A MotherHood Experience

GlassDharma Glass Straws Review & Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

We get them with our fast food meals, at corner stores and just about anywhere that sells beverages - plastic straws. They seem harmless enough, after all they are used to drink almost anything and can be easily disposed into the garbage, or can they? Did you know hundreds upon thousands of plastic straws pollute our oceans, lakes, rivers and environments every single year.

Plastic takes anywhere from 500 to 1000 years to break down in the environment and often animals will mistake it for food, swallow it with painful and often deadly results. Think about this happening over and over for the next 15-20 years, what kind of environment are we leaving for our children and what kind of example are we setting showing them that it's OK to just "throw it away". Straws may seem like a small environmental problem but if you look at those numbers, it adds up and it makes sense to want to make a change.

Plastic has gotten a bad rap lately not only for the pollution it causes to the environment but also the dangers of the chemical BPA to our health when using plastics that may contain it including drinking straws. I doubt every one of the plastic straws people use daily are BPA free.

With so many reasons to say "no to plastic", people are switching from the traditional plastic straw to Eco-friendly, cleaner glass straws. I have always thought glass straws were a great idea as they are reusable but my only concern was how durable they are and how long would they last.

10-year Lampwork veteran, David Leonhardt is the creator of GlassDharma - the glass drinking straw. His idea came when he was working at a local glass shop and noticed the owner selling glass straws. Never hearing of these before he figured it was a great way to help reduce at least one misuse of plastic in our society.

Why use glass straws:

Glass straws are completely non-toxic
Each use of a glass straw is one less plastic straw in a landfill
Glass straws save money and replace thousands of plastic straws
Using glass drinking straws adds a feeling of elegance
Glass straws can be used in hot or cold beverages so they are great for any time of year!

GlassDharma glass drinking straws are made of borosilicate tubing, the strongest glass commercially available which means they have spared no expense in bringing us the strongest, most durable drinking straw possible. GlassDharma glass drinking straws are an elegant and Eco-friendly addition to your kitchenware. GlassDharma glass drinking straws are guaranteed for life, if you happen to have a problem with your purchase you can simply contact their friendly customer service any time.

After learning more about glass straws, how they are made and the benefits from them we were happy to review a set of GlassDharma drinking straws for ourselves. My better half hates anything plastic when it comes to eating or drinking. He won't use plastic plates, cups, utensils or - you guessed it, straws! GlassDharma drinking straws are perfect as they also add elegance to any drink. I thought maybe we would "taste the glass" but you can't in fact I find the taste of my drinks better through a glass straw than plastic too.

Overall I think these are a great investment for any family and they would make a lovely gift as you can have them etched for a more personal touch too!

GlassDharma drinking straws Simple elegance series comes in four diameters - 14mm bubble tea, 12mm smoothie, 9.5mm ice tea and 7mm sipper. Also available is the Simple Elegance "Shorty" - at a 6.25" length, perfect for kids or smaller drinking glasses like a tumbler. Glass straws can be purchased individually or in sets on the GlassDharma website.

Get in on the glass-talk and follow @GlassDharma on Twitter and Like GlassDharma on Facebook!

Win it!

GlassDharma wants to help make your world a little greener! One lucky A Motherhood Experience reader has the chance to win a $25 gift certificate to GlassDharma! Simply fill in the rafflecopter ballot below to enter!

Giveaway open to US and Canadian residents 18 years and older only. Entrants must provide valid email address for contact purposes. Giveaway begins February 3rd 2012 and ends February 10th, 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alyssa

Discloser: Review written by AmE on behalf of GlassDharma. We received complimentary product for review purposes. Giveaway prize sponsored by GlassDharma. Opinions and comments are those of AmE.

GroundHog Day

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:14:00 +0000

Happy Groundhog Day 2012 - Well our Canadian ground hogs "Wiarton Willie" and "Shubenacadie Sam" failed to see their shadows and according to them winter will be a short one. American Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow & we have 6 more weeks of winter according to the National Post.

You know I didn't even know there were different variations of the Groundhog. Kind of hard to pronounce the American ones name, why couldn't they have named him something more groundhog-ish.

Anyway so my not-so favorite season will be longer than expected according to the US version because a groundhog said so.

Not exactly the news we were hoping for, I think I'll stick with the Canadian prediction. After all, it's two against one!

Either way - have a happy day!

Note: Thanks @hatchikin for pointing out the various groundhog versions out there ;)

- Alyssa -

*Post written by AME for entertainment purposes. All opinions are honest and our own*

Clever ways of saying I Love You

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I suppose you can say I have been in more of a love mood lately. I thought I would share an article I wrote back in 2009, I haven't ever published it on here but digging back into my files I found this. Clever ways to say I love you without saying I love you, just in time for the most romantic day of the year.

Love can be a wonderful feeling but it can also fade without proper maintenance with the little things like letting your partner know just how much they mean to you. Besides they are the air that you breathe, the wine that you drink and so on. Traditionally you can speak it out to your love by saying those famous three words "I love you" but as nice as it is to hear there are more creative ways to get your message across.

These ways don't always have to cost you money like candy, flowers or lavish gifts either. As nice and thoughtful as the material stuff can be, there are clever non-expensive ways to let him or her know your true love reigns for them!

