Tara's view of the world

aden + anais sleeping bag GIVEAWAY!!

2010-02-08T15:09:00.000-06:00

I've mentioned before that I LOVE aden + anais (you can find proof of that in previous reviews for them HERE, HERE and HERE) so I wanted to share with you all this important information that I received from them...

The CJ Foundations for SIDS released a major study last week that links sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) with low production of serotonin in the brainstem. This breakthrough study could allow doctors and physicians to concretely identify babies at risk for SIDS, the leading cause of death for infants between 1 and 12 months in the United States.

The CJ Foundation would also like to remind parents and caregivers that overheating is a leading risk factor for SIDS, which increases during the cold winter months due to uneducated parents and caregivers who think that cranking the heating is good for their babies.

aden + anais’ proud sponsorship of the CJ Foundation for SIDS has influenced and inspired aden + anais to design products that answer the question: how do we design a product that keeps babies warm in winter months and yet reduces the risk of overheating? aden + anais has the solution with their new cozy sleeping bag.

The cozy sleeping bag consists of four layers of aden + anais’ signature, breathable, muslin cotton in modern, fun prints.

SIDS scares the crap out of me... I remember being absolutely terrified that it would take one of my babies and I remember checking on them frequently in the night just to calm my own fears. My kids are all through that stage now but if you have a new baby I would definitely recommend getting an aden + anais sleeping bag for your little one! Better to be safe than sorry for sure.

We have an aden + anais sleeping bag and Olivia loves it even though she is rapidly growing out of it.

Muslin Sleeping Bags
Mothers around the world have turned to natural muslin to care for their children for countless generations. The aden + anais® sleeping bags brings this lightweight fabric into the 21st century with colorful, stylish prints and an effortless design to keep a night’s rest safe, comfortable, and peaceful. Our cozy collection is available in four layers of muslin to keep baby comfortably warm during cold wintry nights.

I love the muslin fabric. It really is amazing. The best part is that it gets softer and softer with each wash. It is super easy to care for too.

And just because they are so great aden + anais is offering up one of their wonderful sleeping bags to one lucky reader!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN AN ADEN + ANAIS SLEEPING BAG?

~Leave me a comment here telling me which sleeping bag from their site you would like to win.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

~ Subscribe to this blog via email (there is a handy link to do that on my left hand sidebar)

~ Subscribe to this blog via the reader of your choice

~ Follow this blog

~ Add my button to your site

~ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (as many times as you like)

~ Become a Fan of this blog on Facebook

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook or another social networking site of your choosing

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble, digg, tag, bookmark, vote up, thumbs up, favourite, or anything else you can think to do for this site or giveaway (as many as you like- there is a "share" bar at the bottom of this post to make this easier)

~ publicize this giveaway in any way on any site and let me know that you did (ex. adding it to a Mr. Linky on a giveaway site etc.)

~ join the aden + anais mailing list

~ follow aden + anais on twitter

~ become a fan of aden + anais on facebook

This giveaway is open to readers in Canada and the USA. I will choose a winner on February 26 th, 2010.

Winner will be chosen with random.org and notified by email. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will choose a new winner.

Don't forget to enter my other giveaways while you are here:

Win a Fibromyalgia relief pack from Lakota HERE. (ends February 10, open to Canada only)
Win Points of Power by Yolanda Adams HERE. (ends February 15, open to Canada/USA)
Win your choice of product from the Exederm baby skin care line HERE. (ends February 17, open to Canada/USA)
Win DVD's for preschoolers HERE. (ends February 20, open to Canada/USA)
Win Le Baby Hair Gel HERE. (ends February 22, open to Canada/USA)
Win Powerhouse Hit The Deck fitness program HERE. (ends February 22, open to Canada/USA)
Win products to Pamper Yourself HERE. (ends February 24, open to Canada/USA)

Feel the love...

2010-02-07T22:05:00.001-06:00

Weekly Winners- white petals

2010-02-06T21:36:00.001-06:00

My husband gave me flowers this week and my daughter has a bit of a sensory experience with them. You can read about that HERE. I took these pictures during that experience. This has been a week of good pictures but since I have already posted most of them on other blog posts I won't do it again here.

I love flowers :)

You can find more Weekly Winners at I Am Lotus a.k.a. SarcasticMom.com .

Pamper Yourself GIVEAWAY!!

2010-02-06T20:12:00.002-06:00

I have three great products to giveaway today.

Here is the product information from the sponsor:

Giveaway #1 www.sothys-usa.com

SOTHYS Aroma-Sothys Energizing Bath Essences Tablets,Energizing Bath Essences Tablets - Effervescent, playful and revitalizing bath pebbles which enrich the bath with their tonic and energizing fragrance... a particular moment of pleasure and wellness. Price: $26

Giveaway #2 Instant Wrinkle Relief

AminoGenesis Introduces Gone in Sixty Seconds, a Revolutionary New Wrinkle Solution

www.aminogenesis.com

Give us 15 seconds and we will give you 15 years! Gone In 60 Seconds is a powerful formula that activates on contact to visibly erase fine lines and deep wrinkles – in just seconds! So, why put yourself through the expense and hazards of botulinium injections for short term results? A scientific blend of oxygenating peptides, micro-collagen and firming proteins tightens, firms and reduces puffiness all day long. It’s like having a temporary face-lift in a bottle!

