Everything Mom and Baby

A food delivery service with a cause: DonateNaturally.com

2013-05-21T13:53:00.002-04:00

I really like this. What is this exactly? Well I've been looking around for a organic delivery food service and I came across Donate Naturally.
This isn't your usual home delivery service. Well it is but it has a fabulous twist. You can fundraise while you shop! It's great actually. 15% of your sale goes to a cause of your choice. I really love that and to see where they have donated have a look at their Donation Recipients. This is also a Canadian wide service! They can deliver non perishable items via Canada Post.

You have a great selection of fresh groceries, infant and child care to even household and lifestyle and special diets.
I just did a Weekly Staples Bin that had my favourite Harmony Homo milk, Brick Street Works Bread and Green Valley Eggs.
If you'd like a wonderful selection of natural produce, friendly front door delivery and to donate then check out Donate Naturally. It's really quite nice.

They offer home delivery Tuesday-Friday to the following areas:
Oakville
Mississauga
Brampton
Toronto
Scarborough
Richmond Hill
Vaughan
Markham

Donate Naturally The Everyday Fundraising Group

178 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5R 2M7

416-461-0350

The Healthy Shopper 2013 Spring Picks

2013-05-21T13:05:00.002-04:00

The Healthy Shopper™is a website that has offered a coupon book since 1999 and is the #1 coupon book for natural and organic products in Canada.

They are passionate about the natural health industry and they practice what they preach. That is why they created The Healthy Shopper™ coupon book – to encourage more Canadians to pursue and/or maintain a more natural lifestyl e. I do though encourage you to make your own decisions and research the products offered.

The Healthy Shoppers, Randy Boyer and Andrea Donsky, want to talk about making every day earth day, because what’s good for us is also good for the environment. Their Spring 2013 Picks are easy to find in your local grocery store, and in many cases your neighborhood pharmacy.

“We want people to understand that it’s not just fat and calories they need to watch, it’s also what’s in the products they’re using,” said Boyer, co-founder of the Healthy Shopper.

Our focus is on the importance of reading labels, if you don’t understand it, you probably shouldn’t be eating or using it.”

SPRING 2013 Picks

Their top “picks” include a delicious organic coconut spread from Earth Balance, some organic salsas from Simply Natural Organic Salsa, and organic yogurt from Olympic Dairy as healthier alternatives. For your personal care, they’ve chosen a homeopathic remedy to help with restless legs and leg cramps, an all-natural bruise cream(although it does contain phenoxyethanol) for quick healing, and some eco-conscious feminine care products for new moms as well as intimate wipes and baby wipes from NatraCare.

My favourite products from The Healthy Shopper were the NatraCare products such as the New Mother maternity pads(organic & comfortable), the NatraCare baby wipes are ever so nice and smell just as good and their Intimate wipes sound nice although I'll be honest I haven't used them yet but the ingredients are safe and good. Visit NatraCare

As a new mom and with no time to cook I also appreciated reviewing their selected organic salsa's from Simply Natural Organic Salsa. What did I love most? The selection and variety and being GMO free!

Order your free coupon book from The Healthy Shopper today and save, save, save!

Visit The Healthy Shopper on Facebook for more deals and tips on their favourite products.

New Subscription service is coming to Canada! Check out Stork Stack

2013-05-14T13:25:00.000-04:00

I love the subscription services that come for monthly delivery. It really is a brilliant business idea as who doesn't love to receive 'monthly gifts' in the mail. Especially when it's a surprise and all you know is that you're guaranteed quality products.
Stork Stack contains 3-4 products for your baby and 1-2 for you. 5 products in total, and Stork Stack always has something for mom. All products are tailored to you, your child, and the experiences you encounter each month from your 3rd Trimester to your child’s 3rd Birthday.

I recently became introduced to Stork Stack for review purposes but I do see myself becoming a customer. A company from the US that is making their way up to the Great White North. I absolutely loved what I got. It's the right price with free shipping, quality products, professional looking wrapping and packaging and most of all I was impressed with the quality selection of products.

What did Everything Mom and Baby get? Well the Go Green for Aprils theme did not disappoint! US Fans, subscribe! Trust me you'll love it and it makes the perfect gift as well. Naturally it meets my standards for a quality product so I gave it my Seal of Approval!

Organic Farm Buddies from Apple Park : I know my twins will love the Farm Buddies. I love them too for their organic materials and cute designs. $9.95

Eco Sprout Soap: I was really happy to see Eco Sprout. I remember when they first started out. Great family company. I have yet to the soap...but I will! $2.95

Green Envee Soothing Aloe and Calendula Lotion: This smells heavenly and I love it. My son loves it too as everything makes him itchy. I was very happy to find that this didn't! $22

Green Toys First Keys: My girls will have their first set of keys ;) Great teething and fun for play and grasping for their little hands. I like that this brand is made in the USA $7.99

Banana Chocolate from Candestino: My son loved this! Thankfully he shared and even my super picky mom enjoyed a bite!

So how much does Stork Stack cost a month? A mere $27.99! Did you see all the product I got and it's value? The value was 42.99! Sign up {here} Canadians, don't fret it's $27.99 for you too and $5.99 for shipping. Stork Stack is shipping to Canada, starting May.1st

Open to USA and Canada

ends May.30/13, winner will be announced on May.31/13

Please read the terms & conditions upon entering and Good Luck!

Click on READ MORE to enter the Raffle.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our Maternity Photo Session with Trina Photo

2013-05-11T09:14:00.001-04:00

I've never had professional photo's taken. Something I greatly regretted not having at my wedding nor with my first pregnancy either. When I met Trina of Trina Photo at FitMom after she took a couple of pics of me during my weight loss journey. I knew she was the one that I wanted to capture this important stage in my life when it came to our maternity photo shoot. I mean..I was expecting twins. A double blessed miracle!