Leaving a note on the dash of the car or in your loved ones pocket to start off their day with a smile. Random calls or even leaving a nice voicemail can brighten a loved ones day. Call them during a break or lunch from work just because you are thinking about them. Leave a voice message. I said A voice message, more than one may have someone worried about you ;).

Surprise lunches can be a romantic way to show them you love them. Bring a quick lunch, a mix of their favorite food and drink along with some music if your love needs to get back to work, thoughtfulness lets them know you love them.
Use technology by sending them love notes or poems via email. You can also quickly make a dedication on FaceBook or Twitter with poems, fond memories and reasons why they are your number one. A simple text message can add a little skip to your partners walk. If you blog, write a post about them. Let the world know what makes the stars shine when they are around.

A romantic, well thought dinner for two featuring their favorite meal after a long days work topped with a warm bath followed by a massage is a good way to end a day just because. Most couples these days are too tired to do this one on a regular basis but mark a special date once a month maybe the two of you could go all out for one night!

I'm not saying obsess about your significant other, you can do all of the above all the time if you want but really, it's nice to feel appreciated once in a while isn't it? You can show your one and only how much you care also by doing everyday things to show appreciation. Even if its the small things like making sure he/she is out the door on time in the morning to cuddling them at night to let them know you can't fall asleep without them beside you. Romance and showing love doesn't need to be saved for valentines day or a hallmark celebration.

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME. All opinions are honest and those of our own*

Wordless Wednesday - Angels

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:16:00 +0000

When they are asleep...

These are moments we cherish while we can xox

Alyssa

Discloser: Post and images by AME

An interest in Pinterest

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

I've always been one to at least try the latest trends when it comes to social media online. Back in the day I even gave MySpace a chance, even though of course it didn't last very long until something way better came by.

Here we are over ten years later with handfuls of different social media websites to join and be a part of. Places online we can meet friends and share common interests, pictures and videos. Facebook and Twitter both blew up into something they had never imagined and now we have Pinterest.

For weeks I saw people on Twitter and Facebook raving about this Pinterest site. I had no idea what I was getting myself into except that "it's addictive". I signed up when a friend of mine sent me an invite to join up, it's fun from what I have learned my short time being a member.

I'm still not entirely sure how it is supposed to work but you "pin" your interests by community uploaded images. You can share your interests by uploading your own pinterests to your customized boards, repin what your friends have pinned and so on. I have played with it for a couple of weeks now and it's quite fun!

Here are some fun things I found while surfing around Pinterest lately:

Are you on Pinterest? If you want to see more of my boards please visit my Pinterest Page! Do you want an invite? Let me know in the comments below and come join the fun!

Happy pinning!

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME. Not sponsored or affiliated with Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter except for using them as social media tools. All opinions are honest and those of AME*

I'm a 2012 #KinderMom!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

In August 2011 I had the opportunity to be a KinderMom, an ambassador of the chocolate-egg treat through Mom Central Canada. We had such a great time as we discussed making time to play and shared our Kinder moments along with some insider info about the re-launch of Kinder Surprise in Canada. Same great chocolate but toys bigger and better than ever!

I am proud to announce that Mom Central Canada and Kinder Canada have teamed up once again to bring the KinderMom program back for 2012 and I have been chosen among the many talented bloggers who applied to represent Kinder Canada as a 2012 KinderMom!

Be sure to check out and like the Kinder Canada Facebook page - always something going on there from great conversation and news to info and the odd surprise thrown in between ;)

If you are on Twitter follow me @AMotherhoodBlog and look for hashtag #KinderMom on all my Kinder-related tweets the next few months!

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME. I have been asked to participate in the #KinderMom program by MomCentral Canada on behalf of Kinder Canada. We will be receiving complimentary product and gift cards as a thank you for participating. All opinions are honest and those of AME*

Natures Extracts Wrinkle Repair Creme by SkinFix

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:17:00 +0000

The month has flown by super fast and we are already on our third and final SkinFix feature and giveaways! Previously we took a look at the SkinFix Diaper Rash Paste and the SkinFix Lip Repair balm, congratulations to both winners of those giveaways by the way!

This week we are looking at something for women around my age and up, wrinkle cream. Yes, I know I'm only 30 but it's never a bad idea to begin taking care of your skin. Not only do wrinkle creams prevent premature lines but also protects your skin against the daily elements by using a moisturizer on your face and neck.

I have used a few different kinds before so I was excited to take a look at Natures Extracts Wrinkle Repair Creme by SkinFix.

Naturally derived oils and botanical from the earth and sea instantly penetrate the skin to help reduce the look of lines, wrinkles and uneven-tone to a smoother, supple more radiant YOU.

I decided to feature this product last because I had a feeling it would take a little while before noticing any results. It is thick so a little goes a long way. It has a non-greasy formula so it's great to use either in the morning or at night (or both!). It has a nice scent to it, nothing strong and it applies well. I used it mornings and evenings as part of my routine and after a couple of weeks use I noticed a change in my skin texture and tone. It's winter so my skin can be very dry and bland, the Natures Extracts Wrinkle Repair Creme by SkinFix helps reduce this by a lot!

You can purchase a 30g jar for $29.99 online at www.skinfix.ca.
Follow @SkinFixInc on Twitter and Like SkinFixInc on Facebook!

Win it!

SkinFix wants to help bring radiance to you this winter, one lucky A Motherhood Experience reader has the chance to win Natures Extracts Wrinkle Repair Creme by SkinFix to try out for themselves!