FEATURES:

· InstaFirm Protein: An exclusive protein technology that instantly starts to firm skin and plump up wrinkles, creating younger looking skin – within seconds

· OxyPeptide: Naturally derived peptide that is clinically proven to increases skin respiration and oxygenation by as much as 754%

· GABA: Naturally produced in the body to relax muscles, eliminating the need or desire for painful injections

· Micro-Collagen: Delivers a boost of collagen to the help firm the skin

· Patented Delivery System: Advanced patented technology time releases key ingredients all day long

BENEFITS:

· Visibly Firms: Fine Lines and Deep Wrinkles – In Just Seconds!

· Rebuilds: Skin Firmness

· Use Under Make-Up

· No Albumin, No Whitening Effect

· Natural Formulation Does NOT Contain Propylene Glycol, Parabens, Synthetic Colorants, Nor Synthetic Fragrances

· Dermatologist Approved

AminoGenesis products are cruelty free (no animal testing) and do not contain animal by-products.

Usage: Massage a small concentrated amount around the eyes, smile lines, neck area. Allow a few minutes to firm and tone the skin.

regular price: $29.95

Giveaway #3

Introducing LashFood: A Ground-Breaking, All Natural Eyelash Conditioning Stimulator for Fuller, Longer and Stronger Lashes

If Only Brigitte Bardot and Marilyn Monroe Could Have Known…

www.LashFood.com – Retail Value: $129.00

Move over full lips. Eyelashes are the next beauty must-have for 2009. From the pages of magazines to Hollywood’s red carpet, batting full, luxurious lashes is the latest “It” accessory. No matter how many coats of mascara or layers of extensions we apply, it seems like we can never achieve the look without getting the “Tammy Faye Baker” effect. Mascaras and lash extensions are unforgiving on eyelashes, leaving you with dry, brittle, and damaged lashes. LashFood is a new natural conditioning stimulant for thicker, stronger and more beautiful lashes in just 2 to 4 weeks!

“Many women denote their eyes as their best feature,” says Jane Kim, President and Founder of LashFood. “Long, full eyelashes have always symbolized femininity and exudes Hollywood glamour. For great eyelashes, it used to be either you had them, or you didn't. Now, with LashFood we can all have captivating eyes like legendary femme fatale Brigitte Bardot and iconic supermodel Twiggy. At LashFood, we provide consumers with the best eyelash care products to enhance their natural beauty.”

LashFood’s breakthrough natural ingredients, including Biotin an essential vitamin, Arginine a natural amino acid, and herbal extracts, helps promote the natural growth and strength of eyelashes and eyebrows. The result: your lashes become thicker, darker, and longer with this revolutionary conditioner.

How to Use LashFood?

The LashFood applicator is very similar to a liquid eyeliner applicator. One should apply the stimulating serum nightly along the root of the lashes. For faster results, apply the serum in the morning and in the evening. LashFood does not disrupt the daily application of make-up or other skincare routines.

What is in LashFood?
LashFood is formulated with the highest grade all natural ingredients available, and is designed to condition, repair, restore, and create longer healthier and more beautiful eyelashes and eyebrows. LashFood retails for $129.00 and will last up to 5 months.

When Can I Expect to See Results?
One should begin to see the lash line becoming thicker, fuller and healthier looking in just 2 to 4 weeks. LashFood will continue to prove results over time if used on a consistent basis.

Can LashFood be Used with Eyelash Extensions?
LashFood is a natural and water based product designed to be used with natural lashes as well as with eyelash extensions. LashFood can coincide with any daily mascara or eyelash extension product.

I have not personally tried any of these products so I do not have a review for you. Thanks so much to KMR Communications Inc. for sponsoring this giveaway.

Would you like to WIN one of these products?

Just tell me which product you would most like to win! That's it!

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

~Subscribe to this blog via email

~ Subscribe to this blog via the reader of your choice

~ Follow this blog

~ Add my button to your site

~ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (as many times as you like)

~ Become a Fan of my blog on Facebook

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook, MySpace, a forum or any other social networking site of your choosing (as often as you want)

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble, digg, tag, bookmark, vote up, thumbs up, favourite, or anything else you can think to do for this site or giveaway (as many as you like- there is a "share" bar at the bottom of this post to make this easier)

~ publicize this giveaway in any way on any site and let me know that you did (ex. adding it to a Mr. Linky on a giveaway site etc.)

This giveaway is open to readers in Canada and the USA. I will choose a winner on February 24, 2010.

