Did you know that a large percentage of what we put on our skin actually penetrates deeper than we think? I've recently come across a few studies that show that what we put on our skin goes into our body - and at a much higher rate than one might expect! Nicole Perry Pure and Natural is a fabulous Canadian company that I recently discovered, and that I've fallen in love with! Nicole Perry carries all natural skin and body care products that are good for your skin and your body.
We received a few Nicole Perry products to try out and they are amazing! I've always disliked strong fragrances in skin/body care products and this is one of the things that I LOVE about the items from Nicole Perry. Most items do have a mild scent - but one that is natural and gentle...instead of being almost intoxicating, the essential oils that are used are completely refreshing! One of my favorites is the Peppermint Lip Balm. It is very soothing and has just the perfect amount of peppermint scent to be refreshing...yet it doesn't leave your lips tingling as some other peppermint balms I've tried before have done. While we're on the topic of peppermint, I must add that the Peppermint Poppy Seed Soap was another favorite - it's delicate, great for sensitive skin and leaves you smelling SO fresh! :)
Nicole Perry Pure and Natural has a nice selection of soaps, including an Unscented Gentle Baby Soap for our littlest ones! In addition to soaps, you'll also find some deliciously, natural body butter. This is perfect for the dryer winter months and I have a feeling I'll love using it as well after I come in from a day of weeding in the garden this summer as well! :) Every Nicole Perry product has a olive oil base which acts as a powerful antioxidant and moisturizer.
We have found that the products from Nicole Perry are a perfect fit for our family. Since they are completely natural, they're ideal for both children and adults. The simple base of natural ingredients that Nicole Perry uses really are a winning combination!
WIN IT! Nicole Perry Pure and Natural is giving one of our readers $20 worth of free products (as well as Free shipping!) In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below.
**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.
How many of you remember the name Kristi Yamaguchi? The Olympic ladies singles figure skating champion from 1992? Well, adding to her (already long) list of accomplishments is: children's book author!
And not just author, New York Times Bestselling author! Her first book, "Dream Big, Little Pig", is about a pig named Poppy who achieves her dreams of being a figure skater, even though many around her say that pigs can't skate. Kristi is the founder of the "Always Dream" foundation, which supports organizations that have a positive influence on children, helping them to achieve their dreams. 100% of the profits from the sale of her books goes to support the Always Dream foundation.
Kristi's second book, "It's a big world, Little Pig!" follows Poppy as she travels to Paris to compete in the World Games. There she meets athletes from many different countries, competing in many different sports, and discovers that even though there are many differences, they all smile in the same language!
We both received a hard-cover copy of "It's a big world, Little Pig!" for our families to enjoy. Here are our opinions.
Julie's take:
The idea of a pig who can figure skate is a fascinating one in itself! This book was very timely for us, as our oldest is learning to skate and cross-country ski this year. He is somewhat inclined to give up when challenged, so it was great to read him the story about Poppy who faces her fears of unknown places and athletes and perseveres. We haven't read the first story, but I think it sounds like it would be very appropriate for him as well. The book reads nicely and our children enjoyed the inclusion of greetings in other languages. As a parent, I enjoyed how Poppy meets new people and discovers, after chatting a while, that they do have some shared interests even though they seem to be so different. I was amused by the pictures of the pig family travelling around Paris in their white runners, with cameras hanging about their necks - this is the "typical" picture Europeans have of American tourists! The pictures are creative and beautifully coloured, with just enough reality to make them believable. All in all, we really enjoyed reading this story, and I'm sure it's one we'll come back to often.
Andrea's take:
We really enjoyed "It's a big world, Little Pig!"as well! Poppy makes a wonderful character in the story, and there are so many different lessons and thoughts one can glean from Poppy's adventures! The one that struck a cord with our oldest child was the fact that Poppy was able to step out of her comfort zone and make new friends. Although she was scared and nervous, she was able to overcome that and ended up with a bunch of fabulous new friends from all over the world! It's such an encouraging theme for those of us who have children that are shy and are nervous about new places and people. The final message of the book is one that we loved as well...and one that is so relevant! Poppy realizes that although the animals she meets all look different, talk different and act different than her, they are still the same at heart and they all "smile in the same language!"
**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from SourcebooksPR 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.