Simply fill out the RaffleCopter ballot below to be eligible to win! Must be a Canadian resident 18 years or older to participate in AME giveaways. Please see our rules section for more info.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Alyssa*

*Post written by AME on behalf of SkinFix. Received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are honest and those of AME.*

Hasbro and Family Literacy Day

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Today January 27th, is Family Literacy Day. A special national day created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literary activities as a family.

Hasbro Canada has partnered up with ABC Life Literacy Canada in support of Family Literacy day. Board games such as Monopoly, Scrabble and The Game of Life are wonderful ways to teach reading and number skills while having fun as a family. I remember playing the Game of Life with my brother and parents growing up. I thought it was neat how you spun the wheel (kind of like wheel of fortune) and went through the board which represented stages of life from marriage until retirement. I definitely want to get this game for our family in the future.

Since it happens to be a PD day here as well as Family Literacy Day, I think it's a great opportunity to turn off the tv for the afternoon and just read or maybe play one of our kid friendly games. We have so many books and to choose from in our library downstairs!

For more info about family literacy day visit www.familyliteracy.ca.

What do you do to get your family reading?

Alyssa

*Post written by AME on behalf of Hasbro for Family Literacy Day. All opinions are honest and those of AME*

Potty training: He's finally getting it!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Not my bathroom.

Potty training has not been an easy task for my little guy. We have been trying to teach him pretty much since just before he turned 3. He's about to turn four in March and insists he's a "big boy" and I think we are both getting tired of him having to wear a diaper just in case. He will use the toilet with help to go pee but he still has one problem - he won't poop in the toilet and I don't exactly know why.

No matter the bribes with goodies and treats, pleads & guesses he would find a way to get around it. During the day he would simply just go in his pants, diaper or not. He would go in the bath, really gross for everyone. Even after bath with an attempt to sit him on the toilet he would do it in the clean diaper that was meant for accidents overnight. It felt like a never ending cycle.

My motherly instinct tells me he is ready but something is holding him back. Confidence maybe? Maybe he has a fear of leaving the comfort zone of wearing his diaper. For the past two weeks it's been dirty laundry load after load of Little guys dirty duds as we tried again. This time more determined than before.

No luck with that. He kept going down the same path. Tonight he took a step forward. He made progress which made both him and I very proud. During bath he attempted to do the deed in the tub and I caught him mid-face making!

I plucked him out of the tub and sat him on the toilet seat to try, hoping that this time could be it. He didn't want to, he even said "no thank you!". He started fidgeting and playing around with items on a shelf beside the toilet seat instead.

Then something caught his attention, a tube of baby lotion. We usually put lotion on after a bath. He said "put it on?" and a light bulb went off! Desperate, I told him I'd only put the cream on if he did a poop in the toilet first. I thought to myself "he's not going to buy this one mom".

To my surprise he sighed, as if he had to think about it or something and then it happened. His little face became tight, turning red he grunted and he finally did it! His eyes widened and a huge smile spread across his proud face. "Look! It's in dere!" he yelled out as he flushed his business away.

We were both so proud, the look on his face was just priceless. He gave me a big two thumbs up and kept repeating how he "pooped in da tow-yet!".

Now, as happy as we are with the progress, it's not over yet. It's going to take some time before he gets it completely but at least we are on the right path and making progress! A sigh of relief is much needed!

Not the most exciting milestone but a milestone and all part of having kids right? Let's hope the big boy continues with great success on his journey with potty training!

My little big boy :)

Next step is getting him to remember when he has to go!

Share some of your potty training adventures in the comments below. Who knows, maybe I could use your method! ;)

Alyssa

*Post written by AME based on actual events. Opinions are honest and those of AME*

Update: Jr Kindergarten registration, Maybe?

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:29:00 +0000

A couple of days ago I was worried about our son when it came down to registering him for junior kindergarten. The day after I posted that I received a phone call from the school principal. I don't think he reads my blog but it was really weird because he was calling regarding registering D for Jr K! Don't worry, he's super nice.

He said that K keeps talking about her little brother and they were wondering if we thought he was ready to be registered for school in the fall. I felt my heart race, this was getting too real but then I took a deep breath. I explained basically what my post said to him, trying not to sound like a lunatic.

He told me not to worry, after his fourth birthday we can register him and he will arrange to meet us to see where D would come in. He said if it's necessary D can be on a special program of half days to help him get adjusted to going to school for the first time, things like that. It helped a lot, I have been worried about the whole school thing forever. Partially because he's my youngest, my last baby and it's hard to see him getting bigger but partially because I'm not sure if he's ready.

Maybe by seeing him in the actual setting will give us the answers we need. He is growing every day and changes will be had between now and the time he goes off to Jr K. I'm happy I know I have the support of the school and also a good friend of mine who talked me through with her knowledge about stuff like this. Thank you!

If all goes well we just may be registering little guy for Jr Kindergarten in the fall! I can't believe I just typed that.

Alyssa

*Post written by AME based on actual events. All opinions are honest and those of AME.*

PTPA Winner - LuckyKatTv.com

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

I have been part of the PTPA community for a couple of months now both as a tester and a PTPA blogaholic, it's so fun being part of a great group of parents just like me and having the chance to test and evaluate some wonderful family friendly products.