Winner will be chosen with random.org and notified by email so please leave me a way to contact you. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will choose a new winner.

Don't forget to enter my other great giveaways...

Win First Impressions by Michelle Sutton HERE. (ends February 8, open worldwide)
Win a Fibromyalgia relief pack from Lakota HERE. (ends February 10, open to Canada only)
Win Points of Power by Yolanda Adams HERE. (ends February 15, open to Canada/USA)
Win your choice of product from the Exederm baby skin care line HERE. (ends February 17, open to Canada/USA)
Win DVD's for preschoolers HERE. (ends February 20, open to Canada/USA)
Win Le Baby Hair Gel HERE. (ends February 22, open to Canada/USA)
Win Powerhouse Hit The Deck fitness program HERE. (ends February 22, open to Canada/USA)

Le Baby Hair Gel & Powerhouse Hit The Deck GIVEAWAY!!

2010-02-05T20:06:00.000-06:00

I have two great products to giveaway today.

Here is product information from the sponsor:

Giveaway #1

Stylish Tresses for Tots

Introducing Le Baby Inc., Hair Gel Designed for

Babies & Children

www.lebabyinc.com

Well, move over ladies - there is a new class of style trailblazers that are landing on the top of today’s “Best Dressed” lists. But you won’t find them on the red carpet or on the runways. Instead Hollywood’s latest fashion A-listers are at the playgrounds and on playdates. Little tots like Suri Cruise and Kingston Rossdale are being hailed as the next best thing of their generation in terms of style. Celebrity kids are sporting rocker chic Mohawks, bohemian-cool shags and posh bobs causing stylists to acclaim them as today’s hairstyle icons.

“Today's fashionable parents think of their children as extensions of themselves,” says Tami Dimmerman, mother of two and creator of Le Baby Inc., a hypoallergenic hair gel designed especially for babies, kids and anyone with sensitive skin. “Today’s modern kids need to look just as fashionable and stylish as their cool moms and dads. Hairstyles have become a way of self-expression for kids and remind others that they have their own personalities.”

Not Just For Toddlers Tiaras

Le Baby hair gel is a styling gel free of harsh chemicals meant to define wispy curls and tackle unruly after-nap hair. While the concept of baby hairstyling products might seem a little child-beauty-pageant to some, for many moms and dads it’s a must-have diaper bag accessory. From taming those wild fly-aways to smoothing frizzies, Le Baby hair gel works on all hair types and is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin. Whatever your child’s hair type,

Le Baby will make combing and styling a cinch. The unique formulas leave hair shiny, healthy looking and more manageable.

Retail Cost: $9.95

The 411 On Le Baby Hair Gel:

Hypoallergenic No harsh chemicals

No parabens No sulfates

Not tested on animals Fragrance-free

Thickens baby-fine hair Tames frizzies & fly-aways

Moisturizes Softly holds curls

Keeps hairstyles in place Never leaves hair stiff or sticky

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Giveaway #2

www.powerhouseperformancecoaching.com

Available online

Cost” $19.99

Hit The Deck

Trying to lose weight? Short on time?
Looking for cardio and strength training all in one workout? Trouble managing your stress?
Need a convenient workout at home or on the road?

PowerHouse Hit The Deck™ is the answer — one box has it all!

Set the timer, draw your first card, and do as many repetitions as you can. When the timer beeps, draw your next card!

Simple, easy, effective: a cardiovascular AND strength training workout at the same time, as well as an effective tool to combat stress and the Cortisol Crisis™

What can PowerHouse Hit the Deck™ do for you?

· Help you to lose weight, burn fat, and add muscle tone

· Provide cardio AND weight training exercise at the same time

· Expand your ability to handle and recover from stress

· Improve your overall levels of fitness and wellness

· Allow for flexibility - workouts can be any length desired

· Offer variety by providing wide range of effective exercises

· Deliver an excellent workout with no fitness equipment

· Provide a great way to cross-train

· Improve the quality of your sleep

I have not personally tried either of these products so I do not have a review for you. Thanks to KMR Communications Inc. for sponsoring this giveaway.

Would you like to win either of these products?

Just tell me which one you would like to win! That's it.

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

~Subscribe to this blog via email

~ Subscribe to this blog via the reader of your choice

~ Follow this blog

~ Add my button to your site

~ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (as many times as you like)

~ Become a Fan of this blog on Facebook

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook, MySpace, a forum or any other social networking site of your choosing (as often as you want)

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble, digg, tag, bookmark, vote up, thumbs up, favourite, or anything else you can think to do for this site or giveaway (as many as you like- there is a "share" bar at the bottom of this post to make this easier)

~ publicize this giveaway in any way on any site and let me know that you did (ex. adding it to a Mr. Linky on a giveaway site etc.)

This giveaway is open to readers in Canada and the USA. I will choose a winner on February 22, 2010.

Winner will be chosen with random.org and notified by email so please leave me a way to contact you. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will choose a new winner.