Her warm personality, her experience, her website & portfolio is fantastic and her ease at making you comfortable in front of the camera. She made my husband relax! He hates posing and in the end he couldn't stop talking about the photo session and how great Trina was.
Here are just some of the personal photo's I'd like to share with you. It's hard to imagine that 5 weeks after these photo's were taken we were blessed with our twin girls.

Big brother can't wait to meet his sisters

I like this one as I am thinking "Oh my god. I'm having twins!"

31 weeks!

My boys!

"Yep. Two girls"

"Pure love"

Working with Trina was one of the best experiences that we've shared as a family. We will always treasure these photo's that Trina captured. She caught our personality in every shot, our love is in every picture, we had fun and her creative idea's where wonderful too.

We decided to get outdoors for more wonderful family pictures!

Oh how I miss being pregnant!
But wait! Look what was inside :)

Our little fraternal twin girls! They are about 2 1/2 weeks old.

With Mothers Day around the corner or if you or someone you know is expecting I cannot speak highly enough of our experience with TrinaPhoto. She is a talented photographer, a smart photographer as she always gets the right angle and she is fun, welcoming and extremely professional to work with.

I truly hope you'll take advantage of this excellent promotion. Do let me know if you did. For those who have been there and done that....Did you have professional photo's taken while you were pregnant?
~ something special for you!~

Mama's and Dada's Special Double Session

-2 mini sessions (1/2-1h long each)
-Session 1 with just the kids includes a 5x7 print credit
-Session 2 with the whole family (up 2-5 people) includes an 8x10 print credit
-includes a photo disc of both sessions with low res files in both colour and B&W
$225+tax (saves $75)
The catch - Session 1 needs to be booked for before June 22, Session 2 needs to be booked for before Sept 1.

Book your photo session today at TrinaPhoto.com
Like TrinaPhoto on Facebook

All content and photos © copyright Everything Mom and Baby. Please do not reuse without my written permission.

Retailer Feature of the Week: Swaddle Tee's Swaddle Blankets. Night, Night, Sleep Tight!

2013-05-09T15:10:00.005-04:00

I recently stumbled upon a new company called SwaddleTee that found me on Twitter. I am glad they did because these swaddle blankets are beautiful in a natural cream and made of super soft, luxurious Pima Cotton and actually keeps my babies swaddled!

What makes this swaddle different?
The material is made with soft Pima cotton and the material is t-shirt quality.
It goes on like a top with the little hole where the head rests, you flip the material over so it's like a t-shirt, match the two openings and wrap baby up and tie. It also looks really pretty and your little Houdini will have a hard time getting out! Baby has the swaddle feeling of security and comfort.
It does work well with my twins but if your baby is really small or preemie the SwaddleTee is not recommended. My twins are a month old now and seem quite content in their SwaddleTee and thankfully do fit.
Read more on safety in their FAQ.

Where to Buy?
Visit SwaddleTee and purchase yours for only $29.99

Here's how it works:

Here are my girls in Swaddle Tee!

All content and photos © copyright Everything Mom and Baby. Please do not reuse.

I give SwaddleTee a thumbs up and it deserves my Seal of Approval for it's great product!

SwaddleTee would like to offer one lucky reader a SwaddleTee of their very own valued at $29.99 so enter below for a chance to win!

Open to USA and Canada

Ends May.23, 2013 midnight, EST

Winner will be announced on May.24/13!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disney Junior celebrates Mothers Day with special shows! #DisneyJuniorMom

2013-05-03T13:18:00.003-04:00

As a Disney Junior Mom I have lots to tell you about for what's in store for the month of May.
Here are the details about this month’s exciting programming!

First off, Sofia the First will have new episodes airing this week end, May.5 and May.19th at 11:30am. Is your little one a fan of Sofia the First?
This month Sofia is learning about gratitude with her royal siblings.
How do you teach your little ones about life lessons? Do you have some helpful tips and tricks that you can comment below with?

Mother’s Day on the Disney Junior Channel
Disney Junior celebrates all moms on Sunday May 12 starting at 9am ET.
Don’t miss back-to-back Jake episodes featuring Mama Hook starting at 10am ET. You may even hear a familiar voice from Mama Hook – it’s Sharon Osbourne! Be sure to stay tuned for the BRAND NEW second episode featuring Mama Hook at 10:30am ET.

Here are all the details for fun programming on what Disney Junior has in store on Mother’s Day!

9am: Special Agent Oso
Eun-Kyung wants to make a hand print as a Mother's Day gift for her Mom, but she doesn't know how!
9:30am: Handy Manny
Manny gets a call from Mr. Lopart's Mother to build a mantle for her fireplace. Mr. Lopart is disappointed that his mother didn't call him so he follows along.
10:00am: Jake and the Never Land Pirates
Mama Hook Knows Best! When Captain Hook’s mother comes to visit, Captain Hook takes her on a treasure hunt. However, Mama Hook isn’t proud of her son when she finds out that Hook didn’t find the treasure on his own! In the end, Mama Hook presides over a pirate tea party with Captain Hook, his crew – and Jake and his crew!
10:30am: Jake and the Never Land Pirates (PREMIERE)
The Mystery Pirate! When a mysterious masked pirate swipes Jake’s Sword and Captain Hook’s hook, Jake, Hook & their crews are set off on a wild chase. All are astounded to finally find out who the mystery pirate is… it’s MAMA HOOK! Turns out that she wanted to find a way to get her son James working together with the little sea pups in an effort to make him a better pirate!
11am: Doc McStuffins
When Doc is dancing with Lambie, she accidentally gets Lambie caught on Sir Kirby’s sword, and Lambie rips! Doc brings Lambie to Mom, and Mom agrees to take on the ‘surgery.’ With Doc as her assistant, Mom sews Lambie up.

And lastly....get the girls together and get your Rapunzel wigs out, boys...pull out your viking helmets because on Saturday, May.18 at 6pm ET it is the Tangled: Movie Premiere!
You know what that means – movie snacks! What would Rapunzel bake up? Well we're going to bake cupcakes! It'll be a first for me. I'll post pics when I can. Or I might do cake pops!