Before Christmas time I had the opportunity to evaluate a brand new kids edutainment website called LuckyKat TV, with a month testing it out as a full-fledged member. We are proud to announce that LuckyKatTv.com has been given the PTPA seal of approval!

Check out my post on PTPA Blogaholics for our full review and what we think of this new edutainment website - LuckyKatTv.com!

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME as a member of PTPA. We received one month free on LuckyKatTv.com for evaluation purposes. All opinions are honest and those of AME*

Jr Kindergarten registration - Maybe?

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:35:00 +0000

Little D is turning four in March and it has me kind of questioning what to do even though I know deep down what I am going to end up doing in the long run.

I received a letter in K's school bag regarding Jr and Sr Kindergarten registration, D is of age to be registered for Jr K but I think at the moment he is not ready for school. He's not ready to learn without one of us there and I think he will be starting when he's five as opposed to four. He has been doing exceptionally well, he hasn't been sick or showing any real signs for concern but I want to make sure I'm making the right decision based on signs he shows here at home like not being potty trained for one (that's a whole other post coming). He has a doctors appointment in February where I plan to discuss this further and see what she feels about his development.

For those of you who are new to my blog, D was born premature by 13 weeks. Long story short he had complications with 24 hours of his birth which affected his development of his gross motor skills as a young baby. He achieved all his milestones but much later than an average baby, he seemed to have caught up until lately. More of that here.

We had been warned of delays throughout his development when they found out about the complications, it could have been worse but I can't make him do something he's not ready for like school without knowing, he's going to be ok. One year can make a difference, right?

If he needs to go back to see therapists and specialists at the treatment center then so be it, whatever it takes to help my little boy thrive as it always has been since the moment he was born. I even suggested the idea of the "Step into Kindergarten" program to hubby who thinks its a good idea to get him used to the idea once the time officially comes. That's a great program they started at K's school during the summer months before school begins. Kids, teachers and parents get together in the classroom environment to prep the kids for the first day of school! I'll be mentioning this to the doctor. It's not that I want to rush to send him off to school, I just don't want him missing out on any opportunities because I have a fear he may not be ready. The best way to find out is to see what his Doctor says and go from there.

He does know what school is kind of, he sees his sister get on and off the bus and he often says "I go school too?". I always reply with an enthusiastic "Soon buddy!". I can't wait to tell him "Yes!" - his eyes light up every time that big yellow bus comes down the street. He will be on it, when he's ready. Maybe I am just worrying too much because my miracle baby is growing up.

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME based on actual events. Opinions are honest and those of AME.*

You're NOT invited!

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:21:00 +0000

When a child is invited to a birthday party by their peers it means a lot to them. It means a lot because typically kids choose specific classmates to attend -usually besties. That's what I thought was going on at first when K received her first party invite.

Friday night K got off the bus and ran up to me in sheer delight "Molly invited me to her party at Cosmic Adventure!"

I have never been to Cosmic Adventure for a birthday party before but I can imagine a bunch of sugared up, hyper kids running around screaming for two and half hours. I would have said yes in a heart beat - but Molly hasn't left the greatest impression on our family.

Molly - (who's name has been changed for this post) is a girl in K's class who has been picking on her on and off since grade 1. Not just name calling and taunting but physical too. She will try to provoke other kids to not play with K at recess, things like that. In the fall she threw K to the ground by her ponytail, because she was angry K didn't do what she was told to do by this child among other things. We have spoken to the school who has spoken to her mother etc and etc until we were blue in the face, my kid is far from perfect but Molly clearly had it out for K. Our solution to this has been telling K to not react and keep her distance, if it gets too much tell an adult.

When I saw the invitation I debated whether or not I really wanted to get K's hopes up and not to mention spend my time for a child who has caused my child misery.

I know that sounds a bit harsh but as the mother of the child being picked on, I see this child causing mine more bad than good. I told K "we'll see" until I decided. I didn't want to answer right then and there so I waited, I wanted to see if this kid was being genuine.

All weekend K ranted and raved about Molly, how she changed and how excited she was to celebrate her birthday with her. She was even excited to go to school Monday morning, so she could see Molly and play at recess.

Today I expected my typical jolly K to come trotting off the bus. Instead I got a sad little girl with a scrape on her face who looked like she had been crying most of the afternoon. Here we go again, Molly almost had us fooled.

Obviously concerned, I immediately asked what happened. She told me Molly threw ice at her face and when she told on her, Molly said she wasn't invited to her party at Cosmic Adventure anymore. All because K did not want to obey this girl, again. K said she was so upset she felt sick to her stomach.

We chatted a little when we got home and she told me after being treated like that even if she apologizes, she wasn't interested in going to celebrate Molly's birthday with her anymore. I gave her the final decision on that one and I don't blame her for making that choice. Enough is enough.

She was hurt by the fact that Molly turned vicious once again and the fact the party invitation was revoked. To her, that invite meant friendship and today she did not show it according to K.

It was delt with by the school, several teachers and the principal stepped in on this one. It's not the first time Molly has done something like this to K and other students in her class.
K does have some good friends at school, ones shes known since preschool. They do argue from time to time like typical kids do but when it comes down to serious stuff like today when K was really hurt, they back her up and they are there for her. She named a couple of girls who she mentioned before, running to help her once again defend herself against Molly. She's starting to notice what a real friend should be.