Don't forget to enter my other great giveaways...

bye bye petals

2010-02-05T19:45:00.000-06:00

Doug bought me some beautiful flowers the other day but sadly flowers don't last long here in the great white north. The petals started drooping and Olivia asked if she could look at the flowers. She loves flowers and I love watching her enjoy them.

She smelled them and touched them gently and then she pulled off a petal, and then another petal, and another...

and the whole process seemed to fascinate her so much that she just kept going and I just kept taking pictures...

but then all the petals were gone and we were left with this...

which made Olivia a little sad...

but she quickly recovered :). The girl loves flowers, just like her mama.

Princess Olivia

2010-02-05T19:22:00.000-06:00

She's so ladylike :)

Olivia and her headband

2010-02-04T16:51:00.000-06:00

Olivia found this cute little baby headband and she decided to put it on herself. This is slightly amazing because she NEVER lets me put ANYTHING in her hair. I thought it was so cute how she put it on...

Wow do I ever love that face!!

DanActive review

2010-02-03T20:57:00.000-06:00

I was given the chance to try out Danone DanActive probiotic drinks this week. We got a 4-pack of Blueberry flavour drinks to sample.

Here is some more information about DanActive:

A specialized formula
Not all probiotics confer the same benefits —while some promote to improve digestive transit, others can help strengthen your natural defenses, DanActive^® is the only probiotic drink with L. casei Defensis^® and the only one proven to help strengthen your natural defenses as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

A perfectly-sized bottle
DanActive^® tastes so great you may wonder why the folks at Danone didn’t make these bottles bigger. Turns out studies have shown that the 10 billion beneficial bacteria in each bottle of DanActive^® is the amount needed to help strengthen your natural defenses— that’s why it comes in such a perfectly-sized, effective 93mL bottle.

I must admit that I was not impressed with the teeny-tiny bottles but Olivia (my 3 year old daughter) loved them. They were perfect for her tiny hands and she could drink a whole bottle in one sitting. She loved the flavour and would have been happy to consume all 4 bottles if I had let her over the course of the week. The size of the drinks honestly made me wonder if they were worth the price.

I enjoyed the blueberry flavour but the four-packs are also is available in Strawberry, Raspberry, and Cranberry. I preferred the drink very cold... sort of like a small flavour shot.

I can't say that I noticed any real difference in the way I felt over my very short trial run with DanActive... but I assume I would if I continued on drinking one per day as suggested. According to Danone 24 scientific studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of DanActive in strengthening the body's natural defenses.

Overall this product didn't WOW me but it didn't disappoint me either. Our family likely won't be buying them on a regular basis at this point in time but we probably will pick some up occasionally as a treat for Olivia :).

I reviewed this product as part of a BzzCampaign with BzzAgent. They supplied me with a coupon for one free 4-pack of DanActive.

A Deadly Obsession- guest post

2010-02-03T17:31:00.000-06:00

I am happy to welcome Shasher from Shasher's Stories to my blog today to talk about something we ALL need to hear...

Texting and driving.

Millions of people do it every single day!

January 18th on Oprah was a story about those who think they have this cell phone, texting and driving thing down pat. If you are one of them.... trust me when I say.... you DO NOT!

Did you watch that episode of Oprah?

Last week we had a whack of teenagers over in our house, while my husband was teaching - I was watching while they texted each other in the room. In discussion last night with one of the other parents, we found out that it is their major if not only method of communication. If you don't text, you won't reach them. Texting is the new way to communicate. Recent research from Nielsen Media Research indicates that people under age 45 now send and receive 3x's more text messages than calls on their cell phones. And thanks to hot toys like the iPhone that I have, 75 BILLION tiny messages a month light up those tiny screens across America alone! We're also texting multitaskers: A recent survey found that 77% of respondents said they've texted or sent mobile e-mail while driving; 41% while skiing, horseback riding, or biking; 11% during a romantic interlude; and 16% while at a funeral.

"The human brain isn't equipped to concentrate on two things simultaneously," says neuroscientist René Marois, PhD and associate professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. In brain scan studies, Marois found that the prefrontal cortex lights up for a longer time in people performing two mental tasks at the same time. This illustrates how the brain slows down reaction time.

"Despite employing 100 billion neurons to process information at rates as high as 1,000 times a second," Marois says, "the human brain has a crippling inability to do two tasks at once." Small wonder that the American College of Emergency Physicians reports a rise in texting-related emergency room visits. A new British study has found that texting while driving slows reaction time more than being drunk or high. The results can be deadly, as with the California train wreck in September 2008 that involved an engineer who wasn't paying attention because he was busy... texting.

Which brings me to driving while distracted...

Car crashes are the number one killer of teens in the US. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data show that each year, on average, more than 300,000 teenagers are injured in car crashes; nearly 8,000 of them are involved in fatal crashes; and more than 3,500 of them are killed.