In the mean time, why not a plan a little party on Saturday night?

Disclosure: I’m part of the Disney Junior Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Retailer Feature of the Week - 2 Blue Ducks, bringing to you oogaa dishes and Discoveroo toys!

2013-05-03T10:53:00.002-04:00

2 blue ducks is a great online shop(coming soon!) and distributor for Discoveroo and Ooga.
I recently received the Oogaa line featuring a dish set of their silicone bowl and airplane spoon and train spoon. Something that my preschooler loves. Planes and trains! However because this is made of silicone I think this would be great for those who are teething as well. The kiddo's can find some relief gnawing on their silicone utensils rather than chewing or sucking on plastic spoons as an example. My son is a huge fan of oogaa dishes.

oogaa silicone mealtime set

" Our Award Winning silicone mealtime set is made from European approved food safe, high-grade silicone (higher than FDA standards). Will not leach chemicals, non-toxic, PVC and phthalate FREE! Consisting of a colorful 9oz bowl and 2 spoons. No more chips, breaks or loud noises when these bowls go whoops-a-daisy. BPA free, no harsh chemicals and easy to clean. Dishwasher safe, microwave safe, freezer safe, and bowl are oven safe"

Buy oogaa on well.ca

As a blogger, my son is spoiled. Yes. It's true. We have a new policy in our home simply stating no battery powered toys allowed anymore. It was getting to be a bit much and well, we both love wooden toys and Discoveroo's quality is amazing. It's made really nicely and has a quality about it.

What did my son review? The Sort N' Grip Garbage Truck.

It's a garbage truck which opens and tips with 7 different shapes to sort. A great game that helps kids learn about sorting their waste. 18 months and up.

" Discoveroo products are designed to encourage more Creative Play. They stir up the imagination but the outcomes are not predetermined. This leaves the child to explore the possibilities and develop their mind."

Buy Discoveroo on well.ca

2 blue ducks would like to offer you a chance to win a Discoveroo product! They are generously giving away one set of the 6 Cars! Giveaway ends, May.12/13
6 different cars in this set - Ambulance, Police Car, Fire Engine, Taxi, School Bus and Ice Cream Truck for all kinds of emergencies. They are made of Plantation Tea Wood. The size is 8 x 6 x 5.5 cm per piece. The Fire Engine and the School Bus are 9.5 cm long. These are suitable for 18 months and over - there are no parts that protrude or can come off.

It's simple to enter!
Discoveroo products encourage creative play. How do you incorporate creative play with your child?

Answer below for a chance to win!

*open to Canada only

Enter your name and email address on my Everything Mom and Baby document

also............ bonus points

Give a Like to 2 blue ducks on Facebook for a bonus entry, comment below that you have with all the following if you do!

ReTweet the Giveaway!

Like Everything Mom and Baby on Facebook

Subscribe to Everything Mom and Baby!

Little Eco Footprints ~ April Delivery Review #LittleEcoExpert

2013-04-29T11:47:00.003-04:00

What a great delivery! I loved receiving Aprils Delivery from Little Eco Footprint and it did not disappoint.
Here's what I got!

Earth's Berries soap nuts. I love using soap nuts for laundry. They really do work! I've even used soap nuts on cloth diapers and they washed and got the stink out. Because I'm a member I get 10% off! value $5

PRANA Machu Pichu snack bag, valued at $5. Loaded with golden berries, goji berries, European pumpkin seeds, mulberries, Brazil Nuts, raisins perfect snacks for the breast feeding mom. Especially thanks to the pumpkin seeds! I have a $10 coupon to use thanks to this.

Wee Woolies. I love this company! I have an orange and green hat as well and their matching onesies so I was happy to see a purple Wee Woolies hat! I think this is my favourite for merino wool. It is so smooth and soft. value $16, I also got a 20% off discount to use so I will be getting something!

Smith Farms The Red berry lip tint is perfect for a hint of colour, kissable lips and very hydrating. I also approve of the ingredients ;) $6
I'll have fun browsing g the site and see what I can buy thanks to my 20% off discount. Love the perks of being a Little Eco Mom!

Maple Hill Wool Dryer Balls: We got a $7 gift card! You can choose from scented, unscented or essential oil infused wool dryer balls. Prices start at $12. They look great. I've only started using wool dryer balls and they do work!

Re-Wood Toys is a fab Canadian company! I loved seeing this in my April Delivery. I am a lover of wood toys and was so happy to see a Canadian, eco friendly, wooden teether. So awesome! The boomerang teether is great for little hands to grasp and teeth on! Love the 20% promo code as well.

I'm off to do more shopping. I love the promo codes that come with every April Delivery and I hear Mays Mothers Day Delivery is amazing. I can't wait to to see it and to share with you next months review.

With Mothers Day around the corner, I highly suggest you gift a May Delivery Box. Hurry though, it is sent out May.6! Use the code: MOTHERSDAY to receive 15% off your first box!

Shop Now! Visit Little Eco Footprints today!

All content and photos © copyright Everything Mom and Baby. Please do not reuse/download.

Welcome to Canada NUNA! Enter to win their LEAF swing on Everything Mom and Baby!

2013-04-26T13:02:00.001-04:00

Everyone who follows me on my Everything Mom and Baby Facebook page knows how excited I am to be a part of this product launch from the Dutch company Nuna.

Nuna is a brand I never thought could possibly exist. Why, you ask? Well, for one they are truly a 'green' line. Organic cotton that is GOTS certified? Absolutely! As I've always said, "you gots to get GOTS!" Well, I've always wanted to say it.
A brand that uses baby friendly material that is Oeko-Tex® certified? Stupendous!
Or a company that uses foam free from harmful substances? Too good to be true you say?
I say nope! It's Nuna!

