Glimpse

BradsDeals...Quality Coupons & Deals! ~ GIVEAWAY ($50 Amazon GC!)

2012-01-27T06:41:00.000-06:00

As a parent I am always up for a good deal...of course it may help that I'm insanely frugal and just LOVE a good coupon or a unbelievable sale! But, let's face it...when you are from a one income family of (almost!) 6 people, cutting coupons and finding good deals are often what help us make our budget each month. One of our great deal-finding sources is BradsDeals.com. BradsDeals is an amazing resource for discovering the latest coupons and deals from thousands of quality retailers! One thing I really appreciate about BradsDeals is that they don't just post any and every coupon or deal that comes along their path. Instead, they spend valuable time sorting through piles of the latest coupons, sales and promotions and in the end they publish the BEST of them for their readers. BradsDeals knows that too often we just don't have the time to sift through all the deals out there, so they have graciously done it for us - and that translates into a great, top-notch deals website!

In addition to this, BradDeals is up-to-date. You'll find the newest deals, online coupons and printable coupons all on one website ~ which is another great time saver - everything is in ONE spot. The website is also really easy to use. Simply enter in a store name, find what savings are available and enjoy them! For example...check out this great deal from Dellin the Online Coupons section...or, how about something for the whole family...printable coupons for McDonalds! This is just a taste of what BradsDeals has to offer you!

Not only will BradsDeals stretch your dollar further, but they'll also save you a pile of valuable time! Interested? Head over and take a look at all the current savings and while you're there, why not sign up for the free Brad's Email Alerts so that you won't miss out on any great money-saving deals in the future!

WIN IT!
BradsDeals.com is giving one of our readers a $50 Amazon Gift Card!! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Disclosure: I received compensation in exchange for this review. 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.

Don't trash it—treasure it! ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-26T06:48:00.000-06:00

Art projects & artwork are activities that are thoroughly enjoyed in our home! Even our 1 year old loves to get her hands messy and "do art" with the older two! However, sometimes arts & crafts can get to be a bit expensive...when you put together craft kits, special glue, paints, sparkles, beads, etc. it can add up fairly quickly. That is why I was thrilled to receive DK Canada's book, Make it! by Jane Bull. It is filled with amazingly fun and creative projects that use stuff you most likely already have at home! Instead of throwing all those odds & ends into the garbage you can actually create some pretty neat artwork. And well, this book is perfect if you're not extremely creative (which I am not :) ). It gives us non-creative types loads of great ideas using every-day items that are very easy to come by and most often free!

Make it! is organized in a way that makes it very easy to use. Projects are divided by the main type of material you'll need (such as paper, plastic, metal, etc.) Simply head to the section of your choice and you'll find pages of great craft projects to create! I loved the super cute glove & hat puppets (a solution of what to do with all those single mittens that have no partners laying in your closet!), and the "junk mail mache" bowls & jewelry are really fun too (and everyone has junk mail to spare, right?!)

This book is great for a variety of ages. It's perfect for younger children (though they may need some parental help/guidance) and is also great for older children who are able to follow instructions and create a project on their own. The projects are simple and clever and each page is filled with illustrations and photos of the projects they will be creating. Make it! inspires even the most non-creative of us to get creative and to take every day items and turn them into something special.

WIN IT!
DK Canada is giving away a copy of Make it! to one of our readers! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below. OPEN TO CANADA ONLY!

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.

Winners!

2012-01-25T14:58:00.000-06:00

The Winner of Hide and Seek Animals from DK Canada is:

Comment #459 - Maria B.

The winner of a NatureBag is:

Comment #154 - Diana

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

The Strawlution Solution

2012-01-25T12:08:00.000-06:00

One of the joys of being a kid is being able to be a messy eater! ;) Once you grow up, eating with your hands, smearing food all over the table & yourself, dumping your drinks, etc. just isn't tolerated as well, is it? lol. :) And although, I do believe that it's okay for children to be messy at times, it sure makes a lot more work for the parent who has to clean everything up! BC Baby Boutique has a solution to one of your could-be (and probably would-be!) messes. It's called the Strawlution and was invented by a mom ~ and we all know that moms often invent the best products for kids/children because they are in the trenches of raising the children themselves.

The Strawlution is a solution for kids who love to pull their straws out of juice boxes or plastic take and toss cups that use a straw. Pulling the straw out is not the end result though, is it? The end result is usually a cup of juice or liquid of some sort being spilled or dumped out. The strawlution fixes this problem as it has an anchor so that toddlers cannot pull it out of their cups/juice boxes! We have really enjoyed using our strawlution solutions here. Although a creative child can still figure out how to make a mess, it definitely minimizes the messes a lot! The straws are also very durable and are made from a thicker, hard plastic which is perfect - especially for toddlers who like to chew on their straws. They are, of course, reusable and BPA free. The Strawlution comes in a package of 12 straws which should provide you & your children many mess-free drinks!

In addition to the Strawlution, BC Baby Boutique has a great line of other products for children & parents as well. Right now BC Baby Boutique has a 40% off sale on Melissa & Doug products! There are some amazing deals, so head over quick and take a peek at their sale page. There is a great selection ranging from products for pregnancy to items for school-aged children and everything in between.

**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.

Curious About Critters?

2012-01-25T06:54:00.001-06:00

We love learning around here...whether it's learning how to cook a new meal, or learning about an exotic country, or learning about something in our own backyard...learning is great! :) Recently we received an amazing children's picture book called Curious Critters by David FitzSimmons. Wow...the photography in this book is stunning, and it captures the attention of both children and adults!

Unlike many books of this nature, Curious Critters doesn't focus on exotic animals that are hard to find, and are only in other countries. No, instead David FitzSimmons has chosen to photograph common animals...the kinds of critters that we'll find in our own backyard. A few examples are the Bluejay, a spotted salamander and a toad. Another aspect of the book that we truly enjoyed was that the author allows each of the animals' "personalities" to make an appearance. It is written as if each animal is talking to you...and even interacting with the animals on other pages of the book! Very fun and attention grabbing!

Curious Critters is both simple, yet stunning. Instead of busy, color-filled pages, the white backgrounds with some of nature's great critters proudly displayed on each page really is fabulous. Curious Critters is both entertaining but also educational and we love it!

**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.

Discover the Berkey Water Purifier ~ GIVEAWAY!!

2012-01-23T08:22:00.001-06:00

Water...it's one of the essentials of life. We need it, we crave it, and in order to stay healthy & alive, we must drink it! However, this does not apply to just any water as many wells and water sources are contaminated with bacteria, parasites, and many harmful chemicals. It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that this is not the kind of water that will benefit our well-being!

You may be thinking "our water is clean & good here in Canada!" but that is very often not the case. The water requirements for city/town/municipal waters are often far from the safe, natural, pure water that we should be consuming. As I researched it further, I found that even here in our rural town, the water contains several toxic substances - that even in VERY small amounts, will affect your health negatively. Some of the most common ones you'll find are chlorine, fluoride & arsenic.

So...how should we go about solving this dilemma? Well, there are many different water filters available today, all claiming to do the job well. We have tried several different types in the past including Brita and a few more "intense" filters, but nothing has been able to beat our latest Berkey Water Filter from Conscious Water. Conscious Water is Canadian business that specifically sells and promotes Berkey water filter systems. You can order a variety of sizes for yourself ranging from a water bottle to a Big Berkey and more. We were thrilled to receive a Big Berkey from Conscious Water for our family and I'd love to share with you a few of the top reasons that have us loving our Berkey water purifier...

~ No electricity or water pressure is needed! Simply put on a counter top somewhere in your kitchen, re-fill with water when needed and you'll have a constant flow of safe, pure water for your family...even when the power is out! ;)

~ It will purify both treated water and untreated raw water (from lakes, streams, water supplies in foreign countries, etc.) without any trouble. The Berkey is an amazingly powerful filter!

~ Berkey water filters easily remove pathogenic bacteria, cysts and parasites entirely and extracts harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, organic solvents and more. It also reduces nitrates, nitrites and unhealthy minerals such as lead and mercury. Add on the PF-2 fluoride water filters and you'll also remove fluoride, arsenic and other residual heavy metal ions from your water source. Wow!

~ It takes out all the harmful stuff without removing the beneficial minerals of the water. So what you end up with is fabulous tasting, pure water. Yum!