Since the Ad Council launched their campaign against drunk driving 25 years ago, Peggy Colin (CEO) says the number of drunk driving fatalities has decreased by 60%. That's GREAT news!! She says the biggest problem today for teens isn't driving while under the influence. It's driving while distracted!

I watched the Oprah episode on driving while distracted... with kleenex in hand! Did you know that if you text and drive, you are 8x's more likely to get into an accident?! That's 4 TIMES MORE than a drunk driver!!!! It's not equal to drinking and driving, it's FOUR TIMES WORSE!

This is a personal service announcement video about the effects of driving while texting, it's not for the faint at heart but it is truth. You must be 18 or older to view it.

We live in the 21st Century people!! The technology for hands-free devices that will not only let you talk hands-free but you can speak your email and it will send, it will read your text to you and so forth is available! It's worth it! It just takes a few seconds to look off the road to kill someone!

I think it's very cool that Ford and Microsoft joined forces to create Sync, a hands-free communication device built right into their ford vehicles but for those of us who aren't in the market for a new car.... other hands-free solutions are out there.

If you're interested... here are some more statistics on texting while driving.

Thanks so much for guest posting on my blog today Shasher!

from one imperfect mom to another

2010-02-03T11:41:00.000-06:00

I recently started a new work-at-home job and I am really enjoying it! I absolutely adore my new boss (she is fabulous... hi boss!). I love the flexibility. I love not having to leave my house to go to work. And since I already love the computer I love that my job is on the computer!

But I must admit I am finding it a little hard to adjust to the whole working-at-home thing... how do you work at home moms do it? Got any tricks you would like to share with me? How do you entertain a three year old while you are trying to work? Do you keep specific hours? What do you do with the constant intteruptions? Do you schedule your household chores or just do them when you get a chance? How do you keep from spending your entire day doing one form of work or another... do you ever have time to just relax? Does working at home part-time make me a work-at-home mom or a stay-at-home mom?

Feel free to give advice on this one.

It seems that most of my work is done after the boys are in bed. And honestly I have no idea how you working moms do it... there is no way I could keep this whole house going AND work a full time job. I can barely keep it together now!!

I reviewed a great book on my book blog yesterday called House Works and I am going to implement a LOT of the amazing advice in it.

I used to be a VERY organized person. Then I had kids. What happened to that girl? My goal this year is to try and get her back. I am a list person so I am going to start with that I think.

My dear friend Becky has known me since my boys were 10 months and 2 years old and she has encouraged me many times by saying that her house was chaotic when her kids were that small and promising me that it DOES get easier as the kids get older... at least in the housework department. And she is so right. The older the kids get the more sane I feel and so the more sane my home is. I'm sure not having post-partum depression anymore also contributes to that feeling. So thank-you Becky for consistently reassuring me that having a VERY imperfect home did not make me a bad mother. I love you.

I wasn't sure if I would but you know what? I am totally loving working again... it has been 7 years since I had a paid job and it is pretty fun getting paid for what I do!! Don't get me wrong I have loved being a stay-at-home mom and it has been a priority for us and of course that has its own rewards... but having a pay-cheque (even a small one) is nice too. :)

And can I just tell all you moms out there who regularly tell me that your homes aren't perfect and your kids aren't perfect and you aren't perfect either that I love you. Thanks. It is always nice to know you aren't the only imperfect one around :)

And just in case you are looking for some very-real moms who are wonderful in their own imperfect ways be sure to check out

5 Minutes for Mom
One Day At A Time
In The Gutter
Sarcastic Mom
Shasher's Stories
Pocket Lint
Stephanie Snowe
Joann's Blog Adventure
Crickl's Nest
Laundromat
With My Hands Full

just to name a few :)

Wordless Wednesday- Olivia

2010-02-03T09:02:00.000-06:00

DVD's for Preschoolers GIVEAWAY!!

2010-02-02T22:47:00.001-06:00

We are not a family who is opposed to TV... we love TV! But we are careful with what we allow the kids to watch. I was recently sent three great DVD's to review with my kids and I have been very pleased with them. We were sent Barney: Please & Thank You, Let's Grow: Lend a Helping Hand, and Thomas & Friends: Splish, Splash, Splosh!.

Olivia's favourite is the Barney DVD.

Product Description (taken from Amazon.com)
Join Barney & Friends™ as they learn the importance of being kind and courteous to others. When Baby Bop™ forgets to say "please” and "thank you", Barney realizes it’s time for a lesson on how magic words can make other people feel good inside. As Baby Bop daydreams about a world without good manners, she realizes that being polite is not only important but it’s easy to do after all.

Even at age 6 Owen is still a big fan of Thomas. Both of my boys adored Thomas the Tank Engine from the time they were itty bitty so when I put the DVD on for Olivia I wasn't too surprised that Owen ended up watching too.

Description from the back of the DVD:

Soak Up the Fun with These Exciting Adventures!

