Wean Green!!

Do remember Wean Green? That great Canadian company who thought of making glass containers for homemade baby food? We featured them a while ago here on Glimpse. Since then, they've added to their collection in a big way. I remember thinking at back to school time that it was a pity they didn't have containers big enough for school lunches. When I checked the website, they'd already beat me to that thought - and here were containers in a variety of shapes and sizes, perfect for taking lunch to school or work, for leftovers.

Wean Green is a Canadian company dedicated to providing parents with safe and environmental baby products. Their containers can be used and re-used in many different ways! The glass bottom of each container is tempered, intended to be able to go straight from the freezer to the microwave to the table. The glass cubes are equipped with an airtight seal designed to stop leakage - and it does really work! The lids lock with four locks, holding the lid securely. Cubes and lids are dishwasher safe, and the glass is 100% recyclable (although why you'd want to recycle them, I don't know - you could pass them on to someone else when you're done, if you ever stop being done with them!) Everything about the container is BPA, PVC and phthalate-free. Lids are available in 4 different colours: blueberry, carrot, raspberry and pea.

Attractive Accessories... GIVEAWAY!!

One of the fun things about having a baby girl is all of the girly accessories!! There are many cute things for baby boys, don't get me wrong :) but I'm happy to be able to use hair clips on our little girl now! If you are looking for some great accessories, all handmade in Canada, you have got to check out Miamum!! This new website combines the 3 brands: Miamum, SassyStrap and PrimaMia are now available all in one great new web shop!!

Miamum is the hobby-turned-business of Mom Maria. As friends started noticing the baby products she designed for her first baby boy, she started making and selling items. As a mom of 3 boys, she also wanted to be creative in a more "feminine" way, and so PrimaMia is the outlet for all those girly ideas like flower hair accessories and headbands!!

Winners!

The winner of a $50 GC to Indigo is:

Comment #2: Erlinda P.

The winner of a $25 GC from Beba Bean is:

Comment #52 - Lisa S.

The winner of a FunBites food cutter is:

Comment #64: Marysa N

Congrats! Each of you will have 72 hours to reply to my email before a new winner is chosen.

Sparkle and Shine Nativity ~ GIVEAWAY!

I think you'll have to agree with me that there's something special about the Christmas season. The sparkling, twinkling lights...the chance to give to others...and the timeless Nativity story. The wonder and excitement of Christmas is especially noticeable in children, and I love helping my kids enjoy and take part in Christmas. Teaching our children about the meaning of Christmas is important in our family, and the Sparkle and Shine Nativity Story from DK Books has been a perfect tool for our family this year! It is an big, adorable board book that sparkles and shines (literally! :) ) as it shares the Nativity story. From watching Mary lay baby Jesus in the manger to meeting all His special visitors, the book covers the Nativity story in a clear, yet charming and respectful manner.

Nativity Story is also written in rhyming text which is a lot of fun for both children and adults to read. It is a perfect first gift-book for a child at Christmas, and it's a great little story to read together as a family during the Christmas season as well.

BUY IT!
DK Books has a great little Holdiay Boutique with titles for both adults, children and everyone in between! For a limited time you'll receive 30% off the books in the Holiday Boutique - so it's a great way to get a little more bang for your buck this Christmas! In addition, DK Books offers free shipping on orders over $50!

WIN IT!
DK Books is giving away a copy of the Sparkle and Shine Nativity Story! In order to enter please follow the instructions on the form below. Open to CANADA ONLY! Ends Dec. 29, 2011.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


**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.

George's Cream - just in time for those winter hands!! GIVEAWAY!!

Last winter, I noticed ads in magazines and on billboards for George's Cream. I'd never heard of George's before so I was a little curious...did you know that George's Cream is a Canadian company? George (yes, there really is a George!) created the cream at a dermatologist's request, and it was available at his pharmacy in Calgary, where doctors began sending patients to buy "George's Cream!" The request for cream stipulated that it had to work better than commercially available creams but contain less ingredients, so less elements that could potentially cause a reaction for people already suffering from skin issues. Later, George developed a Light version of the cream, the Special Moisturizing Lotion, which is effective but can be pumped through a pump.

George’s Cream and George’s Special Moisturizing Lotion are two fragrance free moisturizers that do not contain lanolin, parabens or urea. The cream comes in 3 package sizes: 30g tube for the purse, convenient 90g tube and an economical 450g jar. The lotion comes in 2 package sizes: 30ml tube for the purse and an attractive 360ml pump.