~ Berkey filters are very versatile and can be used while camping, traveling, in your home, at the cottage...the sky's the limit!

~ Want even more amazing water? The Berkey also has the option of adding an alkalizing mineral stone to the lower reservoir which will produce alkaline water infused with highly beneficial and absorbable calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Alkaline water is incredible for building immune system strength and has been proven to help prevent osteoporosis and cancer.

Convinced yet? :) We are! Even our kids noticed immediately that the taste of our water changed...for the BETTER! We all love the water from our Big Berkey and drink it plentifully! As a parent, it gives me peace of mind as well to know that us and our children are drinking safe, pure, health-giving water. The Berkey is strong, durable, reliable and yes, it is even incredibly economical!

Conscious Water has a great comparison chart that compares some of the most popular water filters with the Berkey. It is an eye-opener for sure! The Berkey water filter not only gives the best results, but will save you HUNDREDS of dollars in the long run...and after looking at this chart it is undeniable that choosing a so-called 'cheaper' filter over the long-lasting, high quality Berkey water purifier system just doesn't make sense.

BUY IT!
Conscious Water is a top-notch, Canadian Berkey retailer and would LOVE to provide your family with a safe, reliable and pure water source! The site is packed full of information to help you make your decision and to educate us on the importance of pure water. Perhaps you've made a New Years Resolution to live healthier in 2012?? Great quality water from Berkey would be a perfect place to begin...it's a simple change that will make a huge impact! Head over to Conscious Water to see what they have to offer for you and your family.

WIN IT!
Conscious Water is giving away TWO Berkey Sport Purification Bottles! That means TWO chances to WIN! One winner will be chosen randomly and the other winner will be chosen based upon the best "Tag Line" created! In order to enter please follow the instructions below. Open to CANADA ONLY!

Note: If you are NOT on Facebook and cannot complete the mandatory entry through facebook please feel free to enter in the following way:

Email your best idea for a new "tag line" for Conscious Water to scott@consciouswater.ca (ex: Conscious Water - Purified water - Abundant life)

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.

Sweet as Sugar ~ #EqualCanada

2012-01-21T15:58:00.001-06:00

Our monthly shopping trip into the city arrived this week, so complete with lists, coupons and snacks we headed into our whirlwind day of stocking up and shopping for the month ahead! Getting ready for a trip into the city with 3 kids under the age of 5 (and with one in the oven!) is quite an ordeal at times...so I like to start preparing a day or two in advance. I gather up all the coupons I've found that we'll be using, I check the sale papers (both the ones that arrive in our mailbox as well as some others that are available online), I make my lists of stores we're going to and what we're buying at each store. Then I pack lunches for our family, snacks for the family, and all the other things that are needed for a day away from home with young children.

Finally...the morning of the trip arrives and we gobble down some breakfast and head out the door as early as possible - usually by 8am if possible! Yes, a day in the city is always a family affair, which although it requires a little more work and planning, it is great and the kids love it as well. I'll take any extra opportunity I can get to spend extra time with my kids & my family - even if it means hauling them all along to a day of running errands in the city.

This month we had a special opportunity to purchase some Equal Sweetener from Walmart Canada. This is a new product from #EqualCanada and is now readily available at Walmart, which is perfect since this is one of our common stops during a trip into the city.

We have never purchased Equal before, so with my shopping cart full of children, I set off to discover exactly where I could find this new product. We were in a bit of a hurry so after looking around a bit and not finding it, I asked an employee who directed me to the pharmacy section (I'd been looking in the grocery section). Once we were in the right area of the store we were able to quickly locate the canister of Equal Sweetener. See? Here it is...sitting on the shelf, just waiting to be bought and taken home. :) This canister is normally $9.97 - but is currently on a Rollback for $7.97 at Walmart this week. However, our Walmart must've forgotten to add the Rollback sign this week as it was missing. I do notice though that people (ourselves included!) are much more likely to purchase or at least consider purchasing a product that has a sign/ad such as the rollback sign nearby ~ a sale is always a plus in our books!

After a day of shopping, we headed back home and unpacked the van. Later on that evening my eyes caught that nice-sized canister of Equal Sucralose sitting on y counter. It's a product I've never owned or used before, and I began to wonder what exactly I'd do with it. Basically, it is a tasty No Calorie Sweetner and 1 cup of Equal is the same as 1 cup of sugar...sounds pretty easy to substitute in any of my baking recipes! The container is ideal for storing in the pantry when you're not using it and it has a great-sized opening at the top so you can scoop your measuring cups right into the container instead of trying to 'pour' it out.

That about sums up a taste of what a shopping trip, complete with a "sweet" trip into Walmart looks like for our family. And although we sometimes need a few days to "recover", we still look forward to doing it again next month. ;)

Check it Out Yourself!
Sound like a product you may like to purchase for your own family? Or for a friend who's looking for a No Calorie Sweetener? Before you head over to your local Walmart to pick it up, why not take a peek at Equal Canada on Twitter and Equal Canada on Facebook. In addition, there's always the Equal website which is full of helpful information and details on all their products.

**Disclosure: “This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. 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.

Eco Fab Mama ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-20T06:58:00.000-06:00

2012 is in full swing...and I've even been able to finally get used to writing 2012 in instead of 2011! ;) But what about those New Year's resolutions? They are important too! One resolution that a lot of families/moms make is to be healthier...more eco friendly...and to use products that are more natural and safe. Eco Fab Mama is a fabulous place to get started on supplying your home with fabulous eco friendly and family friendly products! Every item at Eco Fab Mama has been handmade - most of them by WAHM's (which I LOVE to support in any way I can!) The saying "Moms know best" really is true when it comes to what the most useful and highest quality products are for families.

I was sent a set of 2 nursing pads and a matching wetbag. I've used cloth nursing pads before (and love them!), but a nursing pad wetbag is a new concept, and it is one that I absolutely love. It's such a simple idea - but so practical, and so useful. I can't even count the number of times I've shoved very wet cloth nursing pads into my diaper bag, hoping they wouldn't get anything else too dirty/wet. But with this cute little matching wetbag my problem is solved! The cloth nursing pads, are of course, incredibly comfortable - and have a fun print on one side which matches the little wetbag. They are made with several layers containing cotton and layer bamboo french terry to insure ultimate absorption. The benefits of cloth nursing pads are many. They help keep our earth clean since we can re-use them; they save $$$, and my favorite...they are by far more comfortable & breathable than any disposable pads out there.

Besides eco-friendly mama products, Eco Fab Mama also carries an amazing selection of quality items for babies, toddlers, dads and more. There are some really fun gift ideas as well...like the Family Funk Angry Bird Coffee Cozy or the 'MyDad, My Hero' Key Ring Pocket Tool, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Head over and see what other great handmade products you'll discover!

WIN IT!
Eco Fab Mama is giving away a set of 3 fold-n-go sandwich bags to help 2012 start off in a great, practical and eco-friendly fashion! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below. Open WORLDWIDE.

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.

Getting R.E.A.L. ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-19T06:22:00.000-06:00

School's back in full swing after the holidays and families are getting back into their regular routines! Or...perhaps you and your family are starting some new routines and beginning to follow through on some of those resolutions you made for the new year. One of my year-round resolutions is to help my kids learn...to teach them, to mentor them, to educate them...and to have fun while doing it! We recently discovered a great Canadian resource that is perfect for kids, teens and parents alike. Real is a Canadian Kids Magazine that is designed and written specifically for children....but really, our entire family has enjoyed reading these magazines! Real is filled with gorgeous illustrations, real-life photographs and all sorts of fun & educational articles, stories, puzzles, jokes, poems and more. It is all good, clean family material and is perfect for linking together both fun and learning!

Real has two specific age-based editions. There is an Elementary edition for the younger crowd (ages 4-8) and a Junior edition which is perfect for kids ages 9 to 13. We received a few copies of both editions and though my kids enjoyed the Elementary one the most at this point, I really enjoyed browsing through both editions. Real aims to inspire a love of learning, and that is very noticeable as you read through their well-thought-out magazines. One more aspect that I loved about the magazines is that they have NO advertising! This is a big plus for me as often the advertisements take up so much room and often are inappropriate as well. Real skips out on the ads - and instead makes the effort to fill every page completely with quality material for children.