I was worried about letting K down in the first place over the silly birthday party but it looks like this kid took care of that one on their own. I feel bad because it happened like that, K was so happy. I know I'm not always right but I had a feeling about this and I somehow knew it would result in "You're not invited!"

This may be the first time, but like I told K it probably won't be the last. She will meet many Molly's in her life, it's just up to her to be the better person and walk away. That true best friend will come someday and when he or she does, they will be inviting her to that party. I'm proud shes so strong.

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME and is based on actual events. All opinions are honest and those of AME.*

Egg Farmers of Canada - Egg Timer App

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Even though eggs have been a food I have been making on my own since I was a kid, I can never seem to get them right unless I fry them or boil them. That gets boring after a while and I want to know how to make other types of delicious recipes using eggs that are simple and healthy for the whole family, perfect every time.

As you know eggs are not just a breakfast food. We often enjoy a good "Breakfast for dinner" which is, what you would have for breakfast (eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast etc) for dinner in the evening. To me, as long as its healthy food is food and everyone enjoys it, it's a meal.

When I was asked to take a look at the new Egg Timer app by Egg Farmers of Canada I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn a few new tips for in the kitchen when it comes to one of our favourite, quick healthy foods.

The Egg timer app is free, you can download it from iTunes or for Android. I was happy about that because I was able to download this app onto my iPhone and onto new tablet to try it out!

The Get Cracking Egg Timer is a helpful tool for anyone in the kitchen. It's not only a fool-proof cooking egg timer, but it's also packed with helpful tips, recipes and how-to videos so that you can make perfect eggs every time. Definitely a keeper on my devices, I can always use some guidance no matter what I'm cooking :-)

The App lets you:

Choose how you like your eggs - boiled, poached, scrambled or fried
Customize your cooking time based on the size of your eggs and texture you enjoy eating.
Explore hundreds of recipes from Egg Farmers of Canada
Search recipes by meal type or preparation style
Discover plenty of handy tips and advice to help master the art of the perfect egg!

One of my favourite ways to eat eggs is boiled. I actually learned that for boiled eggs your supposed to bring the eggs and water to a boil with a lid on, take it off the element and let it sit for fifteen minutes. I was bringing the water to a boil, letting the eggs boil with no lid and on the element until I figured they were ready! Now, I feel silly but no more guessing thanks to this useful app!

Not only are there egg recipes included in the app but also recipes for different things from breakfast muffins and broccoli pie for lunch to a basic Quiche and even kids meals! I can't wait to try some of these recipes, this app is a definite download for the inexperienced to the experienced with eggs.

Want to see it in action before you download? You can check out a demo video about the app on the facebook page!

For more information about Egg Farmers of Canada please visit www.eggs.ca, Like them on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter!

Win it!
In celebration of the Get Cracking Egg Timer app, Egg Farmers of Canada have fantastic gift baskets for four (4) lucky A Motherhood Experience readers!

Gift basket includes:

Get Cracking Apron
Eggs Cook book - English: The Perfect Egg Cook Book by Alex Barker - French: Les Oeufs, Plus de 130 recettes, par Michel Roux.
Microwave Egg Cooker
Spiced French Toast Mix
Get Cracking Egg Timer

Simply fill in the rafflcopter ballot below (making sure to do the mandatory entry) to be eligible to win! Contest open to Canadian residents only. Prize sponsored by Egg Farmers of Canada. For more information and giveaway terms please see the rules section.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME on behalf of Egg Farmers of Canada. Complimentary gift basket was received as a thank you. All opinions are honest and those of AME.*

Penguin Canada introduces razOrbill

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:07:00 +0000

Penguin Canada, leading book publishers of some of today's favourite book titles, announced a new website this week geared toward the Young Adult audience.

Penguin Canada, brings their new Young Adult brand of books to life with an all new online community called razOrbill. RazOrbill is a community hub for conversation and enthusiasm of today's young adult fiction audience.

RazOrbill gives members the opportunity to get into conversation about their favourite YA books and authors with other like-minded peers. Exclusive access with benefits that include access to book titles before they launch and live chat invites with critically acclaimed authors including Joseph Boyden, Hiromi Goto, Charles de Lint and Carrie Mac. Being a member of razOrbill is being part of an ever-growing conversation and community of book lovers alike.

coming soon

Head on over to www.razorbill.ca and sign up to see what the community has been talking about! From the latest titles to upcoming releases, the conversation is always going!

Coming in April

Do you have a blog? You can sign up to be part of the Penguin Canada Books and Bloggers Network where you can get exclusive access to books to share with your readers. I am participating in this network so stay tuned for some exciting reviews (and maybe a giveaway or two) in the near future!

Join in the conversation on your favourite social media networks - follow @PenguinCanada on Twitter and Like PenguinCanada on Facebook!

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME on behalf of Penguin Canada. All opinions are honest and those of AME.*

SkinFix Lip Repair Balm review and giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our SkinFix feature giveaway 2 of 3! This week we are talking about an important part of your face ladies and gents - your lips! It's important to take care of those luscious lips especially in our cold Canadian winters!

Using a lip balm to help protect and moisturize against the harmful elements of winter temperatures is part of my daily routine. Wash my face, moisturize, lip balm and go! I also like keeping a tube of balm handy in my purse, the kids are also prone to getting chapped lips in the winter time.