Cooking...now that's one thing that we do a lot of around here, and in my opinion, it is a very important skill for kids to learn! I encourage my kids to take turns being my "kitchen helper" from the time they are about 1 1/2 years old (consider they can do it without creating a TOTAL disaster! ;) )
But...what about the logistics of cooking? How does it all work? Why do onions make you "cry"? and why does chocolate melt, but bread does not? Good questions, huh?! And these questions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what can all be discovered and learned while cooking together in the kitchen. DK Canada has a fabulous book called How Cooking Works that answers all of these "Why?" questions. It has a ton of great information in there - and a lot of it is even new knowledge for me...the mom. Us parents are often to busy to stop and think about why something is the way it is...to us, it just is! But I love to satisfy the curious minds of my kids as well, so this is a perfect resource to help me do that!
How Cooking Works offers some special treats for families as well! In addition to answering loads of cooking-related questions, this book also has a selection of great, tasty and easy-to-make classic recipes - such as pizza, muffins, snacks and more! Finally, if that isn't enough, How Cooking Works even goes into some of the other details of cooking...such as why it's important to have a clean kitchen, safety while cooking, etc. It is a fabulous guide for kids to learn the how's and why's of cooking...and hey, like I said before, it may even enlighten us parents on a few things as well! :)
WIN IT!
DK Canada is giving away a copy of How Cooking Works to one of our readers! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below.
**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.
Welcome to another Scholastic Monday! :) This week we get to focus on an adorable board book from Scholastic Canada that was created just for pre-schoolers and babies. You are My Cupcake by Joyce Wan is a simple little book that is completely, 100% loveable! :)
You Are My Cupcake is an ode to all those funny, yet meaningful names we call our children...I'm sure some of these names even are heard in your own home! Names such as cutie pie, peanut and sweet pea are just a taste of what I'm talking about. You Are My Cupcake is complete with colorful pages, adorable art to match the absolute sweetness of the rest of the book.
You Are My Cupcake is the perfect book to snuggle up to and read to a baby or a younger child! It's short and sweet (literally! ;) ) It would also make a fabulous addition to a baby gift or birthday gift.
**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.
Are you a proud Canadian? I sure am. Time to be a little more patriotic, I think! For those of you Canadians reading this, you'll likely appreciate the video below as a wonderful collection of "typical Canadian awesomeness!" For those of you from outside Canada, elements in this video might be what you think of when you think of Canada. Trust me when I saw we aren't all lumberjacks! :)
Upper Canada Soap was founded in 1969, starting off with a single bar of soap. From there, they have expanded their product line to over 2000 items, all designed to provide customers with a natural beauty experience.
We are surrounded by nature and inspired by it – clean Canadian waters and botanical ingredients and extracts that have been used for generations. As a modern day Apothecary, we use this inspiration to make affordable luxuries using nothing but the finest, purest ingredients.
With over 2,000 bath and body products to our name, our focus is a commitment to natural product formulations leaving harsh chemicals and preservatives out of the mix. And as always, we keep our products close to home by developing and manufacturing all of our personal care products locally in Canada.
None of our products or ingredients are ever tested on animals.
Recently, they released their Golden Maple Sugar collection. Nothing says Canadian like Maple! All the time I lived overseas, I think I was rarely without my trusty jug of maple syrup - and there was the time that one of the jugs (1L) that I was bringing back got squished enough in my (checked) luggage, that it burst the lid, and spilled all over everything - leaving me with about 1/4 of it left in the container, and the rest dripping out of my bag, all over the airplane (I assume), the luggage carousel, the train, the car, the stairs up to our apartment, and the shower where I finally dumped my bag and hosed everything off. :) I LOVE maple!
So, I was thrilled when Upper Canada Soap offered to send me a sampling of their Maple products. YUM YUM YUM!!! They smell almost good enough to eat!! And they work great too! Included in the collection are:
Golden Maple Sugar Bubble Bath
Hand & Body Lotion
Hand & Body Wash
Hydrating Shower Gel
Moisturizing Bath Soap (boxed)
Nourishing Lip Balm
Whipped Hand Repair Balm
There are also a couple of travel/gift sets:
Mini Hand & Body Lotion
On-The-Go Moisture Set (contains lotion and bath soap)
Here's a quick run-down of my experiences with each product.
LOVE LOVE LOVE bubble bath in general, and this one in particular! I didn't get quite the same amount of bubbles as the lady in the video :) but definitely a generous amount. And they lasted for as long as I wanted was allowed to stay in the bath. The aroma is very relaxing, but you don't have to worry that you'll be going around smelling like syrup for ever either! The bottle is beautiful as well - I can see this one staying around after it's empty as a decoration piece!
This lotion is thick and creamy, so a little goes a long ways. It's great for moisturizing throughout the day, rubs in quickly, and doesn't leave my hands greasy, but does relieve the dryness. Also great on my "weird" knees (label thanks to son #2), elbows, and as an overal moisturizer after the shower.