The Nuna Leaf

This is by far the most unique and attractive swing I've used. It is not battery powered, it does not play silly static lullabies, there is no hard plastic and you know what.......big kids can use it! From newborn all the way up to preschooler and beyond! It's weight tested up to 130 pounds!

About the Leaf:

"The inspiration for the Leaf swing was inspired by the gentle breeze of a leaf floating on a breeze"

elegant, serene design feels right at home in the living room
motion lasts unassisted with a gentle push for over 2 minutes
no batteries, no cords, no buzz, no noise
plush, cushy Oeko-Tex® certified fabric made with a skin friendly pH and free of harmful substances and pesticides
organic cotton insert is soft and light
easily locks stationary for feeding or playtime
pops out of base for easy storage or quick trips
evolves with baby to big-kid size
perfect angle for both playing and napping
mesh backing provides little breezes

Everything Mom and Baby's Experience:

What I like most about the Leaf, aside from what's it made of, is that it respects the natural curve of baby's spine and does not push it out into an unnatural position. I placed my newborn in it and felt safe doing so. It's just comfy mesh material with organic padding and no hard plastic.
As I watched my daughter sway peacefully from side to side, I paid careful attention to her positioning, and noticed, much to my glee, that her spine was curved just as if she was cradled in my arms!
The Leaf sways for about 2 minutes, just long enough to rock baby to sleep. But if you just can't get enough if it and want to go even longer, just give it another gentle push! Can you believe it Momma? You can put your feet up and relax as baby falls asleep. Heaven.

I love the Leaf swing so much that I'm going to happily bestow on it my Seal of Approval!
Here are some more things to love about it:

It's super easy to put together, two pieces! (My husband was quick to point that out! What a breath of fresh air)
Has a very sturdy base
You can purchase cute accessories
Beyond easy to use
No noise. (We certainly have enough of that from toys to babies to Charlie!)
Grows with baby, but you don't have to feed it!
Attractive, it actually isn't an eyesore in the home!
No batteries! This deserves repeating--- No Batteries!

{GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER}
To celebrate the launch in Canada, Nuna is generously giving away a LEAF to a lucky fan of Everything Mom and Baby!

It's easy to enter. Submit your contact info {here}.

1) Visit Nuna and tell us what else you like you about the LEAF or their other products {Mandatory entry}

Bonus Entries:
Like Nuna Canada on Facebook
ReTweet the giveaway. You can tweet up to 3x a day, just leave your url here.
Like Everything Mom and Baby on Facebook
Like this post! Click on the thumbs up at the bottom of this post. You may have to hit the home page button.

* Please comment on the blog. Do not comment under Anonymous or Unknown as your comment will not be read. It will get automatically moved to the Spam department ;)
Giveaway is open to Canada only, ends May.10, 2013

THANK YOU FOR VISITING EVERYTHING MOM AND BABY!
GOOD LUCK!

You can shop soon at nunababy.ca
Stay tuned......

{WINNER, #85}
Congrats Krsyal!

Music and Play from #LegoDuploPlay JAMS!

2013-04-25T15:25:00.002-04:00

Do you like to incorporate music when your child plays? We do! We tune out the iPad, Leap Pad etc.. put a CD on like the Lego Duplo Jams and we'll get our crafts out or play with Lego Duplo
My son loves playing on the Lego Duplo site, here's a snap shot from their new Hide and Seek game.

When we hosted out Lego Party back in January we got the Lego Duplo Jams CD. It really is a great CD and you can give a listen to it by watching this video. We totally rocked it at the party. Kids were dancing and the adults were humming along. My son still likes to hum and sing while he plays like right now as I am writing this post. He here is with his latest creation.

“A little background music can help children sing along, build and play while they learn simple things like colors, stacking, letters and role play. A 2011 study of parents with children age 1‐5 Years reveals that among children that listen to music during playtime: 55% of children are happier when music is coupled with play; 50% are more excited to play when they hear music and 43% act sillier when music is coupled with play.”

So give a listen and while you're here, visit Lego Duplo for more free Apps, building idea's, colouring pages, free downloads and games!

Disclosure: I am a LEGO DUPLO Play Agent and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Retailer Feature of the Week: Avery Rayne Designs: Unique, Personalized Jewellery

2013-04-24T13:41:00.002-04:00

Discovering great retailers via etsy is a great thing. I love shopping and discovering artisans from all over the world and my latest find is from the USA and her shop is Avery Rayne. With Mothers Day around the corner why not get a little something for yourself? We have an excellent promo code below.

What does Avery Rayne make?

Personalized hand stamped jewellery and teething necklaces. Here's just a few of her great designs.

Who is the mama behind Avery Rayne?

Heather is the artsy, home-birthing, semi-hippie mama of 4 fantastic kids; ages 6 months, 3, 5, and 7. She is also the lucky wife to her best friend and high-school sweetheart. Heather makes beautiful things to fulfill her creative desires (and for a nice break from the regular routine of cooking, cleaning, and general mamahood), she also supports other WAHMS who also make beautiful things. She truly has a love that is all hand-made, home-grown, and hand-crafted.

What did I get made?

I wanted something special for my two little girls and to have something fun to look back on as my son nicknamed them Sugar and Banana so I got them teething necklaces. I like the uniqueness of them, that they are hand made and made in the USA by a WAHM. I love supporting mom based businesses and I hope you do to because I have a great promo code for you too. Shipping was quick too!

SHOP, SHOP, SHOP!

With Mothers Day around the corner why not get something unique and personalized?
Visit Avery Rayne Designs and drop a hint to your loved one that you can save 20% with code:
EVERYTHINGMOMANDBABY

for 20% off

What would you pick from Avery Rayne?

Find Avery Rayne Designs on Facebook!

Green Kid Crafts is the perfect monthly gift for kids! #EarthDay #Giveaway!