WIN IT!
Real is giving one of our readers a FREE one year subscription to their great Canadian kids magazine! In order to enter, please follow the instructions in the form below. Open to CANADA ONLY!

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.

Keeping track...

2012-01-18T15:40:00.000-06:00

There are some resolutions that you might be able accomplish on your own, without any extra things. However, this one of mine, keeping more organized, seems to require some tools. Part of being and keeping more organized, for me, is to keep track of events and appointments, make and check off a "to do" list, and help everyone else keep track of what's happening, and what they're supposed to be doing, as well.

There are 5 of us in this family. Not a big family by many standards, but enough people to require a system in order to keep track of who is doing what when. My brain is not reliable enough, especially as a result of recent sleep disturbances by a certain little miss, so I have to write everything down. AND, I have to remember to look at the lists, agenda, calendar, daily, so as to be reminded of what I've written down. Sounds elementary, I know...and mostly I'm doing ok. :)

This month, I've started using a set of organizational products from Motherword. Remember, I posted about their great magnetic calendars? Well, that's part of their product line-up intended to help mothers - well, really anyone - stay on top. Their other products are just as well-designed, just as user-friendly, and just as effective. Let me tell you more...

Motherword got it's start out of necessity:

In 1993, Deborah Barkhouse, a busy mother of
three young children, searched everywhere for a calendar with lots of writing room to help her organize her busy family schedule. She discovered that no company in Canada made them, so she decided to make her own! MotherWord Inc. printed the very first family calendar in Canada in 1994, and has been helping families stay organized ever since.

Write & Store Padfolio

There seems to be a lot of little papers, coupons, lists, notes, etc that get lost, just because they're not stored properly. Sometimes, it's hard to find somewhere to write a message, jot down a few ideas, or something to take with you to a meeting on which to take notes. Or maybe, if you belong to a committee, you need somewhere to take notes, and keep the loose papers all together. The Padfolio can certainly help you out. On one side, it functions like a clipboard, where a letter-sized notepad can slide in, and make note-taking easy. On the other side, a 3-pocket accordion storage folio keeps loose papers, especially smaller papers, handy, and safe!

Perpetual Daily Calendar

I always feel I should wait until the new year starts before starting an agenda. I mean, they often start in January, and it would be silly to waste the pages, right? Or, they start in September, and by then I've lost my oomph to actually use an agenda. There must be more people like me out there! This daily calendar can be started at any time, because there are only days of the week, not dates! :) So, as soon as you get your "oomph" up, you can actually start writing stuff down. There's lots of room on each page, enough to keep track of many events if you're a really busy person, or maybe even several people's events.

To Do Notepad

Yes, you could write your "to do" list on any old piece of paper. And then loose the piece of paper. I think there's something motivating about using an "official to do list" paper. Some sort of feeling of "I really must accomplish this" associated with committing the task to paper. This to do list is separated into 3 sections: errands, tasks and notes. Again, lots of room for writing everything down, room for those motivational check marks when you've finished an item. And you can tear off the page once you're done with it, and start afresh the next time!

Daily Agenda Notepad

This is like a calendar notepad, separated into columns for each person (up to 4), and rows according to the time of day. This is so easy for visual people - check your column, find out you have an appointment at 1, your child has a sports practice at 4, etc etc... I really like this system as it's easy even for children to see what is happening for them that day. My only complain about this notepad is that there's only room for 4 people. Granted, our baby doesn't have that many events to attend yet, and none on her own, but it still would be handy to have a column for her too. I suppose families with 6 say this about calendars etc with 5 columns too! :)

3-section Memo Notepad

This handy notepad is purse-sized, so easy to take along with you! It's divided into 3 sections (bet you saw that coming!), each different: the first is more for notes with tasks at the bottom, the 2nd is like a checklist at the top with empty lines at the bottom, and the 3rd has a date function, more like an agenda. Pages are perforated, making it easy to tear one out and give it to someone.

Refill Planning Stickers

You're using the calendar, and you've run out of stickers, right? It happens! :) Especially if you have a bigger family, or very involved family members. Actually, I don't just use the stickers on the calendar, but also in the agenda (saves a lot of writing!), so these extra stickers will definitely come in handy! :)

Motherword products are available at many different retailers - check the Motherword website to find out who carries the product you're looking for!

**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.

Got Math Homework?! ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-18T06:02:00.000-06:00

Math...that was a dreaded word in my vocabulary back during my school days! It is true...I was not a master of math and to this day still struggle with math. Many children, teens & even adults have trouble with this whole subject of math...but besides using a calculator all the time, what else can we do? DK Canada has an invaluable math resource which has been written specifically for Canadian children and their parents. The Math Dictionary covers it all - from prime numbers to pentagons to angles and more. Have you forgotten what a parallelogram is? I have, but this handy little book defined it very clearly...complete with a color illustration. The book is filled with pictures, diagrams, graphs, etc. to help both children and parents comprehend the concepts more easily.

This year I began the journey of homeschooling...and the journey has just begun. I am positive that the Math Dictionary will be very helpful for me, and for my children in the months and years to come! The book features more than 300 descriptions on words, phrases and concepts that are often used in math classes. Finally...one last thing that I really appreciated about this book is that it is a Canadian Edition - which means everything in it is Canadian terms. Whether you are a homeschooling family or a public school family I can guarantee that the Math Dictionary will be perfect for helping your kids with homework and it may even enhance your own math skills & terms as well! ;)

WIN IT!
DK Canada is giving away a Math Dictionary to one of our readers! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below. Open to CANADA ONLY!

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.

Winner!

2012-01-17T20:01:00.000-06:00

The winner of My Favorite Recipes from DK Canada is:

Comment #34 - Julie G.

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

Scholastic Monday ~ Up, Up, Down!

2012-01-16T21:25:00.000-06:00

This week Scholastic Canada has sent us another fabulous Robert Munsch title to feature! Up, Up, Down by Robert Munsch does not disappoint! Like all Munsch titles we've read so far it is fun, outlandish, and has a cute, funny & unexpected ending!

Up, Up, Down is a story about an energetic little girl, Anna. Anna just so happens to love to climb, so up, up, up she goes to the very top of the tree! Her father and mother warn her, but she pays no heed to their warns and continues up, up, up. However...getting down isn't quite as easy as she had imagined it would be! The ending is quite funny...and as outrageous as usual! :) I'll leave you in suspense over the ending - but it's a great read for kids and I'm sure you'll love the end as much as the beginning and middle of Up, Up, Down!

With the usual colorful and animated illustrations of Michael Martchenko and the great story-line from Robert Munsch this book is another top notch one for kids. It'll bring a few giggles to be sure, and will probably be one of those books that your children will ask you to read again and again and again!!

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

Winners!

2012-01-16T20:24:00.000-06:00

The winners of some soft sole shoes/boots from Moxies Baby shoes are:

Pair of Soft Sole Boots: Olivia L.

Her design was: For boots, I'd use black suede and hot pink fur with a toughtek sole. I'd add contrasting pink stitching on the boot and a row of pink buttons up the back of each boot.

Pair of Soft Sold Shoes: Kathy Davis

Her design was: I made a leather shoe in brown and turquoise with the Tyler font for the name Peanut.

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

Upcycled & Irresistible ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-14T06:36:00.000-06:00

Recycling is becoming more and more popular - even in our own home! One of my favorite things to recycle is miscellaneous "old stuff" that can be used for creating new things - so for kids crafts, or even taking my old clothes and fashioning them into something kid-sized for my children. I'm no pro at this though and would love to learn to upcycle even better someday. Banbutsu, on the other hand, does an amazing job with upcycling and recycling! I discovered Banbutsu on Etsy, and I instantly fell in love with her irresistible handmade items. They are one-of-a-kind and are completely unique and made from "old" recycled materials. Although the items are made from upcycled products, you would never be able to tell...the quality is amazing and Banbutsu truly does know how to create something new from something "old!"

We received one of her adorable hoodies. These are made from upcycled sweaters and are sewn in a fun, whimsical pixie style hoodie. They are so warm and cozy, and our son loves his new upcycled wool hoodie. The hoodies are ideal for a jacket in the spring or fall and are just right for keeping warm during these extra cold winter months as well!