Lathers up nicely on a shower puff (and I imagine on a cloth too) and does the job to clean up during the shower, while again leaving a delicious but light maple fragrance.
Got to have lip balm in the winter! This is the first lip balm I've seen that wasn't round - the end is an oval, and I like how it covers more surface at once. Helps to relieve the dryness and lasts a long time.
My hands definitely need repair. I try to wear gloves for some household activities, but it just isn't practical all of the time, and with 3 kids, I seem to be always washing someone or something! I've used this balm at nighttime when I figure it has the most chance of staying on without being washed off, and I've noticed a difference in the morning. It's certainly something I need to use regularly, as my hands are in very bad shape right now. This lotion goes on very thickly, takes a little longer to rub in than other lotions, but has a nice softening effect.
Upper Canada Soap products are available via their website, at many retailers around the country, on Amazon and Tweed and Hickory (complete collection at both).
WIN IT!!!
One lucky Canadian Glimpse reader will win a fabulous gift basket from Upper Canada Soap, containing one of each of the products I tried!!! ARV: $85! :) To enter, please like Upper Canada Soap on Facebook AND share the video (available on the Facebook page) either via Facebook or Twitter (or both of course!)
**Disclosure: The products mentioned above have been given free of charge from Upper Canada 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.
A baby is a precious gift...and the time we have before they begin to grow up is so short, isn't it?! With another little one due to arrive in 6 weeks or less, I am beyond excited...and determined to treasure all those little 'baby moments'! As I was searching for a new baby book for our little one, I came across Zaida Baby ~ My First Keepsake...a baby book that is unique and unlike any others! The book is an elegant all-in-one book that goes from the pregnancy to your little one's first birthday. The book is designed to help a mama to be develop some prenatal bonding and journal her thoughts during pregnancy. There are lots of photographs and stories in the book to help with this. Although pregnancy is a beautiful thing, I did find that some of the photographs were not as modest as I would personally have preferred. That said, it cannot be denied that the book also does work hard to display the beauty of pregnancy in an elegant way.
~ An inspirational love letter to your unborn baby.
~ Positive prenatal bonding.
~ Interactive Pregnancy Journal, with scrapbooking.
~ Interactive Baby's first year, with scrapbooking.
~ Elegant black linen hardcover exterior with silver foil stamping
~ 144 acid-free archival pages for journaling thoughts, gathering precious memories and placing photographs.
~ Time capsule.
~ For single moms and two parents families.
~ Interactive pages for many photographs.
One other aspect that I love about the book is that it is do-able! I know I often have trouble keeping up with the baby books for my children...and now with #4 on the way I'll surely be even busier! As I looked through My First Keepsake I found that the baby book is put together in a simple yet beautiful way that is completely do-able. It has all the important memories, keepsakes yet is able to eliminate some of the non-necessary extras that we find in other baby books. Zaida Baby ~ My First Keepsake is a gift of love that was made to celebrate mothers and babies!
WIN IT!
One of our readers is going to win their own Zaida Baby, My First Keepsake! In order to enter please follow the instructions on the form below.
**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.
When it comes to shopping for gifts, it is difficult to find items that are unique, high quality and extraordinary, isn't it? Novica knows this...and they've created a fabulous online shop that gives artists and artisans around the world a place to share their amazing talents. Handcrafted treasures are what you'll discover at Novica...and not just any treasures, but the kind that are unique, hard to find and great quality. Wrap that all up together and the products from Novica (especially in the Unique Gifts section) make fabulous gifts!
Novica offers a HUGE selection of products for the home, your wardrobe and so much more. Honestly...you could spend all evening browsing through what they have to offer (I know I did!) From items as simple and practical as beautiful woven cotton hand towels to gorgeous Silver Pendant Necklaces going to http://jewelry.novica.com/necklaces/pendant/sterling-silver/, Novica really does a great job of capturing the beautiful work of artisans from all over the globe! The Silver Jewelry Section is especially captivating and although I'm not usually a huge fan of too much jewelry, I love the unique designs that Novica offers! Just to give you a taste of what I mean, check out the Amber Earrings or the Amethyst Dangle Earrings ...gorgeous, huh? :)
Novica offers more than great products though. They also have a new NOVICA Live Program. People have often expressed the desire to see products from Novica in person...in real life. With that in mind, Novica has launched a new party plan division giving Consultants the opportunity to do just this...to be able to showcase beautiful gifts and jewelry through home parties! Sound interesting? Head over and see what NOVICA Live entails. If you happen to sign up for NOVICA Live please enter Glimpse's blog address in the "where you heard about NOVICA Life) when applying!