MyMemories - GIVEAWAY!!

Nope, sorry, I'm not giving away my memories! Rather, we're giving away a copy of MyMemories Suite, a digital scrapbooking program!!

Here's our situation: we have a gazillion photos (not much of an exaggeration!) of our kids, all digital. We've printed out some, framed them, I've done some scrapbooking, but really, I just don't have the time, or the space to set up an album making station, do a little bit, and the put it all away again before little fingers have helped!

MyMemories Suite is software you can purchase and download (or have shipped to you on CD and install), and it allows you to create scrapbook pages on your computer, using your collection of digital photos.

MyMemories Suite v3 software is a complete digital scrapbooking solution that provides a comprehensive powerful set of creative tools no other scrapbook software can offer. With its intuitive workspace and enhanced time-saving features, this application is perfect for a beginner to create a complete album in minutes, or to empower the design pro to build a scrapbook album masterpiece.

Elegant Beauty ~ GIVEAWAY!

I am a lover of classic stuff. :) Things that are simple...yet beautiful and meaningful. The Miniclasix Elegant Beauty collection is just this - simple but gorgeous. The collection has an adorable selection of options for little girls that are both stylish and comfortable, and that are perfect for all kinds of events. The designs are incredibly elegant - but nothing too fancy either. Most of the items feature the colors taupe, ivory and black which is perfect for Christmas, weddings, church, birthdays, etc. I love that their outfits work perfectly for Christmas - yet they do not have the regular red/green colors so our girls can enjoy wearing them throughout the year instead of just during the Christmas season. We received the Sweater-Knit Cardigan with Iridescent Threads as well as the Faux Fur Jacket with Black Ribbon Bow. Both items are amazing and we are thoroughly impressed with the quality and design of each one. The products were even more beautiful in real than in the photos, and our little girls LOVE them!

Winners!

The winner of a crocheted cap from Cutes Capes 'n Caps is:

Comment # 25: amy pugmire

The winner of a Cook and Play Potsy from LeapFrog is:

Comment # 70: Maria

Please contact me within 72 hours to claim your prizes!

More great LeapFrog gifts! GIVEAWAY!!

Maybe you've figured out that both of us here at Glimpse like LeapFrog products! In fact, we still haven't run out of good things to say, so here's another "glimpse" :) at some great LeapFrog products!

I think we've said this before, but it bears saying again: there are Leapfrog items for a wide variety of ages and interests. We've seen some items, like Tag, Tag Jr. and Leapster2, that are great for older children. There are also some really neat toys for younger children as well.

In our LeapFrog holiday package, there was a "My Pal Scout" for Annalies and a "Lettersaurus" for Daniel.

Winner!

The winner of the Graco Trekko Stroller is:

Comment #123 - edmontonjb

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

Winners!

 The winner of the winter wilderness jacket from Canada Pooch is:

Comment #224 - Carley L.


The winner of a $50 Elephoto.ca gift card is:

Comment #157 - Bree

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

For Little Feet ~ GIVEAWAY! (2 WINNERS!!)

Winter has arrived and I'm certain I'm not the only one that LOVES my slippers during this time of year. My feet are always a little chilly...or even downright cold during the winter months! But, adults are not the only ones who suffer from chilly feet during the winter months. I've noticed that my kids' feet get equally as cold, and Moxies Baby Shoes is our favorite place to find some cozy soft sole shoes or slippers to remedy this problem! Our youngest daughter recently received an adorable pair of soft sole shoes to keep her toes cozy this winter. With the front end of a little sheep on one foot and the tail end of a little sheep on the other foot, they just couldn't get any cuter. The shoes are also personalized with her name embroidered on each shoe. In addition to this, they are soft, flexible, warm, stay on her feet and durable!

Moxies does something else that is 100% unique with their shoes as well! They have recently added a ToughTek feature and are currently the ONLY ones who use toughtek and suede soles (not just toughtek like others do). This makes for SUCH a cozy and comfy little slipper. Toughtek gives you a grip in any condition - wet, dry, hot or cold. It also is incredibly durable, sturdy yet pliable, waterproof, fire-retardent and more! The end result is shoes where the inside is soft & warm, and the outside is durable and tough and gives those little feet the grip that they need to run & play!

Moxies Baby Shoes hand-makes suede shoes, leather shoes, suede or leather boots and extra warm winter shoes. Their NEW website allows you to design each of these in the comfort of your own home, and gives you the chance to play around with colors, images, etc. until you have the perfect personalized shoes for yourself or a child.