Banbutsu has a great selection of hoodies to choose from - in a variety of sizes as well. While you're browsing around, you definitely need to check out the sweet 'lil pinafore dresses and the cozy, one-of-a-kind blankets. The work, thought and energy that must go into each of the items from Banbutsu is exceptional, and we are thoroughly impressed! What a wonderful way to wrap something that is eco-friendly, unique & irresistible all into one package!

WIN IT!
Banbutsu is giving one of our readers a hood of YOUR choice! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below. Open to Canada and USA!

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.

Products With a Soul ~ GIVEAWAY ($40 GC!)

2012-01-12T06:12:00.000-06:00

I am guilty of it...and I'm sure we all are - walking into stores and buying product after product without any real thought about where it came from, how it got there and what the story is behind it. But haven't you ever stopped to wonder, at least once in a while, what the story is behind the products you buy? Who created it? How? Where? Did the product travel 10,000 miles before getting to your hands? Was the product mass-produced by machines or handmade by a passionate artisan?

I was recently introduced to a new Canadian online marketplace - Goods With Story. They are all about bringing together Passionate Canadian Sellers with Canadian Buyers. Their marketplace is filled with unique and creative items for all ages! Not only are the items original and not your regular products you'll find in the local shopping center, but I love that you can read the story behind each of the products they sell. I loved reading through a few of the stories on Goods With Story..they are inspirational and truly give you a "feel" for the product by giving you personal stories on who created each item and why.

We received a few products from Shea Butter Market, including Savannah Body Cream, Shea Lav and Shea Anise Soap. Each of these are organic, natural, luxurious products that are perfect for keeping your skin healthy and beautiful. We have been enjoying these products and in addition to that, I loved being able to read the story behind them before I was able to use them. Just to give you a 'taste' of how neat it is to hear the story behind a product, I'll share a bit of this one with you! Shea Butter Market was inspired by and created by Gifty.

Gifty grew up in northern Ghana in West Africa in the heart of what could be called the global Shea Butter capital. When she moved to Canada in 1980 she was amazed that North America did not know about Shea Butter. Over the years she became impassioned with the need to share Shea Butter with the world in a way that would benefit everyone, especially the women who made the Shea Butter and the people who would use the product. In 1999 Gifty started experimenting with Shea Butter, adding essential oils and marketing products in little brown glass containers.Working from her kitchen, Gifty also continued to combine Shea Butter with high quality essential oils and other natural materials to make special products for friends and family. The people who used her products kept telling her amazing stories about what it had done for them.After talking it over with family and friends, Gifty decided to create another business that develops and markets Shea Butter based products. This was the start of Shea Butter Market.

That is just a small tidbit of Gifty's story - but isn't it inspiring?! Good With
Story is packed with great, high quality products from Canadian sellers such as Shea Butter Market and each company comes with it's own story for you to read and discover.

Shopping at Goods With Story is wonderful and it gives a whole new 'twist' to finding the perfect gift or product to purchase for yourself or a loved one. I can guarantee you'll enjoy the shopping experience even more as you read the stories behind each of the products and get a feel for the "soul" behind each one.

WIN IT!
Goods With Story is giving one of our readers a $40 gift certificate to their great Canadian marketplace! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below. CANADA ONLY!

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.

A Little Bit of Star Light ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-11T06:48:00.001-06:00

There's an amazing amount of accessories out there for us girls (grown-up or child) these days, isn't there? But the catch is...that a lot of those accessories are cheaply made, and are duplicated 1000's of times. I don't particuarly mind that at times, but it's always extra special when you can find something that is unique...and a little more "one of a kind!" Sage Leaf Studio is an online Canadian boutique that does just this. They create unique hand-made products with a modern flair.

We received a Little Leaf Skinny belt for our 3 year old, and it is adorable. The Star Light design pictured is the one we received...it is simple yet beautiful and our daughter loves it! The belt is made out of 100% cotton and has a simple set of D-rings to make adjusting the belt size easy. One of my favorite features about the belts from Sage Leaf Studio is that they are not mass produced, and normally there is only 1 belt available per listing. This means that your Little Leaf belt will be one of those "one of a kind", extra special accessories!

In addition to belts, Sage Leaf Studio also offers a variety of other handmade items for both children and adults. You'll find some of the cutest (even vintage-like!) hair accessories for little girls as well as for us grown-up mama's! Sage Leaf Studio has even created a line of fun & practical nursing covers for breastfeeding moms. Each and every item is handmade and is made to be unique and special for you. They are perfect for every day wear, dressy occasions and they make great gifts too! Head over and take a look at the fabulous designs for yourself! If you'd like to have some fun sneak peeks of what is to come, take a look at Sage Leaf Studio's Facebook page as well!

WIN IT!
One of our readers is going to win a free belt of YOUR choice from Sage Leaf Studio! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below. Open WORLDWIDE.

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.

Organizing those secret codes!

2012-01-10T21:54:00.000-06:00

Over the next few weeks, we're going to be posting reviews of products that we hope will help us achieve our resolutions, and perhaps yours as well. Here's the first in the "Resolution Solution" Series - and the resolution is to be more organized.

You know how they say that you should use a different password for each thing, never write passwords down, and change them periodically? You need a super brain to keep up with it all! I take some comfort in knowing I'm not the only one with this problem, otherwise the program I tried would never have been invented!

Roboform is a password manager program developed by Siber Systems. It's available for download from the website, and you can use it free for a limited trial version to see if you like it. The version I've been trying stores the passwords you want on your desktop. Roboform Everywhere stores passwords online so you can access them from anywhere, while Roboform2Go operates on a USB flash drive.

Roboform has been downloaded over 50 million times, comes highly recommended with consistently high ratings and includes the strongest encryption possible.

Roboform is easy to download, and if purchased, comes with a key to activate all the features. Once installed, it operates in the background, but as soon as a website requires a login, it prompts you to save a password if it's the first visit, or finds the password automatically for you on a subsequent visit, so all you have to do is click, and your username and password are filled in for you, and the login button is clicked for you as well! Super easy! I had imagined having a list of possible logins to go through every time you wanted to log in to a secure website, but the feature of the login ID showing up automatically (on my button bar) is superb! When you enter a new password, you have to also enter the master password to have it saved, and sometimes you have to enter the master password to use your saved password, so really, all you ever have to remember is the master password and you're good to go!

We've really been happy with our experiences with Roboform so far. It truly does make it easier to keep all of the secure login information easier to access while still being protected. My husband and I both have mental blips every now and then, and can't remember a certain password, especially if it's one the other partner invented, and now that problem has been solved for us!

Roboform can also be used to automatically fill in web forms. We haven't used this feature yet, but I can imagine it would save a lot of typing! :)

Roboform is available for a variety of platforms including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, Mac OS X, and Opera as well as for a variety of mobile devices.

Check out the video on the website explaining how Roboform works.

**Disclosure: The product mentioned above has been given free of charge from Siber Systems 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.

Hide & Seek Fun ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-09T06:31:00.000-06:00

Hide and seek is an all-time favorite game at our house right now! And I have a feeling the simple game of hide and seek is loved worldwide. :) There's just something extra fun about finding someone or something that is hiding. Recently our two oldest children have also really enjoyed hide and seek books where they are able to look for 'hiding' objects on each page. (I have to admit...that even I enjoy these hide & seek books still! ;) )

DK Canada knows just how much fun hide and seek can be and they have a few great hide and seek books for kids! Hide and Seek Animals is one of them that we've added to our home and we love it. Not only do the kids and us parents get to spend time snuggling on the couch together while we look for the hiding pets, farm animals, birds, dinosaurs, etc. but this book also provides us with countless opportunities to learn about these animals and their environments. In our minds, you really can't lose when you are able to mix fun & learning together! Hide and Seek Animals is a great 'family activity' book, a great book for quiet places (such as church, weddings, etc.) and perfect for some longer-lasting traveling entertainment as well. We are looking forward to many more great games of hide and seek in the future...both in real life and in our hide and seek story books! :)

WIN IT!
One of our readers is going to win their own copy of Hide and Seek Animals! In order to enter, please follow the instructions on the form below. (CANADA ONLY!)

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.