WIN IT!
Novica is giving away a $50 GC to one of our readers! In order to enter please follow the instructions on the form below.
**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.
Did you know that according to Statistics Canada, Canadians make over 14 million visits to the emergency room every year?! That's a fairly staggering number, isn't it? Now, that said, some of the injuries or ailments that we are running to the emergency room for could be safely treated at home. But which ones? And what if we're not sure how to treat the injury? Well, DK Canada recently sent us a copy of The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians First Aid Manual. This book is fabulous and is definitely a worthwhile book that any household could benefit from! The First Aid Manual is an easy to understand, full illustrated guide to treating injuries quickly and effectively. It also helps you to quickly determine what can safely be treated at home and when you need to make a trip to the emergency room.
The First Aid Manual is very easy to follow. It includes charts, step-by-step photographs and simple instructions to help with first aid care in over 100 different situations. The situations range from mild to serious and I found that the information given about each possible injury was very helpful! Just to give you a taste of what the First Aid Manual has to offer, a few of the first aid instructions include:
~ How to give CPR
~ How to help a choking child
~ Stopping a nose bleed
~ Handling seizures
~ Dealing with swallowed poisons
~ Dressing a minor burn
~ Heart attacks
This book is the best home reference guide I've come across so far when it comes to First Aid. It's the kind of book you hope you never have to use, but when a potential emergency does occur, it's also the kind of book that you will be VERY happy that you own!
WIN IT!
DK Canada is giving away a copy of the First Aid Manual to one of our readers. In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below.
**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.
My husband has been walking around singing a few lines of a Harry Belafonte song lately: "Coconut Water, Coconut!!" (Apparently his mother was a big Harry Belafonte fan!) This is because our family has been trying out some - you guessed it - Coconut Water from Grace Foods.
First off, some quick facts about coconut water.
Coconut water is tapped from young coconuts before the flesh matures.
Second only to water, coconut water is the purest liquid
Coconut water has 15-times the electrolytes found in most sports drinks. And it's a natural food, not a manmade product like a sports drink. Most sports drinks have a lot of added sugars like high fructose corn syrup, preservatives and artificial coloring. But plain coconut water contains naturally occurring sugar and minimal ingredients. It's also much lower in calories.
Nutritional Benefits of Coconut water:
Excellent source of potassium;
Low in sodium;
Free of gluten;
Fat free;
Five essential electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, sodium, calcium and phosphorus); and
Supports rapid hydration.
Grace coconut water is sold in cans of 330ml, 500ml and 1L tetra paks. It is available lightly sweetened, or without added sugar, with or without pulp (tiny pieces of coconut).
My samples of coconut water arrived semi-frozen (like a slush drink) - so I was slightly amused to read "best served chilled" on the containers! It is indeed very yummy and refreshing chilled. We received some with pul and some without, and I must say, I like it better without bits of coconut in it (I also prefer orange juice without pulp too, so I think it's just a texture thing for me). A few of my friends drink Grace coconut water as well, and like it with pulp - it's very much a matter of personal preference. And of warning people who try it, that there are pieces to chew!
I really like that it's a natural source of electrolytes. We've tried sports drinks or electrolyte drinks, on doctor's recommendation when we were ill, and could not stand the taste at all. I'm glad to have found an alternative now, that I know even the children will drink (as long as I strain it, or buy the version without pulp!). I'm really glad that Grace coconut water doesn't have any added colours - we can certainly do without those!
Something we tried just last night was mixing the coconut water with some pineapple/banana/orange juice. YUM! It gave us a sort of tropical mocktail... we could have used the sugar-free version, as juice is plenty sweet enough.
**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Enterprise Canada for Grace Foods Ontario 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.
When the word "family" comes up we often think of a set of parents & children, don't we? But it's becoming more and more common to find families that have an extra special member added to their midst...and that is a pet - specifically a dog. Dogs are one of those pets that can truly fall in love with the family that has welcomed it into their home...and the family will cherish that dog just as much!
Family Day is just around the corner, and it's no surprise that many families include their pets in any or all family activities. Did you know that according to the Dog Chow® Family Poll three-quarters of Canadian dog owners take their canine companions into account when making decisions about vacations, homes and car purchases? That's quite a lot, and it goes a long way to prove what a special and important role a pet can play in the life of a family. A dog is a great way to provide a playmate and a companion for children and adults alike! On a day like Family Day, you'll surely want to include your furriest family member in the celebrations!