Even when it 's wet outside you can still have plenty of fun, especially when you share your adventures with Thomas & Friends! Grab your galoshes and join the team as they prepare for rainy-day visits and sudsy spills, and then get unstuck from a snowy situation in this collection of stories from the Island of Sodor.

As you can imagine I have watched a multitude of Thomas DVD's since my first son was born 7 years ago but this one is, by far, my favourite. I love the CGI animation!!! It adds an entirely new dynamic to the world of Thomas.

I love the variety on the Let's Grow DVD.

Description from the back of the DVD:

Let's Grow
Helping Parents Teach Preschoolers the Importance of Helping Out

Meet Kelly and Chica, the hosts of TV's The Sunny Side Up Show on the 24-hour preschool channel, Sprout. Join them as they host this special collection of delightful adventures featuring your favorite friends, Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Fireman Sam and Angelina Ballerina as they discover how quickly things can go from squeaky clean to terribly messy. Throughout all the stories and with Kelly and Chica's help, your children will learn that when friends work together, any job can be fun!

We were not familiar with The Sunny Side Up Show or with Fireman Sam before watching this DVD so it was fun to meet some new characters! I appreciated the good messages in each adventure. Olivia has enjoyed watching this DVD several times.

All three of these DVD's are great entertainment for the preschooler in your life!

Thanks so much to Andrea Blain PR for sending me review copies of these DVD's and for sponsoring this giveaway.

Would you like to WIN one of these DVD's?

Just tell me which DVD you would most like to win! That's it!

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

~Subscribe to this blog via email

~ Subscribe to this blog via the reader of your choice

~ Follow this blog

~ Add my button to your site

~ Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway (as many times as you like)

~ Become a Fan of my blog on Facebook

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook, MySpace, a forum or any other social networking site of your choosing (as often as you want)

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble, digg, tag, bookmark, vote up, thumbs up, favourite, or anything else you can think to do for this site or giveaway (as many as you like- there is a "share" bar at the bottom of this post to make this easier)

~ publicize this giveaway in any way on any site and let me know that you did (ex. adding it to a Mr. Linky on a giveaway site etc.)

This giveaway is open to readers in Canada and the USA. I will choose a winner on February 20, 2010.

Winner will be chosen with random.org and notified by email so please leave me a way to contact you. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will choose a new winner.

Don't forget to enter my other great giveaways...

quick update

2010-02-02T21:51:00.000-06:00

Aiden had a good day today! He told me that he wasn't mean to anyone. I hope it is the start of a new trend :)

I talked to Aiden's special needs worker today and she is going to meet with the school on Thursday and try and help them come up with some strategies to help Aiden with his anger and frustration. It is nice to be able to go to someone who knows what she is doing.

I am wiped right out though... I am hoping for an early night tonight.

Flowers for Valentine's Day

2010-02-02T14:55:00.001-06:00

Valentine's Day is coming up and I just thought I would remind all you men out there that you can send flowers in Canada and the USA and around the world super easily so there is absolutely no excuse not to do something lovely for the woman you love!

Canada Flowers has an excellent selection of beautiful flowers starting at about $35. So go for it! Send flowers to the one you love this Valentine's day.

Aiden

2010-02-01T20:11:00.000-06:00

Things with Aiden are not going well.

He has been bullying other kids at school. I spent an hour on the phone with the vice-principal tonight. He is on the road to expulsion.

She was very nice about it and said they would take into account his Autism/ADHD but even if you have special needs it doesn't mean you can hit other kids. Which we obviously agree with. I told her that things are a lot better now than they were a year ago- but they are still not good. She was asking me for suggestions as to how to help him.

I don't know what to tell her.

I am so so so sad.

This is not a surprise. We knew there were problems- there have always been problems with Aiden's anger.

Aiden is meeting with his mental health worker again soon and she has some ideas to help him with impulse control.

I've always thought it is a bit ironic that everytime we go to the special needs centre I see all sorts of pamphlets and posters saying things like "What to do if your child is being bullied" but none that say "what to do if your 7 year old child IS the bully".

And yes, he always has consequences for his actions and yes, he knows it is wrong. But in that moment when someone ticks him off he just loses it.

I don't want any advice right now ok? I just would like prayers.

thanks.

Exederm review & GIVEAWAY!!

2010-02-01T15:09:00.000-06:00

My entire family had incredibly sensitive skin and so far 4 out of 5 of us suffer with eczema at least some of the time. When I was given the opportunity to review the baby care line from Exederm I was more than happy to try it out!

Here is some information from the sponsor:

20% of American children will suffer from eczema or dermatitis at some point and many more with sensitive skin will have adverse reactions to unnecessary chemicals or allergens found in well known skin care brands.

The new Exederm children’s line was launched in April and was just honored by The National Eczema Association with 5 individual Seal of Acceptance awards in acknowledgement of our ultra sensitive formulations-receiving a 5 out of 5 rating, the highest rating available.