Beautiful Mama ~ Isabella Oliver

2012-01-07T06:09:00.000-06:00

Maternity clothes have improved a lot over the past few years, haven't they?! These days you can find almost anything you're looking for in a maternity wardrobe...you may need to search a little harder and farther than your local Wal.Mart, but it's out there! One of my recent additions to my maternity wardrobe came from Isabella Oliver. They are a top-notch place to shop for the latest and best maternity (and nursing!) fashions. Isabella Oliver came to be because the founders were unable to find clothing for pregnancy that was comfortable, stylish and fit well. Fast forward a couple of years and you now have a great online shop that is filled to the brim with stylish & comfortable maternity clothes which are currently being sold around the world!

I received the V Neck Ruched Top. Ruched clothes are fabulous for pregnancy, and this top has definitely become a quick favorite! It is great for wearing either around the home or for dressy occasions. In fact, I wore it to a Christmas banquet a few weeks ago - and it worked wonderfully. The top fits beautifully and can even be worn post pregnancy. The quality and make of the top is great, and it truly is a maternity wardrobe 'classic' that I am proud to own!

In addition to maternity tops, you'll find some gorgeous maternity dresses, pants, jackets & coats and so much more! A lot of the items from Isabella Oliver also come in various colors/shades of fabric - and as I mentioned earlier the choices of styles, colors & outfits at Isabella Oliver is exceptional!

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

Winner!

2012-01-06T22:10:00.001-06:00

The winner of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amigurumi is:

Comment #173 - Laura Jayne P.

The winner of Peekaboo Christmas is:

Comment #60 - Amy C.

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

Winners!

2012-01-06T20:15:00.000-06:00

The winner of a $50 GC to Miamum is:

Comment # 65: Jennifer L

The 5 winners of a SassyStrap from Miamum are:

Comment # 72: Kelley Johnsen
Comment # 156: Diana
Comment # 107: Katy Emmanuel
Comment # 37: Jb Hartling
Comment # 13: Tammy D

The winner of a gift set from George's Cream is:

Comment # 150: Lori A Galbraith

Congratulations! Please respond to my email within 72 hours to claim your prizes!!

Reconnect with Nature ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-06T06:40:00.000-06:00

Nature, the GREAT outdoors, our earth and our world all play a huge part in our lives whether we realize it or not. Too often we spend so much time indoors that it's hard to remember what the air smells like after a good thunderstorm, or what the grass & sand feels like under our bare feet. I believe that kids are naturally drawn to the outdoors...they LOVE to play outside and all we need to do around here is mention going outside and there is a small stampede of little people trying to find their boots & winter gear! There is so much to learn, and so much to explore in our natural environment and I love to watch my children enjoy our beautiful, intricate world. Naturebag is a Canadian company that also loves to encourage outdoor exploration. They have come up with a fabulous little kit called the Naturebag - an organic nature activity bag that is perfect for exploring, learning and developing a love of the outdoors. The activity bag strives offers a hands-on alternatives instead of all those inside "screen" activities we often allow our children to do. This fun little bag is packed full of items to guide you and your children through a variety of hands-on, educational activities. It is geared for kids ages 3-12 and it is very simple to adjust many of the activities in the booklet provided to suit the specific age of the child.

The great thing about the naturebag is that it requires literally no prep...everything you need for your outdoor adventures is right there in the bag. It includes:

1 rubber wood magnifier
1 box of soy based crayons
hemp twine
8 recycled cardboard colour cards
2 recycled cardboard leaf viewers
1 recycled notepad
1 recycled jeans pencil
1 organic cotton blindfold
1 activity booklet

The activities you can enjoy with the naturebag are countless and the booklet includes ideas for every season - yes, even for the cold, snowy winter season! The versatility of the naturebag is fabulous...you can use it anytime, the activites are easily age adjustable and you can do most of the activities more than once - yet with new and exciting results each time!

WIN IT!
Naturebag is giving one of their great activity filled bags away to one of our readers! 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.

Personalized Leather Slippers for Grown-Ups! ~ GIVEAWAY!!

2012-01-05T14:14:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wished that some of the great baby/toddler clothes and accessories were made in adult sizes?! I know I have! Some of those children's products are just SO fun and look so practical and comfortable. Handmade leather slippers are one of these products...I know I have often thought about how nice it would be to have a pair of those soft sole shoes that fit my big, mama feet. ;) Guess what?! There is a company that has made this thought into a reality! Moxies does not just make baby & toddler slippers, but they also can create a pair of hand-sewn, leather soft sole shoes for any grown-up...mom, dad, grandpa, even a teenager could sport a pair of these fabulous shoes.

Moxies made up a pair of soft sole shoes for me to use, and they are amazing...no wonder kids love them so much! They added a fun saying of "Super Mom" to the slippers as well and were able to make them in my exact shoe size (size 10). The slippers fit perfectly - nice and snug and oh-so warm and comfortable. They are easy to pull on or off and they never fall off my feet as I'm running after kids, etc!

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 both big and little feet the grip they need to face day to day 'adventures!'

Moxies 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 everyone in your family.

WIN IT!
Moxiesbabyshoes.com is giving away a pair personalized adult soft sole shoes to one lucky winner! In order to enter please leave a comment with your BEST soft sole shoe design for an adult. The design MUST include a phrase (1 or or 2 different words (could be one on each shoe). Feel free to include color ideas as well if you'd like!

The best design will win a pair of amazing soft sole shoes for their very own feet. :)

CONTEST OPEN TO CANADA & USA ONLY! Contest ends on January 19, 2012. 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.

Candy without Compromise

2012-01-05T14:13:00.000-06:00

Most of us probably agree on two key points: 1) Candy bars are yummy! and 2) Candy bars are not that good for you! So where is the middle ground when it comes to eating tasty food, yet eating food that is healthy and beneficial for our bodies? Angell seems to have discovered a middle ground for candy bars. They have begun to create a line of candy bars that are delicious, yet are NOT loaded with corn syrup, artificial ingredients, GMO ingredients, etc. These candy bars are simply made and contain 5-7 ingredients per bar - all of which I was able to pronounce and recognize. I love that I can actually know what is in these candy bars instead of wondering what some of those strange, unpronounceable ingredients might be. Angell candy bars truly are candy bars without compromise in that they taste like real candy bars. In addition to what I mentioned above, Angell Bars are the first Fair Trade Certified® organic candy bars around.

If your mouth is already watering, it may get worse when I share their three flavors with you! ;) Angell Bars come in Dark Angell (Dark Chocolate with Rich Cocoa and Almond Center), Angell Crisp (Milk Chocolate with Crispy Creamy Chocolate Center) and Snow Angell (White Chocolate with Sweet and Creamy Coconut Center). Sounds pretty tasty, huh? ;) There is a new Angell Bar coming out soon as well - so be sure to keep your eyes open for that!

To follow all the latest news and updates from Angell, give them a "Like" on Facebook...and be sure to keep your eyes open for Angell candy bars at your local stores!

**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.

Kitchen of Dreams ~ Step2

2012-01-04T13:46:00.000-06:00

I think us moms all have a 'kitchen of our dreams', don't we? I know I often dream about what I'd like in my ideal kitchen...after all - we do spend a lot of time cooking & preparing meals in that room! It's not just me who enjoys preparing food...but my kids LOVE to be kitchen helpers as well...both in my kitchen and in their own pretend kitchen set. Step2 recently sent out a fabulous LifeStyle™ Deluxe Kitchen set for our family! Trust me...this is the kitchen of my kids' dreams! ;) It is loaded full with fun features, accessories and lots of storage space, and it makes "cooking" so much fun!

The Deluxe Kitchen comes complete with a double sink with a faucet and pull-out sprayer, storage drawers, cabinets, an overhead light (which can be turned on or off with the push of a button), a cutlery drawer, lots of great electronic features with buttons and realistic sounds (on the microwave, oven, dishwasher, stove top & phone!) and in addition to that, it also provides pots, pans, food & other kitchen accessories. Yes, it definitely is a kitchen made for a young chef in training. :)

Setup for the kitchen was simple. It takes a bit of time since there are a lot of pieces to put together, but the instructions are straightforward and easy to follow. Like all other Step2 products we own, the LifeStyle™ Deluxe Kitchen is high quality, durable, and perfect in every way for toddlers, and children. It is large enough that at least three children can play at the same time and I'm certain that it will be enjoyed and played with for many years to come in our home.

Step2 also offers a huge selection of other quality products for kids! You'll find storage solutions, furniture, easels, train tables and so much more. Each and every item is designed with children in mind and is truly made for playing, learning and enjoying!