If you're not currently a dog owner, but the thought has crossed your mind...well, Jill Priest (a Certified Pet Dog Trainer) has some great tips about how to make the most out of your relationship with your furry little friends! Here are a few of her great tips that may spur you on to add a pet to your family:
1)Whether it’s the daily routine or special events, it’s clear that dogs play a variety of important roles that impact our lives
2)Leaders Not Littermates: Children should take on smaller tasks such as feeding, positive treat training and walking the dog to ensure the family dog understands his position in the pack.
3)Consistency is Key: And when it comes to timing for feeding, exercise and discipline, getting on the same page as an entire family is a great way to bring everyone together and assign responsibilities.
It is obvious that having a family dog can be a wonderful addition to any family! Not only do pet dogs help to teach responsibility, but they provide a companion that can offer unconditional love and endless fun and joy!
CONTEST! UrbanMoms is running a fabulous contest from Purina Dog Chow on their website. You have the chance to win a $125 Dog Chow Family Day Prize Pack! What a great way to treat your pet dog to some nutritious, wholesome food and to include them in the celebration of Family Day this year!
There really is no beginning or end to learning, is there? We start learning the day we are born and we continue on for the rest of our lives! DK Canada has loads of fabulous resources for helping us learn - and have fun while we're doing it! Today I'd like to focus on some great books available for toddlers. DK Canada carries a whole series of "My First" books for toddlers. These are ideal for introducing new topics, concepts, etc. to young children. We received My First Busy Day and it has been thoroughly enjoyed - especially by our 1 1/2 year old who is at the perfect age for these books. My First Busy Day is filled with familiar toddler activities and objects which makes it SO much more fun for a young child. There are loads of bright, colorful photos to look at and it covers a great range of topics such as getting dressed, cars and trucks, mealtime, bedtime and more.
Another aspect about the book that we really loved is that the photos are real-life pictures, which seems to mean so much more to toddlers than books with cartoons, etc. in them. This is a great read for young children and it's a great way to get a jump start on learning!
**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.
This week is the National Random Acts of Kindness Week and Master Lock has joined the "Kindness troupe" and is helping families in a new and exciting way! In addition to some acts of kindness they are also offering several great tips for keeping our resolutions (you know the ones that we often make...but just don't keep?!) this coming year. I'd love to share just a few of these helpful tips with you...
• Write It Down…and Share It. Simply thinking through your resolutions and storing them mentally isn’t going to ensure you stay committed. Having a list of goals in your organizer, smart phone, or social media profile that you can easily access and share will reinforce your promise to yourself and spur encouragement from your followers and friends.
• Do it for a Month. In order for a new behavior to become a habit, you must stick to it for at least 30 days. Setting this small goal will make achieving your overall resolution more realistic. Plus, you can be encouraged when you’ve reached the one-month mark and assess your progress.
• One Step at a Time. Don’t set too many goals and then try tackling them all at once. Make one goal your priority and focus on changing your habits to achieve it. Once you’ve mastered it, set your sights on two additional goals, giving yourself realistic timelines to achieve them and go from there.
One resolution that we often hear of people making each New Year is to lose weight, or to get in shape and to follow a fitness plan of some sort. Master Lock knows that this can be a difficult resolution to keep, so they are spending the week doing acts of kindness that will encourage us to keep our resolutions! Several gyms in select cities will receive a surprise visit from Master Lock who will be handing out free 1534D Set-Your-Own Combination Password locks. And for those of us who are outside of these six cities we can still be in on the fun! Simply visit Master Lock's Facebook page and you can enter daily for a chance to win FREE Master Lock products! There are some great prizes including Visa gift cards and of course, some of you might be proud owners of your own 1534D Password Lock as well.
P.S. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for a chance to win your own Master Lock Password Lock in the next week or two, right here on Glimpse! **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.
One thing that I find is often lacking in families these days is good, quality and FUN time together. It seems we are so busy sometimes...and our family is no exception. However, this year we want to try to slow down a little and just ENJOY time together as a family. Hasbrooffers many products to help make family time exciting and fun for everyone.
Recently Canada celebrated Family Literacy Day, and in a few days we will be celebrating Family Day. These are ideal times to squeeze in a little extra time with your families. Hasbro sent us a few of their classic board games which have been tested and tried and are still loved by many, many families across the country!