Our children’s line contains:
No Fragrance
No Color or dyes
No Paraben** Notes
No Lanolin
No Sodium Laureth Sulfate
No Phthalates
No Nut Oils

We use the mildest ingredients available. You can learn more about the products by visiting http://www.Exederm.com and the recent “Seal of Acceptance” by the
National Eczema Association by visiting http://www.easeeczema.org/product_direc ... oducts.htm

I have been using the products with all three of my kids daily for the past 2 weeks. I absolutely love the Hydrating baby lotion and the Intensive Moisture Cream. I realize none of my kids are technically babies but we've been using various baby lotions since Aiden was born because his skin just can't handle the other stuff. Both of these lotions are very nice- no greasy residue, no icky scents- just nice clean lotions. They have also done a great job in relieving some of the problem spots on the kids.

The body wash is great and comes in a very handy-to-use hand pump. None of the kids ended up with even the slightest irritation from this body wash. We used the shampoo as well but we did not receive the conditioner and we ended up having to stop using the shampoo because it left the kids' hair not-so-nice. I think it would have worked great with the conditioner though.

The Exederm Flare Control anti-itch cream is great. It definitely helped to relieve some of the itchiness and we will be continuing to use it regularly.

The only product we really didn't have much use for was the soothing baby oil. My kids all hate the feeling of oily skin so I just couldn't get them to use it! Obviously if they were babies I wouldn't have had this problem :)

This post was written as part of a program for Family Review Network and Exederm, who provided the products for this review & giveaway.

Would you like to WIN your choice of product from the Exederm baby line?

Just tell me which product you would most like to win! That's it!

FOR EXTRA ENTRIES

~Subscribe to this blog via email

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~ Add my button to your site

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~ Share this giveaway on Facebook, MySpace, a forum or any other social networking site of your choosing (as often as you want)

~ email a couple friends about this giveaway and let me know that you did

~ stumble, digg, tag, bookmark, vote up, thumbs up, favourite, or anything else you can think to do for this site or giveaway (as many as you like- there is a "share" bar at the bottom of this post to make this easier)

~ publicize this giveaway in any way on any site and let me know that you did (ex. adding it to a Mr. Linky on a giveaway site etc.)

This giveaway is open to readers in Canada and the USA. I will choose a winner on February 17, 2010.

Winner will be chosen with random.org and notified by email so please leave me a way to contact you. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to my email or I will choose a new winner.

Don't forget to enter my other great giveaways...

Olivia's soup

2010-01-31T23:57:00.000-06:00

So tonight I was talking to my beloved Aunt on the phone and I thought my daughter was playing with her daddy downstairs.

I was wrong.

Apparently she was making me "soup" in the kitchen...

She looked so proud of herself and so darn cute doing it that I just grabbed the camera and let her carry on "cooking". She had a fascinating array of ingredients including crackers, mini-marshmallows, popcorn, and ranch seasoning.

After a few minutes of "soup" she turned it into a "magic potion"...

How can you get mad at a face like that? :)

Weekly Winners- contrast

2010-01-31T08:47:00.000-06:00

You can find more Weekly Winners at SarcasticMom.com.

Doug's owie

2010-01-30T12:14:00.000-06:00

We had one of the boys' friends over for a playdate yesterday afternoon because it was a PD day (no school). Doug took the three boys swimming in the afternoon to help with the excess of energy. So my poor husband had three 6 & 7 year old boys attacking him in the pool and at one point was trying to disentangle himself from them and ended up getting his face mashed into the bottom of the pool.

Ouch.

He got TEN stitches. This is what it looked like when he got home from the hospital...

And this is what it looks like this morning.

Poor guy.

Canada Flowers contest

2010-01-29T16:26:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to mention that the FREE FLOWERS FOR A YEAR contest at Canada flowers is ending soon! I can't tell you how much I would love to be able to send flowers for free all year long :)

Here are the details:

Canada Flowers Become a fan of theirs on Facebook and share the page with your friends and you will be entered into the FREE Flowers for a Year Giveaway, as a Thank You for being a fan. Contest ends January 31st, 2010 @ midnight! See contest rules on the discussion page...

Travel Insurance - Guest post

2010-01-29T16:08:00.000-06:00

I would like to welcome my friend Shan (aka the Travel Queen) who blogs at Canada Travels who has agreed to guest post here today. Thanks Shan!

Single Trip or Annual Plan — which is best?

I used to work in a credit union and used to purchase out of country insurance through their cooperative insurance provider. Right before each trip, I’d take out a plan for that particular trip. It only took me a couple years to smarten up! Since I’m a frequent traveler to the US (3-4 trips to the US a year on average)… which plan do you think would have been best for me? It would have been nice if my co-workers would have suggested the annual family plan. Better yet, it would have been nice if I had put more thought into it myself…. think of the money I would have saved?!

An annual travel insurance policy or (multi trip annual plan) is the best option for frequent travelers.