BUY IT!
Did your kids get some extra Christmas money from Grandma & Grandpa this year? Perhaps they'd like to put it towards a Step2 Kitchen of their own...or another great Step2 toy!

**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.

Dell Inspiron ~ Connect, Entertain, Perform!

2012-01-03T13:35:00.000-06:00

Laptops, computers, electronics, big screens, vivid sound and vision...and more! Doesn't that bring to mind the man in your life? I know my hubby loves his "man-cave" and that cave contains a lot of the things I listed above. But you know, electronics, laptops, and products that put productivity and entertainment at our fingertips is not just for 'the guys' anymore! Nope...Moms, teens, young women, etc. have leapt into the world of electronics and become a force to reckon with at times (wink).

Dell Canada is has been (and still is!) one of our favorite Canadian companies when it comes to electronic gadgets, computers, etc. Their coupon deals, the quality of their products and their customer service is undeniably great! I was recently sent a Dell Inspiron 14z Laptop and so far I've loved every minute of exploring and using the Inspiron Laptop! Here's a few of my favorite features:

~ It's thin, sleek, simple and looks great. In addition to this, it is lightweight and so easy to transport...perfect for us ladies who are already toting diaper bags, purses, and more! ;) Simply slip it into a backpack or carry-on bag and bring the Inspiron along and you'll have productivity and entertainment at your fingertips!
~ The Inspiron has great performance. It is fast, efficient and great for getting work (or play!) done quickly without any unnecessary delays!
~ It has an HD screen and high-quality SRS Premium Sound - WOW!

These few features are just the tip of the iceberg. The Inspiron 14z has much more to offer as well! But I will admit, my all time personal favorite about the Inspiron is that it enables me to connect with those I love. Whether it's through being able to send an email on-the-go or through a wireless connection to a HDTV5, it is a great tool to help us keep in touch with family and friends.

So what does Dell have to offer you? I have an inkling that the Dell Inspiron 14z would make a fabulous gift for a loved one! It's perfect for teens, college students, Moms, Dads...even grandparents can enjoy the benefits of a Dell laptop!

BUY IT!
Dell is currently packed full of fabulous Boxing Day sales - ones that just can't be beat!! Be sure to head over and take a peek at what they have to offer. Boxing Week Blowout! Nobody does Boxing Week like Dell.ca. Save up to $669 off select PCs. Offers expire January 5, 2012. Shop Now >
While you're there I'd also encourage you to check out Dell's Coupon Offers- there's some great deals in there as well!

**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 Favorite Recipes (for kids!) ~ GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-02T14:56:00.001-06:00

"What's for supper?" "What's for lunch?" and most important..."What's for snack?" These are questions that most moms get asked at least once a day, and most likely many more times than that! Our kids are always curious about what we will be eating...and not only that, but they love to be my "kitchen helper"! There's something fun about sticking your fingers into a big bowls of dough or pretending that you're building a mountain with the chopped veggies or meat that we are mixing up. I love having my children helping me in the kitchen and it's so fun to create new, exciting and tasty foods for our family together.

DK Canada carries the perfect tool for parents and children who love to cook together in the kitchen. My Favorite Recipes by Annabel Karmel is a fabulous cookbook that has more than 40 recipes - which were carefully chosen to provide healthy, fun and family friendly meals and snacks. Annabel Karmel is a leading author on cooking for children and she has written more than 15 books, her recipes have been featured in a variety of prominent websites & magazines as well as she's often been heard on radio and TV shows! Needless to say, My Favorite Recipes is a perfect fit for families.

The recipes included in this cookbook are simple, easy to follow and include real-life photographs with plenty of color to keep little ones interested and to inspire both kids and parents to make healthy & delicious foods! You'll find some of the good, classic recipes such as Tomato Soup and you'll also be able to discover some new recipes...perhaps maybe the Rice Arancini or the Lamb tagine might catch your eye? Of course you can't skip the tasty treats and snack ideas. You'll find great ideas such as the Easy Berry Ice Cream or the Peanut Butter Bears.

My Favorite Recipes is a great book to add to your recipe cupboard. It will certainly be enjoyed by both adults and children alike!

WIN IT!
DK Canada is giving away a copy of My Favorite Recipes to one reader! 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.

Winners!

2012-01-02T14:26:00.000-06:00

The winner of a set of Luggage Locks from Master Lock is:

Comment #178 - Huguette En

The winner of a Nativity Story book from DK Canada is:

Comment #84 - Lydia S. F.

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

Scholastic Monday ~ Mouse & Lion

2012-01-02T06:37:00.001-06:00

2012 has arrived! Hard to believe that the year has gone so quickly...but we've got a great little book from Scholastic Canada that we'd love to share with you all to help ring in the new year! :) Mouse & Lion by Rand Burkert is a story of bravery...of loyalty and of freedom. It's a story that highlights the little things, and shows that kindness and loyalty are truly traits that we ought to have! The story begins with Mouse who startles awake Lion by climbing over him - thinking he was a mountain. Lion is angry and plans to eat Mouse, but Mouse manages to convince Lion otherwise, and with the words "you might need me some day", Mouse is set free.

The saying "what goes around comes around" is certainly proven true in this endearing story as when Lion stumbles into a trap and is hopelessly caught and entangled, Mouse is able to come and set him free.

The hidden lessons that you can gleam from Mouse & Lion are many, and it is a great read to make your children think, and to teach them about loyalty, kindness and the fact that even small things can make a huge difference!

**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.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T07:04:00.000-06:00

Wishing all our readers a fabulous year in 2012!! Thanks for coming along for the ride with us in 2011 - we love and appreciate all of you and your support!

Things will be back in action come tomorrow here at Glimpse, so be sure to keep following us this next year for many more great Canadian reviews & giveaways!!

Winners!

2011-12-29T22:04:00.001-06:00

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!

2011-12-25T07:28:00.000-06:00

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...

2011-12-23T20:43:00.000-06:00

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!

2011-12-23T19:10:00.000-06:00

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!

2011-12-22T23:09:00.001-06:00

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!

2011-12-22T13:14:00.001-06:00

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!

2011-12-22T08:27:00.000-06:00

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!

2011-12-21T14:38:00.002-06:00

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!

2011-12-21T14:17:00.001-06:00

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!"

2011-12-20T17:18:00.001-06:00

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!!

2011-12-19T16:49:00.002-06:00

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!

2011-12-19T15:47:00.001-06:00

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

2011-12-19T06:23:00.000-06:00

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!!

2011-12-17T06:33:00.002-06:00

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!!

2011-12-16T22:00:00.001-06:00

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.
Click to read more »

Attractive Accessories... GIVEAWAY!!

2011-12-16T20:31:00.000-06:00

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!!
Click to read more »

Winners!

2011-12-16T14:54:00.000-06:00

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!

2011-12-15T06:10:00.000-06:00

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!!

2011-12-14T15:12:00.001-06:00

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.
Click to read more »

MyMemories - GIVEAWAY!!

2011-12-14T14:25:00.000-06:00

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.

Click to read more »

Elegant Beauty ~ GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-14T13:58:00.000-06:00

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!
Click to read more »

Winners!

2011-12-13T21:50:00.002-06:00

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!!

2011-12-13T21:19:00.000-06:00

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.
Click to read more »

Winner!

2011-12-13T19:53:00.001-06:00

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!

2011-12-12T22:01:00.000-06:00

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!!)

2011-12-12T06:51:00.001-06:00

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!

2011-12-10T21:18:00.001-06:00

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.
Click to read more »

Winner!

2011-12-10T13:18:00.000-06:00

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!!

2011-12-10T10:20:00.001-06:00

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!
Click to read more »

Winner!

2011-12-10T08:23:00.001-06:00

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!!

2011-12-09T14:37:00.001-06:00

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.
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Handcrafted for Baby ~ GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-08T15:14:00.001-06:00

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. :)
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Winner!

2011-12-08T13:56:00.001-06:00

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!

2011-12-08T07:06:00.002-06:00

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.

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Fun Bites! GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-07T13:42:00.001-06:00

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!

Click to read more »

Winners!

2011-12-07T13:37:00.001-06:00

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!

2011-12-07T13:29:00.000-06:00

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.
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Friendship Bracelets & Ribbon Barrettes ~ GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-07T07:07:00.000-06:00

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.
Click to read more »

Winners!