WIN IT!
Moxiesbabyshoes.com is giving away some of their fabulous shoes/boots! One winner will receive a pair of toddler/baby shoes and a second winner will receive a pair of toddler/baby boots.

HOW TO ENTER (please feel free to enter for BOTH prizes by leaving two comments!)

To enter for the SHOES: Leave a comment giving us your best original design for the best toddler shoe combo (anything goes - find colors, ideas, etc. at Moxies but feel free to come up with something completely original as well!)

To enter for the BOOTS: Leave a comment giving us your best original design for a pair of boots - again, brainstorm for ideas at Moxies, but anything goes!)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on January 2, 2011. Please view our [giveaway rules](http://glimpse-reviews.blogspot.com/2008/02/giveaway-rules.html) for more info. 


**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.

Hexbugs - high on cool factor!

Chances are, Hexbugs are on a Christmas list of someone you know. Until just recently, I was not aware of Hexbugs - sadly underinformed or blissfully unaware? :) Jonathan's classmates (grade 1) have been talking about Hexbugs, and showing them for Show-and-Tell, and of course, they are hot on the "I want" lists!

So, what are Hexbugs? Hexbugs are micro robotic creatures. HEXBUG was designed to give children a positive experience with robotics at a young age. Launched in 2007, the Hexbug brand started it's collection with the Hexbug Original. The Hexbug Crab and Inchworm (a remote-controlled creature) joined the family in 2008, and in 2009, the Hexbug Nano and the Ant were released. Last year, the Nano habitat sets were added to the collection, and this year, the Glow-in-the-dark Nano and the Hexbug Spider hit the shelves. This fall, the Nano hive, a mobile habitat, and the Larva creature became available. Each creature has specific abilities and differs in size and capability from the others. As well, each creature is available in several colour options.

Winner!

The winner of a LeapFrog Tag JR. and Book is:

Comment # 246 - Amy Menzies

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

Balloons for the holidays! Giveaway!!

You often see balloons at birthdays and weddings, and many other occasions. But what about the holiday season? Did you know there's a wide variety of holiday-themed balloons available at Single Source Party Supply, just waiting for inflation, to be used as holiday decoration? Prices and shipping are very reasonable (free over $40), and service is quick.

Single Source Party Supply is a retail party store located in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada.   They offer the highest quality balloons and balloon accessories from Qualatex, Anagram, Betallic, Classic, CTI, Unique and many more manufacturers.  We've had balloons from them featured on Glimpse before, and also used them for several of our birthday parties, and had very good results! The selection of balloons is amazing; you can get popular characters as well as themed balloons, and this time, they sent us a variety of holiday-themed balloons!

Winner!

The winner of a 4-pack of Kachooz! is:

comment # 35: Debbie W

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to claim your prize.

Label those leftovers! Giveaway!!

Have you ever put a dish of leftovers in the fridge or freezer, certain you'll remember what it is, and when you find the dish, you have no clue what's in there anymore?! This happens to me quite frequently, especially with frozen stuff. You can't taste it properly, and it doesn't have a recognizable smell...and once I've defrosted it, I'm committed to using it somehow or throwing it out.

Labels are the answer to your problems. My mother uses masking tape, and while that's somewhat effective, it isn't perfect. For one thing, the tape doesn't stick so well, and for another, it's not very pretty. And what about if you're preparing a container to take - and you want the container back? Well, then you want your name on it as well.

Handcrafted for Baby ~ GIVEAWAY!

There are a few things I love...a few that make my top 10 list, and two of those are babies and handmade items! :) Darling Designz brings these two favorites of mine together and the outcome is amazing. Do you see those sweet little zebra strip shoes? To be honest, I've never thought of myself as a fan of the animal print patterns...but one look at these little zebra shoes with the pretty pink flowers and I was a fan. (and yep...that IS amazing...and it's even more proof that Darling Designz knows what they're doing! ;) ).

Darling Designz has a great selection of handcrafted baby items. The Girls Couture Shoes are one of the items you'll find. There are lots of these sweet dress shoes for girls and they can even be custom made if you wish! The quality of the shoes is unbeatable. They have a waterproof rubber bottom with a stiff supportive insole and can be worn outside or inside. They're the perfect cross between soft sole slippers and runners and are ideal for both babies and young girls. I have a feeling that most little girls would just squeal with delight if they were able to unwrap a pair of these couture shoes this year. :)

Winner!