If you're looking for a great lip balm to keep your lips at their best check out SkinFix lip repair balm. I noticed a difference right away when I first applied it. My lips are softer and the balm gives a nice natural shine which makes it great for those days you don't want to wear makeup but still want a little something.

SkinFix Lip Repair Balm conditions, moisturizes and hydrates adding shine. It sooths burning chapped lips, softens the dryness and moisturizing while replenishing the skins moisture barrier. With a formula containing shea butter, organic coconut oil, pure jojoba and vitamin E, it's no wonder I noticed the difference.

Check out SkinFix Lip Repair Balm and other great Canadian skin care products at www.skinfix.ca. Find SkinFix on your favourite social media sites Twitter and Facebook!

Win it!

SkinFix wants to moisturize your lips this winter! One lucky AME reader has the chance to win SkinFix Lip Repair Balm to try out for themselves! It's easy to enter! Simply fill out the rafflecopter ballot below to enter, you can even sign up using Facebook to get started!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME on behalf of SkinFix. We received complimentary product for review purposes. All opinions are honest and those of AME.*

Wordless Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:31:00 +0000

After the storm...

Alyssa

*Wordless Wednesday images by A Motherhood Experience*

New Juicy Fruit Desserts Gum Review

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:46:00 +0000

Have you ever had the craving for sweets but no access to them? Say its a delightfully rare, quiet day and all of a sudden you want apple pie or strawberry shortcake, like fresh out of the oven. Or perhaps its -30 outside and you suddenly want a orange creme pop? Well, thanks to Juicy Fruit Desserts you can satisfy those cravings with gum that tastes just like them!

Juicy Fruit Desserts gum is now available in Canada and offered in three unique flavours: Strawberry Shortcake, Orange Creme Pop and Apple Pie. These are mouth-watering, sugar-free flavours that take your taste buds on a ride. Tasting freshly baked apple pie crust to the whipped topping on a strawberry shortcake. Whether you're a pie fan, cake or frozen treats, Canadian dessert AND gum lovers now have the chance to have the best of both worlds.

I first saw a commercial for these on TV and thought it was an interesting concept. I mean it can't be any worse than cotton candy flavoured gum which I have seen in stores before. When I was offered to try out the new Juicy Fruit Desserts gum flavours I figured maybe it'll curb my sweet tooth when I can't find what I'm really looking for.

Think we have enough for a while ;)

Juicy Fruit has been a family known brand for as long as I can remember. My grandmother used to always give us sticks of Juicy Fruit as a treat when we went to visit her, I have some fond memories of Juicy Fruit. I even remember the old slogan being "Juicy Fruit is gonna move ya!" - catchy little tune it had too!

Juicy Fruit is a brand that values enjoyment and they know that Canadians will definitely enjoy this satisfying new gum by experiencing their favourite flavours in a single piece. The team worked hard to perfect each flavour whether it be the sweet strawberry filling, cinnamon infused apples or creamy citrus, they are excited to offer such a unique product to Canadians.

I can honestly say that after trying all three flavours, I'm hooked on the strawberry shortcake. DH was leaning more toward the Orange Creme Pop. Even for someone who typically doesn't like sweet flavoured gum - Juicy Fruit Desserts are sure to please. Juicy Fruit Desserts gum is available at retailers across Canada for around $1.69 for a 15 piece pack or $3.99 for multi-packs.

Get more info about the gum you love by visiting the Juicy Fruit Website. You can also Follow Juicy Fruit on Twitter and Like them on Facebook!

*Alyssa*

*This post was written by A Motherhood Experience on behalf of Wrigley's new Juicy Fruit Desserts Gum. We received sample product for review purposes. No monetary compensation was gained. All opinions are honest and those of A Motherhood Experience*

La Creme Cow spreadable cheese review and giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

With kids comes snacking, they just have to have their snacks! Afterschool, between meals, before bed or on the go - our kids are definitely snackers. This gives mom the job of coming up with creative and healthy snacks for them to enjoy.

If there is one easy snack my family likes its cheese. Whether it be a cheese dip with veggies, cream cheese on a cracker or cut up into cheese cubes from a block, we love having cheese as a healthy snack just about any time. I don't know about you but I'm a big spreadable cheese fan. I especially like it on melba toast or spreading it on a nice warm toasted bagel, heaven.

Parmalat Canada is excited to introduce its new La Creme Cow - line of spreadable snack cheese both adults and kids will love. La Creme Cow is available in three delicious flavours including Original, light and parmesan & Peppercorn. Each wedge of cheese has a delicious mild taste with a very smooth and creamy texture. La Creme Cow spreadable cheese is an excellent every-day snack option because its so easy - each piece is individually wrapped and can easily be stored and spread on just about anything you enjoy!

La Creme Cow spreadable cheese can be found in the dairy section of your local Loblaws or Metro grocery stores nationwide and is available in the following formats:

- Original (12pk $5.49)
- Light (6pk $2.99)
- Parmesan & Peppercorn (6pk $2.99)

We were sent a lovely La Creme Cow gift pack which contained all kinds of La Creme Cow goodies including six packages of yummy La Creme Cow spreadable cheese (two of each three flavours) to try with our family and friends. The kids and I decided it would be fun to have cheese and crackers as a snack a couple of hours before dinner one night - an appetizer if you will. Since La Creme Cow spreadable cheese comes in individually wrapped wedges, we were able to try more than just one kind in one sitting.