2011-12-06T13:55:00.000-06:00

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!

2011-12-06T13:37:00.001-06:00

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

2011-12-05T13:16:00.005-06:00

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

2011-12-05T07:04:00.000-06:00

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!

2011-12-03T19:42:00.001-06:00

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!
Click to read more »

Cutest Cap! Giveaway!!

2011-12-03T19:14:00.001-06:00

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.

Click to read more »

Winner!

2011-12-03T19:02:00.001-06:00

The winner of a JuJuBe Be Quick diaper bag from Enfant Style Diapers is:

Comment # 215 Lisa Powell

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to claim your prize!

New LeapFrog Giveaway!

2011-12-02T22:27:00.001-06:00

I just got the details confirmed today for a giveaway to go with the LeapFrog review I posted earlier this week!!! Head over to the post to enter the giveaway - and you could win a 'Cook and Play Potsy!' This toy for kids ages 12-36 months introduces:

Food and healthy eating
Opposites
Counting
Pretend play
Colours
Motor skills

Kachooz! GIVEWAY!!

2011-12-02T10:10:00.001-06:00

No, I didn't sneeze! :)

Kachooz! are tiny fluffy creatures with crazy wild colourful hair! You can put them on top of your pencil, and
their hair goes wild when you spin your pencil between your hands. You can use them as finger puppets. Style their hair into silly shapes, and act out little stories. You can make fun and fuzzy fashion accessories with your Kachooz. Just use the loop on top of their head to make frizzy necklaces, bracelets and earrings!
Click to read more »

Winner

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-06:00

The winner of a set of Rubbermaid Glass containers is:

Comment # 406 Rebby

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

Holiday Cheer from Indigo ~ GIVEAWAY ($50!)

2011-12-01T13:49:00.001-06:00

Shopping online is becoming more and more popular...and I can see why! The benefits are many - no busy malls, no traveling to the city, no rushing around at the last minute...instead I can browse and find deals at my own leisure; I can order products that are unique and make the 'perfect' gift - all without leaving the comfort of my own home! One of my all-time favorite Canadian online stores to shop at is Indigo. Indigo is the largest book retailer in Canada and has a multitude of stores scattered across the country - as well as their fabulous online shop.
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Little Riding Hood ~ GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-01T06:49:00.003-06:00

Oh winter...you have arrived! And the days of t-shirts and short sleeve dresses are gone for a while. Sweaters have made their way into our closets and cupboards and are there to stay for a while now! Not only sweaters though...our youngest little princess recently received a cozy and adorable hooded cape from Beba Bean. Beba Bean offers products that are not only designed with the utmost thought and care, but the quality is unbeatable as well! And this newly designed hooded cape is no exception. The cape is adorable - through and through. From the soft pink yarn on the outside to to the cute pink & brown striped inner hood...the whole thing is precious. It is ever so soft as well - both on the outside and inside and I can just imagine how cozy and comfortable this little hooded cape would be! A few other details that we love about Beba Beans hooded capes are that they are simple to take off or put on, and they are a one size cape that fits 6-24 months, so you can get a good amount of use out of it!
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LeapFrog Gifts! GIVEAWAY (UPDATED)!!

2011-11-30T21:48:00.001-06:00

Like many other families, our family really appreciates LeapFrog products. They have a range of items for a variety of ages and interests, and everything we've had from them has kept our kids interested and learning. In fact, Sinterklaas visited our house this week and brought each of the kids something from LeapFrog. It must be because he knows that their products can be depended on, and the kids really enjoy them. :)

Last week we featured the LeapFrog Shapes and Sharing Picnic Basket. Keep watching our blog each week as we review other LeapFrog products and there will be another giveaway coming too!

This week, we'll feature the LeapFrog Leapster2.

Click to read more »

Winner!

2011-11-30T15:04:00.000-06:00

The winner of a $16 gift card to Organically Hatched is:

Comment #118 - Amy M.

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

Curious Critters!

2011-11-30T13:54:00.001-06:00

(**You know how, with time zones, today can be yesterday, or yesterday could be tomorrow? Well, please just try to pretend that you are reading this yesterday! Due to some technical difficulties, I couldn't log in to the blog yesterday to post, so here's yesterday's post today!**)

Are your kids curious? Mine certainly are. It's a constant barrage of questions around here from the oldest 2, and I'm just waiting for our little one to have enough words to ask her questions as well! It's fun, and usually, something we try to encourage and stimulate! Of course, we're hoping that as our children's curiosity develops, they also develop skills to research and answer their own questions!
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Soothe & Travel with Graco ~ GIVEAWAY ($160!!!)

2011-11-28T13:17:00.002-06:00

The joy of welcoming a new little baby into a home never ceases to amaze me! We're on baby number four now, and we are just as excited for his/her arrival as we were with every other one. We just can't wait to snuggle, cuddle, comfort and soothe our newest bundle of joy! Graco recently has come out with some great new products! One of these is the Sweetpeace™ Infant Soothing Swing. We received one of these fabulous Soothing Swings to try out in our own home, and it is amazing! Though we don't have a baby to enjoy it quite yet, the features are better than any other baby swing we've seen (or owned!) so far. It offers the most multi-sensory soothing options available, and gives a parent, grandparent or babysitter many different combinations to help calm your little one. Here's just a taste of the different features and options that the Sweetpeace™ Infant Soothing Swing has:
Click to read more »

Comfort for your Pooch ~ GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-28T06:58:00.001-06:00

Typically, it's just us...our kids...and people in general that take advantage of winter wear! We do need to keep warm after all, and well...according to Canada Pooch, we're not the only ones who need a little extra warmth at times. Canada Pooch is a company that carries a brand new line of pet apparel that is made specifically for Canadian winters. The apparel is also made with both comfort and style in mind. Each of their items are made with high craftsmanship and extreme functionality in mind. Jackets and vests alike are made with faux-down stuff, and are fleece-lined and even waterproof! In addition to this, the apparel is easy to put on, and machine washable - so it's easy to keep clean as well!

Click to read more »

Attack of the Brain Blips...

2011-11-27T21:42:00.001-06:00

Guess what? The Brain Blips have attacked again. I was just checking through the open giveaways, when I noticed there were no comments on the RUBIK's Race giveaway. Hmmm....strange....

Not so strange after all when I looked at the post and realized I had forgotten to include the Rafflecopter form, or even any mention of the giveaway in the post. BIG OOPS! BIG SORRY!!

I have updated the post to allow entries to the contest - so head over to the RUBIK's Race review and enter to win a game for your family!

Holidays from the Heart ~ GIVEAWAY ($50 value!)

2011-11-26T13:54:00.000-06:00

There are lots of great gift ideas out there in the stores, in the newspapers, on the internet...but when it comes right down to it, a lot of those gifts are just more "stuff," and well...I really love to give gifts that mean something and that are perhaps one of a kind or extra special. This is one of the reasons that I was delighted to discover Elephoto.ca this year! Elephoto is a 100% Canadian printing company that is packed full of great, personalized gift ideas for your friends and family.

We ordered several items from Elephoto this year and were VERY impressed with the whole process. The website is simple and straightforward. Each item we ordered was great quality - and looked just as we had hoped, and one of the most impressive features for me was how incredibly FAST they shipped the items to us! Within 2 business days I had all the products in my hands - WOW - now that's what I call service!
Click to read more »

Enfant Style Diapers - Giveaway!!

2011-11-26T06:57:00.001-06:00

Today's Giveaway is brought to you by Enfant Style Diapers, and it's part of a series they're running called the Christmas and New Year event. Each week, from November 3, 2011 to January 1, 2012, they're offering a different giveaway, hosted either by them or by a blog friend like us!!

Enfant Style Diapers is an online cloth diaper store that offers basically everything you'd need during your cloth diapering experience: they carry diapers and accessories for mom and baby, swim diapers, training pants and much more.
Click to read more »

Winners!

2011-11-26T06:00:00.000-06:00

The 3 winners of a set of Green School Totes are:

Comment # 78: krystyl olson

Comment # 21: Sherri Harsevoort

Comment # 31: Tania Mask

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

Winner!

2011-11-25T21:04:00.000-06:00

The Winner of a 5 Pack of Spices from T & A Spice Co. is:

Comment #148 - Diana

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

Lovable Labels Holly Jolly Packs ~ Giveaway!!