One of my favorite Hasbro board games is The Game of Life. It's been around for more than 50 years and is all about doing good deeds to earn Life Tiles, money, etc. It's so fun to create a pretend family and to laugh and enjoy an evening of fun with a game like this. We also received Scrabble which is an amazing game for adults or older children. What a great way to learn how to spell and expand your vocabulary, huh?! This game has two ways to play it - the plain jane way or use the Power Tiles to make things a little more exciting! It's also fun to play this game in teams and to promote teamwork.
Finally, we received Monopoly - a game that most everyone has played...or at least heard of! Hasbro has a variety of Monopoly versions that have unique twists to each of them. But if you're looking for the classic version, Hasbro is also the place to purchase that. Monopoly is a competitive game of buying houses, hotels and learning to negotiate and haggle.
Each of these games from Hasbro has so many great aspects - the games are perfect for honing and learning skills (such as math, reading, spelling, literacy, bargaining and more) and in addition they provide something that I think we crave these days - and that is a way to spend good, quality and incredibly FUN time together as a family. Be sure to check out Hasbro for even more family-friendly board game options!
**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.
Our baby loves hugs - receiving and giving! And now she has a new friend to hug!
Are you familiar with the "Build-a-Bear Workshop?" It's the world's only make your own stuffed animal retail experience. You go in, choose an animal - dogs, cats, bears, dinosaurs!, personalize it by inserting a sound chip if you like, and decide how stuffed your animal should be. You can groom your animal, select clothing and accessories, and receive a birth certificate for your new friend!
For Valentine's Day this year, Miss A received a 17 inch "Kisses for You Kitty!" As soon as she saw it (her?) she gave it a big hug, and has been hugging it off and on ever since. It's very cute! "Kisses for You Kitty" has a magnet in one paw, and in her snout, and can blow you a kiss! There's also a companion Kisses for You Puppy available.
Of course, various clothes and accessories are available, such as dresses, suits, shirts and skirts or pants, flower bouquets, purses and pyjamas. These all add to the base price, but do make for a cute gift item for a child, or even for a significant other!
"Build-a-Bear" contributes through a variety of programs and foundations to charitable organizations. Just recently they called for nominations for Huggable Heroes - young people who make a difference. If you know someone who qualifies, head over and submit their name.
If there's a "Build-a-Bear Workshop" near you, you should check it out sometime. It's certainly a unique experience and a fun way to make a new friend! Their "Build-a-Party" program would be a fun way to celebrate a birthday.
**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Strategic Objectives for Build-a-Bear 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.
Recently, our oldest son decided he was going to learn how to skate. So we signed him up for skating lessons, made sure he had all the necessary equipment - thankfully we have friends whose older children are finished with their helmets etc - and he started in. The first lesson was painfully amusing - if one child flailed, half the class fell down. He was fairly discouraged, so we thought of taking him practicing in between lessons. Richard and I aren't great skaters - understatement - so I don't think we're much help, but the extra ice time has been good for him. The only problem is, free/public skating time around here is hard to find so the only options have been on an outdoor rink. And it's been a little chilly. Especially when you can't fit your hat under your helmet - your ears cool off rather quickly.
Funnily enough, son #2, although not registered in skating lessons, has also decided this is the year to learn to skate. He's been watching the lessons, and practicing on the outdoor rink as well, and he's doing amazingly well for 3 years old! And quite pleased with himself too!
We were trying to figure out how to keep them warm enough, when I remembered a website I had visited a while back. Bean Pod Baby is the result of mompreneur Carleigh's desire to keep her kids warm yet stylish. She started with creating the Bean Pod and has since added the Gram Jam and Shortie to her lineup. All products are made from an organic unbleached cotton and bamboo blend fabric, which is known for its softness, durability, absorbency and natural antibacterial properties. Garments feature outside sewn seams and no inner tags so there's nothing to irritate sensitive skin.
Bean Pod Baby sent both our sons a Bean Pod hat. They are perfect for under a helmet, as the design ensures their ears are covered. The hat is nice and thin so it fits under the helmet well. They've also worn their hats under the hoods of their jackets - I've always found that the hood is a little too open and allows cold air to get in, but a regular hat is too thick and doesn't allow the jacket to close properly. The Bean Pod has been the perfect solution. As well, it's great for under a hat that doesn't cover the ears properly, or that's a bit scratchy - I wish I'd had one for one of my childhood tuques! You could also use the Bean Pod as a warm-up after a bath or swimming lesson - great for keeping baby toasty.
The "action" photos didn't turn out, so here's a silly one today!