2013-04-22T14:19:00.003-04:00

Happy Earth Day! We're celebrating by having a fantastic giveaway with Green Kid Crafts. I absolutely love this company and I wanted to get a little something for my son for when the twins came. This was "their" gift to him and doing eco, fun crafts is something him and I both enjoy.
We got their April box, known as the April Planet Protector Box.

Green Kid Crafts is a craft kit that is delivered every month for $19.95US for ages 3-8 years old. Each box comes with 3-4 unique projects designed to boost creativity build confidence and engage kids with nature. Something that we do at the EMB home often and encourage this kind of play and creativity.

Our Experience:
I was really happy to see what was in the box. As you can pictured above it was a great kit that came with a toxic free paper mache Earth ball that you can create, water colour paints and water colour paper, recycled crayons, the string and paperclip art display and a plantable seed paper kit.

I do plan on signing up for a 3 month subscription($69.95 CDN, +$8 for shipping) because this is something me and my son can do for one on one Mommy and Son time. With the twins here now my my time can get a little busy and I don't want him to feel our craft/play time together is neglected. I think this is a brilliant and unique gift to give. Naturally I give it my Green Seal of Approval for the quality of supplies and the fun it brings to the child. What child doesn't love getting mail? It's fun!

Enter to Win!
{GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER}
Since we're celebrating Earth Day today, Green Kid Crafts has generously sponsored one lucky winner to win a 2 MONTH SUBSCRIPTION! Open to USA and Canadian residents.
*please read the terms and conditions and complete your entry on this form. Please comment on the blog one comment at a time as entries from the blog will be used to randomly pick a winner.
Please do not comment under Anonymous or Unknown as the comment will not be read but marked as spam.
*please note: Facebook and twitter have no affiliation with this giveaway

To Enter: (don't forget to fill out form linked above)

1) Visit their site and tell us here what you like about Green Kids Craft {mandatory}
Bonus Points!
2) Like Green Kids Craft on Facebook
3) Sign up to their Newsletter
4) Like Everything Mom and Baby on Facebook
5) RT( Tweet ) the giveaway here!
6) Like this post! Give it the thumbs up at the bottom of this post to share on your Facebook wall

Thank you for visiting Everything Mom and Baby and Good Luck!

CONGRATS TO ANGELA! # 28

My Birth Story: Isla and Gwendolyn #twins #twinmom

2013-04-19T17:01:00.001-04:00

On Wednesday, April 10th, I was on my way to my weekly OB appointment. Little did I know that I would go into labour that night. My life forever changed in the wee hours of April 11th as we welcomed two new beautiful angels into our family, our twin girls Isla and Gwendolyn.

I began my checkup with an ultrasound. All seemed good until we checked the girl's weight. It came as a shock to me that Baby A hadn't gained weight in the two weeks since my last ultrasound. I had an internal exam and discovered I was already 4cm dilated and 100% effaced! Holy smokes these girls were getting ready! My doctor said we can't take any chances as Baby A hasn't gained weight. So at 36 weeks and 1 day my careful little birthing plans went out the window.
Now, how accurate are ultrasound scans in predicating babies' weight? Not very, as you'll later find out. According to the scan, Baby A was sitting at 5 1/2 pounds and Baby B had grown to 7 pounds.

I was obviously nervous and maybe a little upset that I had to go into labour weeks early. Naturally I was going to do what is best for the girls and follow my doctors advice, but 36 weeks is still a touch premature, even for twins, and Baby A was so active in utero I really couldn't believe it. I was in shock when I was told "It's time"..I was numb. I had my son with me, my husband was at work and I think I can be forgiven for thinking, "What do you mean..now? Seriously?"
I was overwhelmed. A million things were racing crazily through my mind. I had to go home first, get my son settled, make arrangements and call my husband to let him know the girls are coming tonight. When I called him at work he went silent. His only stunned reply was, "I'm in the middle of so much work!" I laughed and said "Jay. The babies are coming tonight" then it registered and he said "Okay" and he snapped out of it. He made quick arrangements to meet me at the subway. If you saw a pregnant lady in Toronto walking to Queen Subway with tears in her eyes and holding the hand of her 4 yr old that was me.
I was overcome with emotion, scared something was wrong with Baby A, excited about meeting my girls and nervous about giving birth at 36 weeks.
I met my husband at the subway and just bawled in his arms. He decided to hop us in a cab, we got home, I made dinner, showered and went through my hospital bag a second time to make sure we had everything. Around 7-8pm we made our way to the hospital. They were expecting us :)
As a cool little aside, Jay's very good friend and godfather to the girls, Mark, was supposed to come over that very evening to discuss the upcoming birth and what our plans were. He had, on the spur of the moment, just happened to drop by my husband's restaurant that afternoon and was there when I called Jay. Sympatico or what? He came with us home, and stayed with Charlie that night! He even took the next day off so he could help us out. Thanks Mark!

I didn't have a birth plan written out but I firmly wanted to give birth naturally. I also wanted my placenta but assumed I wouldn't be able to have it because it would be sent to pathology to see why little Isla wasn't gaining weight. I told them they could take a sample, but to be honest at the end of it all, even after my birth, I was so overwhelmed I just asked to look at it. It was beautiful with marvelous colour and an almost iridescent umbilical cord attached. It looked just like "The Tree of Life". I wish I'd had it in me to be more persistent in keeping it. Oh well, I was exhausted and just happy to look at it.

So back to the birth. I was hooked up to monitors in my bed. Everything looked good. So good in fact that once I was at 5-6 cm dilated I didn't even realize my contractions were getting stronger. I got up and walked around and was starting to feel a little pressure deepen, but that didn't stop me from goofing around with my great friend Telly, the girl's god mom. She came by to lend her support, hang out and bring us treats.
I was feeling marvelous. The resident doc came in and discussed twin delivery with us. He explained why he felt strongly that I should have a epidural. With twins you always have to deliver in the OR should anything unforeseen happen last minute. There is a 7% chance Baby B could flip and go into breech once Baby A has cleared the path. Since I wanted a natural birth he further explained that without a epidural it would be quite painful to manually maneuver the baby as...get ready for this... they reach up you with their hand, search around a bit until they can grab a hold of baby, and then bring baby down. How's that for an eye opener?
He also mentioned I could just have a catheter without the medicine so if something does happen I could have the medicine administered directly and quickly when I needed it. With much consideration and advice from my hubby and friend, I opted for the safer route. I'm glad I did.