We set up the provided cutting board with utensils and plates and the kids chose some toppings for the cheese and crackers; coldcut meats, pickles etc. I cut them up into thin slices so the kids could make cracker sandwiches. La Creme Cow easily spreads on crackers, it's flavourful and creamy. K wanted one wedge after another but I stopped her at two. Even though they are really yummy and low in fat I didn't want her to fill up on just cheese and crackers as it was just a snack.

The kids prefered the original and light La Creme Cow to the Parmeasan & Peppercorn but then again they aren't big fans of anything peppery. I think they are all tasty, the Parmesan & Peppercorn one has a real zing of flavour to it.

Not only does it make a great after school snack but La Creme Cow goes great in the lunch bag paired with an ice pack to keep it cool. La Creme Cow spreadable cheese makes a great healthy snack any time!

Thumbs up!

You can also try these simple and yummy ways to use La Creme Cow spreadable cheese to help spice up the traditional cheese and crackers snack or appetizer:
*La Creme Cow Original cheese spread on a cracker with some sliced berries or grapes topped with pomegranate. A simple yet delicious and healthy option.
*La Creme Cow Parmesan & Peppercorn cheese spread on a cracker with a simple green garnish like lime, pea sprouts or green onions, served on a plate with a little pot of red pepper jelly.
*La Creme Cow Light cheese spread on a cracker with slices of cucumber and snipped chives. Light cheese makes this a tasty, calorie friendly option.

La Creme Cow spreadable cheese will be the talk of your next party or playdate - at least at the snack table.

For more information about Parmalat, La Creme Cow spreadable cheese and to find fun cheesey recipes please visit www.lacremecow.ca! You can follow @LaCremeCow on Twitter and like La Creme Cow on Facebook!

Win it!

In celebration of it's launch, we are giving away a La Creme Cow spreadable cheese gift pack to one of you lucky A Motherhood Experience readers!
Prize includes:
- 6 pkgs La Creme Cow spreadable cheese (2 of each 3 flavours)
- 3 FPC coupons for La Creme Cow spreadable cheese
- 2 boxes of Carr's wafers
- La Creme Cow cutting board and cheese knives set
- 2 La Creme Cow drinking glasses and napkins
- Serving plates

To enter fill in the rafflecopter below! Must be a resident of Canada 18 years or older to participate. For terms and rules of giveaways please see the rules section.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good Luck!
*Alyssa*

*This post was written by AME on behalf of Parmalat and La Creme Cow spreadable cheese. We received the mentioned complimentary product. Prize sponsored by mentioned brand. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are those of A Motherhood Experience*

Soupah Snapshots with Kettle Cuisine

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

We love contests and giveaways here on A Motherhood Experience both hosting them and entering others. It's such a great way to get the word out about our favourite products, brands and so forth online. It's also a great way to get awesome swag if you win!

We have just heard about a fun new contest by Kettle Cuisine! Kettle Cuisine, the maker of delicious frozen, gluten-free soups, is hosting a fun and easy Facebook contest that offers you the chance to win an incredible weekend getaway in Boston along with some other great prizes!

If you are 18 or older and a resident of Canada (excluding Quebec, sorry!) or the US and like Kettle Cuisine on Facebook, it's simple to enter.

All you have to do is snap a pic of a Kettle Cuisine package (available at select Real Canadian Superstore, Whole Foods, Sobeys, Highland Farms locations and natural food stores across Canada. Find a location here!) - in a fun, interesting or every day location and post it on their Facebook page before January 31st, 2012.

The top 5 finalists will be determined based on the number of online votes. The great news is that everyone will get an official Kettle Cuisine cooler bag just for entering!

The contest itself closes on January 31st, 2012 at 8:00am(est) and voting closes on February 14, 2012.

Grand Prize: A weekend getaway for 2 in Boston, Massachusetts including Red Sox tickets (7th row, right field), hotel and travel accommodations, dinner for two at one of the city's finest restaurants and a ride through the city with the original Boston Duck Tours!

Want to learn more about this contest? The Kettle Cuisine team put together this nifty video to demonstrate the rules!

Make sure to follow @KettleCuisine and use the hashtag #Soupah to get in on the conversation over on Twitter!

Good Luck!

*Alyssa*

*This is not a sponsored post. Contest and its associated rules by Kettle Cuisine. Opinions are those of A Motherhood Experience*

Ease Inflammation with Nopalea

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:56:00 +0000

See clearly this Valentines Day with Zenni Optical

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:03:00 +0000

SkinFix Diaper Rash Paste

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Taking care of your skin is important and this includes moisturizing during your daily skincare routine. SkinFix is a Canadian brand who has a variety of skin care pastes for just about everybody including body repair paste, diaper rash, efflorescence paste, for those who just got inked, sun block and even cream for your dog called pooch paste.

It all begain with an old secret family recipe and the finest ingredients in the world. Ingredients included in SkinFix products are chosen for their benefits, numerous qualities and must also be proven to be both effective and beneficial. Quality ingredients include minerals, botanical extracts, vitamins and natural ingredients to make an award winning products that works. SkinFix will fix it!
SkinFix is PTPA approved which brings us to our first of three series of posts about SkinFix products, something for both you and your little one - Diaper Rash Paste.