The winner of a Rubik's Race game is:

Comment #90 Doris Calvert

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to claim your prize.

Leap into Learning! ~ LeapFrog GIVEAWAY!

I've often shared about how much I adore toys and products that promote both fun and learning! And, well, you probably all know this already, but LeapFrog is a big favorite around here. In fact, I believe that LeapFrog has found their way into many homes and families. We recently received a few more fabulous products from LeapFrog. The first is the My Own Story Time Pad. It is specifically geared for 2-4 year old and is filled with stories, activities, animations, music, etc. The extra special thing about My Own Story Time Pad is that you can personalize it with your child's name, your child's favorites and they can even receive customized "emails" from family and their own little music playlist! The options on this pad are plentiful, and it is ideal for at home, traveling, etc. My Own Story Time Pad was a great fit for our three year old daughter - and even our 5 year old son loves it. It can provide hours of quality entertainment.

Fun Bites! GIVEAWAY!

Are you looking for a way to change up your food without inventing a whole bunch of new recipes? Do you have a picky eater who might just be convinced to eat food if it was a different shape?

Check out FunBites!! Available in 2 designs right now: Cube It! and Luv It! These food cutters easily make small bites and fun shapes out of sandwiches and more, making the fun much more fun!

Winners!

The winner of a Geometric Stacker Toy from MySmartToys is:

Comment # 5: Stephanie LaPlante

The winner of a Holly Jolly Gift Pack from Lovable Labels is:

Comment # 35: Marlibu

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

Touch & Feel Christmas ~ GIVEAWAY!

One gift idea that I've always loved - at Christmas or any time of the year is books. Books are great for any age - from babies to adults and they truly are useful and can be read again and again (especially for children! :) ). So, when I'm out of ideas...or am buying a gift for a "hard-to-buy", "they-have-everything" type of person I often choose a book. And this isn't just for adults - in fact, I find that babies are often rather difficult to buy a gift for - especially if the baby is the 2nd, 3rd, etc. child in the family.

Friendship Bracelets & Ribbon Barrettes ~ GIVEAWAY!

Remember way back in the day (well, maybe it's not as FAR back for some of you! ;) ), when we used to make friendship bracelets for all our friends, and of course for ourselves, for our little brothers, or whomever else we thought was in need of a bracelet made by us? :) I was a huge fan of making friendship bracelets when I was young...and to be honest? I still think I'd love it...but my time is filled up with different things these days.

Winners!

The winner of an accessory from Loove & Sweet is:

Comment #142 - gibberish



Then winner of the Scholastic Christmas book prize pack is:

Comment #331 - Jen M


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

Have yourself a Crayola Party!

Planning what you're going to do when you have a bunch of kids over can be a challenge...especially if you've covered a few favourite activities already in past get togethers. Luckily, Crayola has many great ideas for you, and their product list just seems to keep on growing!

For our Crayola Playdate, we had a few boys Jonathan's age (6), and we completed several Presto Dots kits. These were all animals of some sort: ie lizard or dragonfly. The kit includes all the modelling clay you need (and more!) and the skeleton of the animal so you can attach the clay. Once the clay dries, because the skeleton is articulated, the animal can actually move around! A really cool feature I didn't know until we were busy with the kids is that the kits can be combined - you could make a lizard with wings, for example, or switch around the heads...you get the idea! The boys loved it and had a great time! We had an extra adult helping, which was a good thing, because it was a bit tricky to get everyone started.

We also received a flower pot presto dots kit, which the kids completed another day when we had girls over to play! It was a big hit, although a bit tricky because they weren't quite old enough (rated for 5+ and they aren't kidding!). Some of the clay in this kit was smelly, like flowers, which they thought was very cool.






Also in our play date box there was the largest pad of paper I have ever seen. Our budding artist (Jonathan) was thrilled, and our house is gradually being covered with his version of wallpaper! :) There's a suggestion inside the cover to tape several sheets together and make a life-sized person, which we also had to do! :)

Jonathan and Daniel both enjoyed the Glow Book: this kit contains a lighting "book spine" and 4 plastic pages. You trace or draw pictures onto the pages, with slight, sequential changes on each one, and then when you click them into the "spine" they light up. You can program the spine to illuminate the pages in order, or random, or whatever you like. To fully appreciate the effect, you have to go into a darkened room, but that's sort of cool too!