The Gram Jam is like a footless sleeper. It can be worn as pyjamas, a cozy daytime lounger, long underwear layer, or under sport clothes for extra warmth. The full-length zipper starts at the ankle and ends under a protective tab under the chin - this would be perfect for night-time diaper changes, or toilet visits! I've always avoided zip-up sleepers because you had to practically undress the child to change a diaper or take them potty - I think this would be a great solution!
The Shortie reminds me of an old-fashioned bathing suit! It looks like it would be just right for sleeping when the nights are warm - with short legs and no sleeves. As well, it can also be worn as a layer under clothes to add extra warmth when it's a bit cooler. It fastens at the crotch with snaps, once again making diaper changing or potty visits easy.
The Gram Jam and Shortie are available from size 0-3 up to size 2, while the Bean Pod is available up to size 5T. I wish it was available in bigger sizes as well!
WIN IT!!
One lucky Glimpse reader will win a Gram Jam in their choice of size. To enter, please visit Bean Pod Baby and comment on your favourite item and who you'd choose it for.
**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Bean Pod Baby 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.
We are on the search again for a 3rd Canadian mom to join the Glimpse team and it could be YOU!
Here are the details...we are looking for someone who has some blogging experience (has kept up a blog of some sort on a regular basis) and who would be committed to doing the following:
~Post 1-2 reviews per week on Glimpse (this includes contacting companies, receiving FREE products to keep and review, as well as posting your reviews/giveaways on the products/shops and a few other minor details)
~ Add the appropriate links to our Giveaways & Discount Links in the sidebar as well as add a button/banner to our Shop Links page for each company you review a product from
~Technical know-how...this would be a bonus! You do need to know/learn how to create a button banner. (But if you have additional html knowledge or experience consider it to be 'extra brownie points!')
So, if you are a Canadian mom (and yes, you have to be Canadian, since that is the whole point of Glimpse) with the above skills and interests, please email us ASAP at glimpse.review.team@gmail.com. When you email, please tell us a bit about yourself and your family, what skills you can offer, and why you want to be part of the Glimpse team! As soon as we receive your email we'll send you the Application Details which you can start to complete as soon as you have the time. :) The search will close on February 27, 2012, and the winner will be announced approx. 1 week later.
It seems like dinosaurs are a pretty cool animal for most kids ~ especially boys I think! :) And this week we are featuring a fabulously fun book from Scholastic Canada. It comes from the How Do Dinosaurs series (which is a whole line of fun books that have dinosaurs as the main characters). Today we get to focus on How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday? by Jane Yolen. Birthdays are also a very important event in the lives of children so when you put together dinosaurs and birthday's you're sure to have a book that resonates with kids. :)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday? is an easy, yet captivating little book. You and your children will hear about birthday hats to HUGE dinosaur-sized cakes! The book also helps to teach what types of behaviors would be appropriate at a birthday party or birthday event. It also comes complete with an extra flap to flip up on each page...which is a great feature of all the How Do Dinosaurs books...it helps to keep those little hands and eyes occupied while you read the story! :)
Pssst...How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday would make a great addition to a birthday gift - for old or young! :)
**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.
Build-A-Bear
Workshop Seeks Service-Minded Kids to Join Ranks of Hundreds of
Huggable Heroes…and Counting!
Today,
more than ever, young leaders are making positive contributions in
their communities and around the world. To recognize, honour and
reward these young people,
Build-A-Bear
Workshop®
launches its ninth annual search for Huggable Heroes®.
This group will be made up of inspiring young leaders who have a
commitment to serve, help others, and make a difference in their
community. Kids,
ages eight to 18, can be nominated through February 27 by visiting
buildabear.com/huggableheroes
or picking up an entry form at
The
10 selected Huggable Heroes will each receive $10,000 ($7,500 in the
form of an educational scholarship from Build-A-Bear Workshop and
$2,500 from the
Build-A-Bear
Workshop Foundation to be donated to a registered charity of their
choice). In addition, the Huggable Heroes will receive a trip for
themselves and one parent, or legal guardian, to St. Louis, home of
Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters, where they will be
celebrated for their work, participate in a professional photo shoot,
and take part in a community service project.
TORONTO, Feb. 7, 2012 – Canadian Family magazine is now accepting nominations for its annual Teacher Awards at www.canadianfamily.ca/teacherawards. This national program, now in its sixth year, recognizes outstanding educators across the country as nominated by their communities.
Nominations close on April 11, 2012. A panel of education experts will shortlist twelve semi-finalists, announced on May 16, 2012, which the public will vote online to determine the top three.
The three Teacher Awards winners will be featured in Canadian Family’s September issue and each win $2,500 for programming and supplies, courtesy of program sponsor Johnson Insurance.