So the night went on, the contractions were getting a touch stronger from what I was told, again, I really didn't notice the pain like I did with my first born. I was listening to my iPhone, playing some some rockin' hypnobirthing tunes, some good ol' Depeche Mode and chatting with Jay and my bff.
As time went on the anesthesiologist came in and placed the catheter in my back. Around 4am the doc came in and broke my water. Not much came out. Through the wee hours as 'surges' were getting stronger my water came out. The pain was reasonable and again I was really surprised at how manageable it was. I learned many great things at my hypnobirthing class at zen beginnings and used it to get back into my "monkey brain", I played positive affirmations, read positive affirmations, played Steve Halpern and did the breathing techniques as the surges (contractions) were getting increasingly stronger. I'd been doing well, but began to lose control as I felt immense pressure building. IMMENSE! The girls were moving down, and all I wanted to do was push! I told my husband to get the nurse and tell her that I needed her guidance. She warned me that when moms get to 8-9cm they begin to lose faith in themselves. I wasn't going to lose faith. They scrambled to get me into the OR and moved me from my bed to the operating bed. It was like a TV show. Bright crazy energy! My girls were on the way.

At 6:25am I pushed and I pushed and I pushed some more and my beloved Isla came into the world. It was amazing and euphoric. As I listened for that first cry and I can't even begin to tell you the emotion I felt. I delivered my girls naturally! I got a top up from the catheter in case Baby B flipped, but she remained head down and 11 minutes later Gwendolyn arrived and as I waited for her beautiful cry the rush of emotion returned and I dissolved in tears of joy. I felt their squishy heads as they crowned and the maternal spirit welled in me to overflowing. Just an amazing experience. AMAZING! Isla was 6.1 pounds and Gwen was 6.2 pounds.

I was on a high. A monumental high. I never thought I would experience this kind of feeling after birthing twins. I was not sore, I was in one piece ;) No stitches! If I can give Anointment a plug, moms to be...you need this balm.
Next to the birth of my son, April 11th was the best day of my life and I have bounced back pretty darn quickly. We've gotten back into our routine and we're home safe and sound. My days are filled with so much love and I am savouring every moment. I am breast feeding but not tandemly. I much prefer feeding them separately and embracing my one on one time with Isla and Gwen. Loving kangaroo care! I can't tell you how sublime twins are. They are such a delight and joy and we are loving our family of 5!

All content and photos © copyright Everything Mom and Baby.

Retailer Feature of the Day: Treefort Naturals #etsy #natural #handcrafted #soap

2013-04-09T12:04:00.001-04:00

I first came across Treefort Naturals researching eco friendly, safe, non toxic products for baby and I fell in love with their Newborn Baby Bath Kit.

I was gifted some fabulous soaps from Treefort Naturals and their natural Honey lip balm is the best I've used. I love it as does my son who is always licking his lips making them dry! He knows where his lip balm is and brings it to me when he needs some TLC for his lips.
Another favourite was the Honey soap. It left my skin ever so soft and the quality of these hand crafted soaps are amazing. It lathers so nicely.

What's the Honey Soap made of?
It's made with local beeswax and honey from Full Bloom Apiaries in Franklin, CT. It is unscented but a faint honey scent comes through when you use it, great to use for infants and children.
Honey is a natural emollient with amazing soothing & moisturizing properties for the skin.

Ingredients: Extra Virgin Olive Oil, distilled water, Coconut Oil, lye, Beeswax, Honey

About Treefort Naturals:

Jess started making soap in an ongoing attempt to make healthy and environmentally conscious decisions for herself and her family. Jess started becoming more aware of the "not so nice" ingredients in commercially sold bath & body products and quickly realized that making her own soap was something she could really get into. For a love of the creative process and a love for knowing exactly what she washing her kids with, Treefort Naturals was born.

Treefort soaps are vegan friendly(except the honey soap & goats milk soaps). Only organic & local ingredients whenever possible (including CT honey, beeswax, goat's milk and herbs from her own garden).
All products are made in small batches, ph tested & family/friend tested and approved. Many of her soaps are left unscented (but often have the faint scent of a featured ingredient - like honey or tea). Other soaps have carefully chosen essential oils added for a light scent. Treefort Naturals chose not to use synthetic colors & fragrances in order to ensure the most natural product possible.

*Professional Member of the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild, Inc.

A SPECIAL FOR YOU!
Use code: ECOMOM10 - for 10% off all etsy shop purchases. Offer good until 6.15.13.
(coupon code not valid on custom orders and favors)

Shop Treefort Naturals today!

Like them on Facebook today!

#Hypnobirthing at Zen Beginnings : Week 1

2013-04-08T21:34:00.002-04:00

At 35 weeks in my twin pregnancy I've decided to enter the zen world of hypnobirthing at zenbeginnings, located in Toronto. Here I'll be sharing with you what I've learned, if I make it through the full 5 week course and in the end if hypnobirthing worked for me. I'll be sharing my weekly posts here and my overall experience will be found blogging on Oh Baby! Magazine. I've always wondered what goes on in a hypnobirthing class so below you'll find my synopsis on the class.
I will be using the hypnobirthing tools that I've learned through zenbeginnings when I go into labour and I'm excited to share with you this method of peaceful labouring.

What is Hypnobirthing?

The HypnoBirthing® Childbirth method is as much a philosophy of birth as it is a technique for achieving a satisfying, relaxing, and stress-free method of birthing. Our HypnoBirthing® classes teach you, along with your birthing companion, the art and joy of experiencing birth in a more comfortable manner. You will learn to call upon your body’s own natural relaxant and thus lessen or eliminate discomfort and the need for medication. When a woman is properly prepared for childbirth and when mind and body are in harmony, nature is free to function in the same will-designed manner that it does with all other creatures.