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to 12 Days of Gifts Galore Giveaway Hop hosted by Tales From the Nursery, Formula Mom, and Mama on a Green Misson!!! There's over $5,000 in prizes offered to help you get the gifts you need this holiday season. After you are done entering our giveaway you'll want to check out everyone else's AND enter for a chance to win one of three GRAND prizes sponsored by Kudzoom! Each blog you stop and enter at will be another entry! (see the linky at the bottom of this post)

Don't forget to check our other giveaways running right now, and more coming in the next 3 or 4 weeks! Yes, that's right, weeks! :) Most days in the next few weeks have at least one giveaway and possibly two!!

Today's Giveaway on Glimpse is brought to you by Lovable Labels. They recently brought out their Holly Jolly gift packs - which contain a variety of labels in different sizes and colours - as well as Holiday Return Address Labels Packs with matching Gift Seals. The Holly Jolly gift packs are available in 2 colour combinations and there are 6 designs to choose from for the Holiday Return Address Label Packs.

Click to read more »

Picnic With LeapFrog ~ GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-24T12:40:00.003-06:00

LeapFrog is a well-known brand these days - and there are many good reasons for that! LeapFrog toys and products are among the best when it comes to combining learning and having fun. In fact...I've yet to find a company that is higher on the list than LeapFrog. Their products are full of quality, full of learning and full of fun! With these three positives packaged together it is obvious that LeapFrog products are top notch!

As we all know, Christmas is quickly approaching, and LeapFrog is one of my favorite places to find gifts for babies, toddlers and even older children.

Click to read more »

Capturing Memories with Blacks.ca

2011-11-24T06:04:00.008-06:00

I don't know about you, but I LOVE to capture memories. Time just flies by too fast, and I guess being able to capture those memories on camera, and eventually on paper seems to streeeetch out the memories a little longer, and make them last for more than a moment. Black.ca is an amazing Canadian business that has a HUGE variety of products and ideas for capturing those precious memories.

One of my favorite products that they offer is the PhotoBook. Blacks.ca recently came out with a new PhotoBook Design Service where you can easily create a PhotoBook of a special event, the past year, etc. The options are endless for a PhotoBook, and the best part is that it is quick, easy and fun! You don't have to worry about any of the tiny details and designing either...the professionals at Black.ca have got it all under control! I also really love that it prevents photos from just getting stored in old shoeboxes in a cupboard somewhere (yes, I am guilty of that!) Instead, a PhotoBook from Black.ca can be pulled out at a moments notice to browse and reminisce through with your family or friends. PhotoBooks also make a great gift idea - it's personal and unique.

Besides PhotoBooks, Blacks.ca also offers a truck-load of other personalized, affordable gift ideas. Check out their PhotoGifts section and you'll see all the great products they offer! There are calendars, personalized mugs, personalized gifts for baby and so much more. In our opinion, Black.ca has a gift suitable for every person we need to buy gifts for this season. The quality is fabulous and the service is great as well...so go ahead, capture some memories and give those away this Christmas!

CONTEST!
Black.ca is running an UNBEATABLE Holiday Photo Contest! The Grand prize is a $5,000 Black’s Gift Card (wow!), Photobook with Design Service gift card, and an iPad 2. And I'm not even mentioning all the runner-up prizes! Head over here to check out the full details of the contest and enter it yourself.

**Disclosure: I received a Gift Card to Black.ca 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.

Race to solve it - Rubik's Race! GIVEAWAY!!

2011-11-23T13:39:00.001-06:00

Were you (or some of your family members) fans of the Rubik's Cube back when it was all the rage? Of course, the Cube is still around, but since that original invention, the Rubik brand has brought out many new products, all variations on the theme. Rubik's Race is one of the latest to hit the market, and it's sure to entertain and drive you crazy at the same time!
Click to read more »

Experience Crock-Pot

2011-11-22T20:39:00.000-06:00

Last week we hosted a fabulous giveaway for a Crock-Pot slow cooker on Glimpse! Due to some internal details I had to post the giveaway before receiving my own slow cooker to try out. BUT, that said, I have now received and tried out my new Crock-Pot slow cooker and thought it would be fun to give you my personal take on the product as well!

As you can well imagine, the slow cooker is fabulous. Here are a few of my favorites about our new Crock-Pot slow cooker:

~ It is a 6 QT cooker! Which means I can easily make a BIG meal for our family of 5 (soon to be 6!) and there are still leftovers for the next day.
~ It is incredibly easy to use, and has four different settings for you to choose from.
~ It automatically stops cooking when the allotted cooking time has ended...and then proceeds to keep your meal warm until you're ready to eat it! Incredible handy - especially if you are not home to stop it yourself!
~ The digital timer counts down your cooking time, so with a glance you can see how much time is left.

There is only one con that I have with this slow cooker...and I think this is a more "personal preference" con! I don't completely enjoy the rectangular shape of the base for the slow cooker. It is rather large and takes up more space on my counter than I would like. However, that said - it does have really nice carrying handles on the sides and it is great for just setting the whole thing on the table for a meal instead of dishing it out of the slow cooker first.

So, all in all, I do love our Crock-Pot slow cooker and have cooked a variety of delicious recipes that are perfect for warming up on a cold winter day! I would highly recommend the slow cooker and it would make a great gift - especially when you're feeding a large family - or several hungry teenagers! ;)

**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.

Stacking it up! GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-22T09:41:00.001-06:00

It's usually easy enough to find gifts for people who make you a list of suggestions. But what about those little people - babies and toddlers - who can't tell you what they really enjoy? I always find it hard when we're looking for a present; you have to keep track of the right age, and still get something fun, and I prefer to get (and receive) something that will be used for a while, and not only with one purpose either.

MySmartToys is a company based in Montreal. They specialize in a wide range of educational wooden toys, specially designed to develop a child’s motor skills, concentration, attentiveness, and visual accuracy. All toys they carry are made by well-known manufacturers. The range of toys is intended for kids of different age groups starting with toddlers up to preschool children. You can find toys from brands like Melissa & Doug, Imagiplay and Kidkraft.
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Loove-ly Accessories ~ GIVEAWAY!

2011-11-21T13:34:00.004-06:00

Oh, the accessories! :) There's just something about all the adorable little hair accessories for girls that make us moms want to collect them, isn't there?! Even boys can have cute accessories. Loove and Sweet is a great boutique located in BC, Canada. Everything in her shop is handmade...and designed by a mom!

We received a few of her items, including an adorable Christmas headband, a few clips and a bow tie. Every one of these items is quality - you can see it and you can feel it...the quality is there, and it is great! Loove and Sweet is unlike most other boutiques out there. Instead of using artificial flowers and cheap fabrics, every one of their flowers is handmade from fabric, felt or ribbon. And the fabrics used for the bow ties is durable as high quality as well. You can definitely see the difference in the flowers on the headbands and clips - they are shiny and smooth. No fraying around the edges, and they look, well...perfect!

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Scholastic Monday ~ Christmas GIVEAWAY!!

2011-11-21T06:04:00.000-06:00

Scholastic Monday has arrived again...but today it's not only Scholastic Monday but the kick off to our Christmas Gift Guide!! Scholastic is filled with great books for all ages of kids/teens and we believe that books make fabulous gifts! They inspire, teach, build skills, add laughter to your home, and so much more.

Today I'm so excited to be featuring two fabulous Christmas titles from Scholastic Canada! Can You See What I See? Toyland Express, by Walter Wick is a perfect Christmas title for all ages! The book is a fabulous search-and-find adventure...each page contains a list of items to find in the full page, colorful picture that goes along with it. This is the eighth title in the search-and-find series - and it's no surprise that this series is a bestselling one! As you search...and find, you'll also be able to see how the life of the toy train that you first discover at the beginning of the book, takes on a life of it's own...is rescued at a yard sale...and brought to life again in a new home. This is the type of book that will grow with your child as well. Youngsters LOVE searching for the items with mom and dad. As they grow older they'll want to try it by themselves, and even older they will discover the discreet, yet fun story that the book tells.
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Winner!

2011-11-19T14:14:00.001-06:00

The winner of a set of Live Clean Baby Sensitive products is:

Comment #250 loriag

Congratulations! Please email me within 72 hours to claim your prize.