If you made more than one trip this year, an annual plan offers comprehensive coverage at a reasonable cost. It protects you and your family for an unlimited number of trips during a period of twelve months. There is a wide choice of maximum number of days available on the market and an annual plan may be extended in case of longer absences. I typically purchases one that allows me to be in the US (or other nations) for at least 2 weeks and if the holiday is extended, I can simply phone up and pay for an extension.

In some cases, an annual plan may also include trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. The benefits of cancellation insurance are subject to a maximum of up to $3,000 per insured person per covered trips and $5,000 per year for trip interruption, subject to a maximum of $5,000 per insured person per trips. What if this amount is insufficient? You can simply request a higher amount of coverage for your trip cancellation and interruption.

What about baggage insurance? The basic rate includes basic coverage of $500. You can always increase it to properly protect your belongings. For example, if you are traveling with your golf bag (hubby’s happy he can finally do this since our kids are out of the stroller age) or other valuable items, you can increase your coverage for baggage insurance to protect it at its fair value and therefore for the trip.

A Multi trip annual plan is the most practical and economical travel insurance coverage. Benefits such as trip cancellation / trip interruption, baggage, can easily be adapted for every trip you make in the year. There are several products available to you, an expert in the field can recommend the best program adapted to your needs and your budget.

Not all insurance companies are alike. Shop around! The most expensive plan does not necessarily mean the best and likewise, the cheapest isn’t always the way to save money.

You put a lot of time and effort into getting the right life insurance policy right?! You should put the same effort into getting the right travel insurance policy.

Be sure to visit Shan at Canada Travels blog for more great travel tips and advice!

YooHoo & Friends

2010-01-28T18:53:00.000-06:00

We were recently sent some adorable little creatures from YooHoo & Friends to review. My daughter absolutely adores them. Here is some information about YooHoo & Friends that I received from the publicist...

"Allow me to introduce you to the line of plush characters with a cuddly countenance and big eyes no plush-loving kid or collector can resist. Called YooHoo & Friends™ by Aurora World Inc. (www.auroragift.com), the company's number one selling plush product line can be found in thousands of retailers across the nation, and online at http://shop.auroragift.com.

With more than 50 styles in the line, you'll see why boys and girls (geared to ages 5-12) are obsessed with the lovable line of fun plush characters. There are a variety of sizes and themes (i.e.: Valentine’s, Spring/Easter, Halloween, Holidays, Birthdays, Graduation) with a design for just about anyone. Aurora will introduce many new YooHoo & Friends throughout next year but look for the Beaver, Yellow Tiger, Jaban Rhinoceros and Japanese Macque (five and eight inches) to kick off 2010 introductions. They join the Scarlet Macaw, Barbary Lion, Iberian Lynx, Platypus and a host of other characters.

Even better, YooHoo & Friends teach kids about endangered species from around the globe. There's a corresponding free, interactive web site (no annoying activation codes required) http://www.yoohoofriends.com that teaches about the animals (on which the YooHoo & Friends line of characters are based) in their natural habitats; as well as a host of games, desktop wallpapers, coloring sheets and more -- the web site makes learning about these animals engaging and fun. Each plush piece makes a fun sound when squeezed."

My sons were not as interested in the actual toys but they did like the website. Aiden (age 7) told me he thought the animals were "cute but made for girls". But when I asked him what he thought about the website he said it was "cool". Owen (age 6) told me he liked the "stuffies" and thought it was cool that they "talked". He also liked the website.

Olivia (age 3) LOVES the toys... but is too young to play on the website. She has adopted the stuffies and has no intention of sharing them with anyone.

I like the educational aspect of YooHoo & Friends. I think it is great that they are based on endangered animals. The website is quite easy to navigate and completely kid-friendly. There is a lot kids can do on the site- raising their chosen pet, decorating its room, playing games and more.

Be sure to check out YooHoo & Friends!

I heart Jonas DVD review

2010-01-28T15:48:00.000-06:00

Information on the DVD taken from DisneyDVD.com.

Crushin' on JONAS? Get ready to experience the lovable antics of three of the world's most famous musicians with 7 specially selected episodes of the hit Disney Channel Original Series in I HEART JONAS.
Watch and see how Joe reacts when he discovers that Stella has a date with another guy, and check out what happens when the tables are turned and a struggling young actress makes a play for Joe. Plus, with the never-before-seen DVD feature, "You've Just Been JoBro'd! -- Surprising Jordin Sparks," I HEART JONAS is a must-have for any Jonas Brothers fan!

MY REVIEW

Well... I'm not exactly "crushing" on Jonas but this DVD was cute. The show itself is very family friendly and not nearly as annoying as some teen programming. It actually reminded me a little of the classic "Monkees" TV show from years ago. The characters are quite funny and totally kid-safe. The bonus features on the DVD were fun- I found the "You've Just Been JoBro'd!" feature pretty funny. If you have kids who are into the Jonas brothers than this is a great choice for you!

Wordless Wednesday- gaming

2010-01-27T15:41:00.000-06:00