You will be fascinated as you view HypnoBirthing® films showing laboring mothers, awake, alert and in good humor as they experience the kind of gentle birth that you, too, can know when you are free of the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome.
HypnoBirthing® classes teach you to release all prior programming about birth, how to trust your body and work with it, as well as how to free yourself of harmful emotions that lead to pain-causing fear and unyielding muscles.
HypnoBirthing® will teach you the art of using your own natural birthing instincts. With HypnoBirthing®, you will be aware and fully in control, but profoundly relaxed.
Read more at zenbeginnings.com

Week 1: What I learned in the first class

As I arrived I am greeted by Carla Murphy, my certified Hypnobirthing Instructor. Carla is also a doula and you can visit her at Trinity Doula Care. I arrive upstairs to refreshments and beverages, I find my seat and I brought my copy just in case of Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method.
Class starts promptly and we begin.

I will tell you.... I am a little skeptic that women can breathe so calmly and can go back into their "monkey brain" as they deal with contractions in such a quiet, relaxed manner. We watched some hypnobirthing video's at the end and I was truly amazed. I can only hope through practice that I can enter the deep set of relaxation. So here is what I've learned so far:

the basic layers of the uterus

medical language vs hypnobirthing language. Instead of saying "contractions" in hypnobirthing you say "surges".

you have to practice and learn deep relaxation and that is our homework for the week.

How to avoid negative thoughts(therefor producing negative hormones, which I need to find out what those are. I assume they care the pain causing hormones or the ones that create fear in us)

Hypnobirthing is about positive affirmations. We have a print out that gives us affirmations to practice and think of as we prepare for birth. Such as " I feel confident; I feel safe; I feel secure".

We did breathing exercises

Learning not tighten your jaw. Apparently the jaw is connected to the perineum so naturally you don't want a tight, clenched jaw.
Watched some hypnobirthing video's. A lot of info was covered in 2 1/2 hours.

I look forward to next weeks class and can't wait to share with you more on what goes on in a hypnobirthing class and entering the world of deep relaxation and just how powerful our minds are.

I'd like to hear from you. Have you ever heard of hypnobirthing? Did it help you in your labour? Please share.

The Great Cloth Diaper Change #Toronto #clothdiapers #gcdc2013

2013-04-05T10:15:00.000-04:00

The Great Cloth Diaper Change is gearing up for our third world record attempt! What began as a small grass roots campaign has quickly become a global event. BABE + BELLY is looking forward to breaking the record that was set in 2012 on Saturday, April 20, 2013!

BABE+BELLY is excited to host the Toronto event at Bizzy Bee Playcentre in the Beaches. It's going to be lots of FUN with some amazing prizes.

Event Details:
What: The Great Cloth Diaper Change
Where: visit: Bizzy Bee Playcentre
The Beach Mall, 1971 Queen St. E Suite 204
When: April 20th, 2013 at 10:00 am
* Register: Join in on the fun by pre-registering for this free event on our website:http://gcdctoronto.weebly.com/

* All babies who participate will go home with a certificate of completion showing that they helped break a Guinness World RecordTM

There will be prizes from local entrepreneurs!

1 month unlimited yoga pass from Toronto Yoga Mamas
Gift Basket from Fab Baby Gear (value $100.00)
4 week Parachute Play Pass from Nubaby
Cloth Diaper Gift Basket from Baby on The Hip
Naked Nursing Tank Gift Certificate
Gift from Caterpillar Baby
3 copies of Changing Diapers from Everything Mom and Baby Shop
$5 coupons for subscriptions and a $100 Eco Friendly Little Eco Footprints Gift Box.

So grab your fluff and baby and head down to the Beach for a fun event, meet new families and a chance to win the great prizes above.

To learn more about the The Great Cloth Diaper Change visit www.greatclothdiaperchange.com
Like The Great Cloth Diaper Change on Facebook
Follow their Tweets!

New Series from Disney: Henry Hugglemonster #DisneyJuniorMom @DisneyJuniorCA

2013-04-05T08:38:00.002-04:00

The series premieres Sunday April 21st, at 12:30pm ET, with new episodes Sundays at 12:30pm ET only on the Disney Junior Channel.

There's a new family coming to Disney! Who is Henry HuggleMonster?
From the makers of Doc McStuffins, Henry is a typical five-year-old middle child who lives in Roarsville. He loves his family, enjoys playing outside with his friends and says exactly what he thinks the moment it pops into his head. He’s just the sort of high-energy kid, except he's a MONSTER!
Each 22-minute episode of Henry Hugglemonster features two 11-minute stories that take preschoolers and their parents on Henry's adventures as the young monster plays with his friends and tries his best to get along with his three siblings.

When?!

On Sunday, April.21 here's a fun idea for a playdate! Get your little one's buddies over and tune in to Disney Junior Canada, Sunday, at 12:30pm ET and have a Henry HuggleMonster playdate & viewing. You can even go to the Disney Junior Canada website and print out the colouring pages.
Visit Henry HuggleMonster on DisneyJunior Canada.

Before the premier of Henry HuggleMonster, Mickey will have a special 30 minute episode called The Quest for Crystal Mickey!
Plunderin’ Pete has snatched the legendary Crystal Mickey statue from the Clubhouse! Worse yet, without the magic of the Crystal Mickey, the Clubhouse starts to sink into the ground, never to be seen again! The statue must be rescued! Tune in.....this will be an exciting episode. Oh that Plunderin' Pete. In the mean time, pop over to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for oodles of fun, games, stories and prints outs at Disney Junior Canada.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Disney Junior Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Little Eco Footprints March Review #littleecofootprintexpert

2013-04-04T14:22:00.002-04:00

What a great box we got for Easter from Little Eco Footprint! This is their second shipment and I was happy to see the goodies inside as was my son. It really is a nice gift to receive because you never know what's inside but you know it's quality products that come delivered to your door monthly and who doesn't love a surprise in the mail every month? Sending packages and letter mail is almost becoming a lost art.