For full nomination details and more information on Canadian Family’s annual Teacher Awards, please visit www.canadianfamily.ca/teacherawards.
**Disclosure: We received no compensation for the above post. Please see the full Terms of use.
It's February and what a better way to kick of the New Year than to be re-selected to be a part of a the 2012 #KINDERMom community! As the new year progresses to February and soon to March (before we know it, it'll be summer, right?!) one thing that parents often ponder is what to do for the March break when the kids are home from school...
This year is our first year with a school aged child, and we are doing things a little differently. :) We've decided to homeschool our children so Kindergarten is taking place right here at our kitchen table and throughout our home! We love it. It's so special to be able to teach your own kids...and well, I just don't know if I could bear to send them off to school...I love spending time with them and teaching them. But, back to the March Break... Our break is going to be coming a little later than everyone else's as we are actually expecting baby #4 to arrive at the beginning of April!! (8 weeks to go...and yes, I AM counting down the days ;) ). So our March Break is hopefully going to be spent in early April...enjoying a new little one in our home.
There are some special things that we love to do together as a family though...and we're going to try to take time for those things now while 1 child is still "in the oven!" A few of our kids' favorites are going for sled rides, painting beautiful masterpieces :), helping me prepare meals in the kitchen, playing hide and seek and tag, and calling Grandma and Grandpa to talk! Of course, we'll still have to make time for these things, even after baby arrives...but we're determined to enjoy the time we have with our children right now as well.
Speaking of enjoyment, Kinder Surprises are a big source of enjoyment around here - mostly the surprises inside! Kinder Canada recently came out with a brand new 2012 toy collection which has been a big hit around here! Check out the KINDER® Canada Facebook page for a sneak peek at the collection, and of course, while you're there feel free to join in the fun conversations with other kinder-loving parents. As well, this February Kinder is giving away $500 towards the ultimate staycation!! Every time you frame a shared moment of joy using My KINDER Moments you're entered for a chance to win ~ it's simple and fun!!
**Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own. Please see the full Terms of use.
I have always enjoyed creating, crafting and making items for myself, and more recently, my own children! However...I have to admit that I don't have a lot of "know-how" when it comes to sewing, crocheting, etc. It takes me quite a while to figure out each project and some nice, detailed instructions always are a great asset as well! However, that said, I would LOVE to learn to do more and like it's been said "practice makes perfect!" so there's no better way to learn than to DO it and practice, practice, practice. That's why I was really excited when YouCanMakeThis.com offered to send me a free Valentine's Day pattern/tutorial to try out. With 2 little girls to create things for, I decided to choose the 3 Perfectly Preppy Skorts & Skirts pattern. (psst...not only does it include the skort/skirt patterns for your girls, but it also includes patterns to make matching outfits for their dolls!!) Although I haven't had time to complete the skirt project yet, I found that the instructions were VERY helpful and easy to follow and understand, which is exactly what I need!
YouCanMakeThis.com has a great selection of fun and adorable Valentine's Day projects! There are crochet projects, hand-stitched items and so much more. Their patterns are created specifically to be user-friendly for moms like myself who are creating from home. Another aspect of YouCanMakeThis.com that I appreciate is that the pattern is immediately in your hands once you purchase it. The patterns are emailed directly to you which is much easier than taking out three active children to the fabric store to try to find a pattern we'd like to try!
WIN IT! YouCanMakeThis.com is giving away a fabulous Valentine's Day Package filled with great Valentine projects (you will receive all the patterns pictured on the left!!) In order to enter please follow the instructions on the form below.
**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.
Kid-friendly, earth-friendly and mom-owned is a snapshot of what you get when you shop at Zomsters! We recently were able to review a few items from this great little shop. Their toddler tees and onesies are all made from 100% cotton and are incredibly fun with their cute "monsters" and colorful designs. Each of these items are locally screen-printed with azo-free, low-impact, water-based inks. I love that they take care to make sure that even the ink they print with is safe and eco-friendly.
Zomsters products are definitely designed to bring a smile to your face! There are products for both boys and girls as well as for a variety of ages ranging from babies to toddlers (up to 6T!)
We found the quality of the tees to be great and there has been no sign of wear and tear on the prints. In addition to these fun and unique shirts, Zomsters also has a few other great items for kids. Be sure to take a peek at their water bottles, the art prints or the adorable little knot hats! With their eye for design and their concern for using quality, safe and earth-friendly materials, Zomsters is a company that is worth supporting!
**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.