Diaper rash, one of the most common and dreaded irritations when you've got a little bum in diapers. There are so many different products out there. I remember when our little girl was a baby she suffered terrible diaper rashes.

We had to make sure the product we used didn't contain any sort of chemicals or fragrance that would irritate her more and cause pain for her little bottom. We still keep a tube of diaper rash cream on hand just incase. Even older kids can get rashes you know.

SkinFix Diaper Rash Paste is a soothing, theraputic emolient barrier that protects and heals against diaper rash. SkinFix Diaper Rash Paste is very effective in clearing the most stubbourn diaper rash. Its natural anti-yeast and fugicide heals the area and doesn't spread the rash around. Even if your baby doesn't have a bad rash, using SkinFix Diaper Rash Paste daily on your baby's behind can ensure your baby stays rash-free. Nursing moms can find relief from discomfort associated with breastfeeding.

When it comes to cream, my grandmother always said the thicker it is, the better its bound to work. SkinFix Diaper Rash Paste is thicker than what we are typically used to but you can tell that it would cover the area properly, thus heal properly.

To learn more about SkinFix and their products please visit www.skinfix.ca!

Like SkinFix on Facebook and Follow them on Twitter too!

Would you like to try out SkinFix Diaper Rash Cream?
Fill out the RaffleCopter ballot below to be eligible to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Good Luck!

*Alyssa*

*This post was written in participation with a series of reviews for SkinFix. We receieved sample product for review purposes. Giveaway prize sponsored by SkinFix. All opinions are honest and those of A Motherhood Experience*

Moms Easy Meatloaf

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Not my meatloaf but looks yummy!

I've never in my life made meatloaf until this week. Okay all you Martha's out there, roll your eyes at me. I'm serious though, it just never occurred to me to make it since I haven't really eaten the stuff since I was a kid.

If you're looking for a quick meal, I found the easiest - eggless meatloaf recipe online. Why eggless? Because at the time of making it I had no eggs available in the fridge.

Of course I altered it because I'm adventurous like that (or just missing ingredients) and I'm going to share it with all of you!

The original recipe used ground turkey, I used ground beef. The original recipe used Italian salad dressing but I had no dressing so I used BBQ sauce. My mother used to use Ketchup, which I am still not fond of to this day, so I figured it couldn't be worse than that.

It's actually better and adds flavour to the meat. The original recipe also called for potato flakes (instant potatoes) instead of cracker crumbs. I had both but opted to try the potato flakes which actually make it kind of taste like Shepherds Pie. Next time I may try using crackers to see which recipe works best for us.

Here is what you need for this super yummy Mom's Easy Meatloaf:

2 Lbs ground beef
1/2 cup potato flakes
1/4-1/2 cup BBq sauce (any kind)

This recipe is just to follow as a guideline. You can always substitute or add things to the Meatloaf like peas, onions, corn or whatever else suits your family.

Mix together the ground beef, flakes and sauce until the mixture is solid enough to form a "loaf". Place the loaf in a pan lined with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour or until Meatloaf is browned through. Let it sit to cool 2 minutes and serve with a side of veggies.

I served cooked carrots as a side with this meal. The kids enjoyed it so much they asked for seconds and there were absolutely no leftovers.

This was my first attempt so I kept it simple. It's hard to find a decent meal everyone enjoys that we don't have too often!

Thanks to www.plaincook.com for the original recipe found!
Enjoy!

*Alyssa*

*This post was written based upon personal experience and is in no way sponsored or paid. All opinions are honest and our own*

RaffleCopter Launch Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Alyssa) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Before RaffleCopter we were using an old method of "Leave a comment, Tally the comments, Randomize a draw on a third party site" to draw our winning names. This honestly was very time consuming and not a very fun way to draw names for great giveaways from some of our most loved sponsors and partners.

Since we began using RaffleCopter a few months ago, giveaways have become fun once again, on the drawing side of things. Nobody gets confused between "Mandatory" entry and "Extra" Entries now, the proof is right in the widget when a giveaway comes to an end. You are guaranteed nothing is a "scam' or "fixed". I find it a really handy tool that anybody with a giveaway blog should have!

RaffleCopter was invite-only when it first launched nine months ago but now they are proud to announce that RaffleCopter is now open to the public! Anyone needing a giveaway widget can simply visit www.rafflecopter.com and sign up for free!

To kick-off the public launch, RaffleCopter is giving away an iPad2 and Two Kindle Fires! Yes, I am able to enter too - if I won the iPad2 I would definitely gift DH for his birthday and if I won the Kindle, I would gift my dad with an upgrade. He loves his Kindle and could use the upgrade!

Fill out the RaffleCopter Ballot below to be eligible to win. By the way, put my name as your referrer. If you win the Apple iPad2, I can at least still win a Kindle Fire!

Part of entering includes coming up with a neat name for the RaffleCopter mascot, Mr. Smiley Copter. I know you guys are probably more creative at character names than I am ;-)

GOOD LUCK!! :-)

This Giveaway is brought to you by RaffleCopter and is open to Canadian and US residents. Contest Ends February 9th @ 12:01AM

Help spread the word about RaffleCopters public launch by sharing this post via Twitter, Facebook etc with the share buttons below it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway *Alyssa*

*This post was written by A Motherhood Experience on behalf of RaffleCopters Public Launch Giveaway which I received information about via the RaffleCopter Newsletter. No compensation was received. All opinions are honest and our own.*