If you (and your kids) are big fans of the Colour Wonder products, you're going to love the Colour Wonder metallic paper. Just like other Colour Wonder products, the markers only draw on the special paper (hooray!). Now there's a special metallic glow to the pictures as well. And if your child doesn't like the limitations of colouring books, the Colour Wonder paper roll might be just the thing. You can make the drawing as long as you like, and however your creativity inspires you!

Time and time again, we return to Crayola products, and we've almost always had great luck. Their markers and crayons seem to work the best of any, and last the longest, at least in our house. Their "washable" products have (with 1 exception) been truly washable - the exception was the coloured bubbles this spring, and I had to work at the clothing to get the colour out (most of it did). Crayola products are available at many many retailers, with varying selections, but you're sure to find something for your gift list in their product collection!

For more gift-giving ideas, check out Crayola's Holiday Gift Guide! Organized by age, you're sure to find something to please.

**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Veritas Canada for Crayola as part of the Crayola Mom Advisory Panel 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.

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel

When it comes to family activities, one thing that we love to do around here is play games together. It's such a fun way to connect with your kids (no matter what age!) and to enjoy some relaxed, fun, and worthwhile time together as a family. There's a hot new game out this year for kids called Sneaky Snacky Squirrel - and it's a FABULOUS one! Mrs. Tiggy Winkles is packed full of great games and gift ideas, but I think that this game is one of the best! We're tried quite a few kids games, but this one has been especially popular...and we're not the only ones who are enjoying it as it's been selling out almost as fast as it can be stocked! In fact, I think it is now almost impossible to find online...though you can definitely keep your eyes open for it in the new year!

Here's a sneak peak at how fun Sneaky Snacky Squirrel can be...

Your forest friends (the squirrels!) are ever so hungry...and they need your help! Your job is to spin the spinner, and pick up the matching colored acorn from the tree with your special Squirrel Squeezers and place it into your stump. If you are the first one to fill your stump with those tasty colored acorns you win! There are a few twists and turns to the game as well - such as getting to steal an acorn from another player, or even losing all your acorns. (uh oh!)

Sneaky Snacky Squirrel is perfect for young children - it is for ages 3+ and both our 3 year old and 5 year old LOVED it - even our little 1 year old wanted to get in on the action! :) It develops a variety of useful skills such as matching, sorting, hand-eye coordination and even a bit of strategic thinking.

If you're looking for gift ideas this year that will be played with ALL year - and that encourage spending time together as a family this is a great game to invest in. It gives kids a fun option too instead of sitting in front of the screen for 1/2 the day and well, in my opinion, games like this are a fabulous way to build relationships between siblings, friends, parents, grandparents, etc! Mrs. Tiggy Winkles is the place to find Sneaky Snacky Squirrel (in the new year) as well as many other fabulous games and toys for 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.

Scholastic Monday ~ Gifts

This week for Scholastic Monday we have a fabulous, fun and carefree book to feature called Gifts, by Jo Ellen Bogart and Barbara Reid. We had a great time reading this book! Gifts is the story of a grandmother who travels all over the world, and somehow manages to bring back the most unique gifts to a little girl. She delivers such things as a billabong goo and a hundred songs she can sing. Or what about a piece of sky, and a sitar's zing?

The gifts that are given are unique, filled with love and most importantly, the book brings out the messages of how wonderful it is to give gifts, and promotes respect and even a tiny bit of learning about people all over the world! The book has adorable and colorful "clay-style" pictures, which is another neat feature of Gifts.

Although it is not specifically a Christmas book, I think the 'giving message' of Gifts fits perfectly with the season! The gifts that the little girl requests are wonderfully fun and I'm certain that kids everywhere will love hearing about the gifts that grandmother so thoughtfully delivers.


**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.

Hallmark for the Holidays!

Have you started decorating for the holidays? and the shopping as well? We're still busy with the Dutch celebration of Sinterklaas, which makes December a really busy month!

For your own home, or for that holiday-lover on your list, Hallmark has some great new products to help you out! In our Hallmark Holiday package, there have been some great items and really something for everyone!

Cutest Cap! Giveaway!!

In her cape, back in April!

Our little girl is truly a girl - she's collecting fashion accessories faster than I can think! One of the latest additions to her wardrobe is a beautiful handmade crocheted hat from Cute Capes 'n Caps! She already has a great fleece cape made by Ramona and the hat is a great new piece, showing how talented Ramona really is!

Ramona makes a variety of styles of caps and hats for boys and girls; she has many available on her Etsy site right now and the hats can also be custom ordered in size and colour of preference. She also makes booties and gorgeous headbands, as well as the fleece capes shown here.