Products featured in the March Box

{bottom right photo of product is taken from Little Eco Footprint}

Carre Jaune Foam Wash: Made with natural ingredients and it's a cleanser I am all to familiar with. I use it on my face and it's gentle on my sons sensitive skin. We both enjoy it and I know you will too. As a member of Little Eco you get perks like a 15% discount. $5 sample size/$12.95 retail

Boske Kids: What can I say about Boske kids other than it's a luxurious line of infant/children apparel. Designed in Canada, Made in Peru these organic knits are simply stunning. Come take a look at Boské Kids. We got a $10 gift card and another perk of being a member is Little Eco Footprints exclusive Member Only Giveaway. I wish I could enter! $10

Crayon Rocks: This was a special little gift from Little Eco Footprints and I thoughtful one at that I may add. A great little Easter treat as my son loves these little crayons that are meant to strengthen tripod muscles to prepare fingers and hands for writing. Super affordable and fun to colour with prices vary from Sample Pack$1.74 - 8 pack $4.75 - 16 pack $7.12

Buncha Farmers: An all natural, effective stain remover. It's the only kind of stain remover we use and we love this brand because it really does work without the need of toxic chemicals being dumped into our water ways. $4.42

ecojot: Oh I love ecojot! The Giraffe growth chart, $12 is the cutest and I am saving it for when the twins come and grow. My son loves it's fun design and I love it's eco friendly principles, that it's made in Canada and made with 100% post consumer recycled waste. Our perk is a 10% off with a $30 purchase.

First Food Organics: We've been a fan of this line for a couple of years now. Canadian, organic, healthy snacks and treats for your infant and toddler. In the pic above you'll see that my son is enjoying the Organic Munch Mix in Banana, $3.99. Another great product is their Yogurt Yums. Our Little Eco perk with this is 15% off.

John Masters Organics: Something for Mom that is heaven in a bottle. I received the Blood Orange and Vanilla Body wash, $3 (sample size) and I literally just sit and smell it. I don't want to use it because it smells so good...if that makes any sense.

This months brochure featured me writing about eczema and tips on how to treat it, what to use from Carre Jaune and other tips, Good Girl Gone Green wrote about BPA and how to avoid it, Hol-Fit shared her 5 tips on keeping us mothers on our toes through sharing water intake, exercise, meal planning and prep and having a daily smoothie to keep us healthy. The Healthy Ginger wrote a fabulous post on boosting milk production and Natural Mommie blogger share her last post with us on tips on avoiding artificial dyes and flavours.
Visit our bloggers and experts on Little Eco Footprints for more reviews.....

Aprils subscription is coming up and here's a little hint as to what to expect. Don't forget to sign up and join or gift Little Eco to a mom you know!

Little Eco Footprint 1000 Fan Giveaway...Enter on Little Eco Footprints Facebook Page

StrollAir celebrates their 10 Year Anniversary: Enter to win 1 of 10 StrollerDuo's!

2013-04-02T13:30:00.003-04:00

I recently just came across StrollAir strollers last month. We were browsing Pottery Barn Kids and noticed on 3 separate occasions that we saw parents strolling the StrollAir Duo then we saw more parents out and about and I guess a lot of people have been blessed with multiples! I got up the courage to ask the various families how they liked the Duo as you know I am expecting twins myself and all had nothing but great things to say about it. I look forward to experiencing StrollAir when my girls come.

What are the features in the Stroller Duo, retails for $799.99:
• lightweight aluminum chassis
• two independent, reversible seats
• front and back suspension
• two separate hoods with sun protection extension
• mesh vent in hoods
• fully reclining, multi-position seats
• adjustable footrests
• flip-open, removable front bars
• large shopping basket with 3 pockets
• adjustable handle height
• 5 point adjustable safety harness
• quick release wheels
• 360 rotating front wheels with locking mechanism
• quick release wheels

What's included:

• lightweight aluminum chassis with wheels
• 2 stroller seats with hoods
• 2 foot covers
• diaper bag with changing pad
• 2 front bars
• large shopping basket with 3 pockets
• 2 mosquito nets
• 2 rain covers

What I love especially!
3 things I love right off the bat besides all the of the accessories is in these strollers are the large canopies, you'll see in the Black Duo pic the mesh lining for ventilation that you can easily get by adjusting the canopy for a gentle Summer breeze and great circulation of air when your child rests and that you can fold the stroller without having to remove the pram seats. I love that StrollAir is a Canadian company based out of Kitchener,ON and that StrollAir was created by a Mom!

10 Year Anniversary Giveaway!

So far 2 have been given away and they need to reach 13,000!
When they reach every 1000 a draw is done and one lucky family will get a StrollAir Duo of their very own.
*Open worldwide, but winners outside Canada and continental USA will have to pay shipping.
It's easy to enter.
* Winners will be announced via StrollAir on their Facebook Page and via email from StrollAir.
GOOD LUCK!
Like StrollAir on Facebook
Follow StrollAir on Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Mothers Day Giveaway from Diana Nazareth Photography: Nominate a Mom!

2013-04-02T12:44:00.000-04:00

We are very happy to be a part of this fabulous Mothers Day giveaway from Diana Nazareth Photography. Please visit her site to enter.

Here is the info from her blog.

1. Tell us why the mom you nominate should win a Family Photo Session in about 200 words (about one paragraph-long) or less by leaving a comment on Diana Nazareth Photography Facebook page. Post a picture of her here too, if you wish, and if you don’t think she would mind.

You can nominate your SISTER, your MOM, a GOOD FRIEND or NEIGHBOUR a CO-WORKER…any MOM you think is amazing by YOUR standards. There’s no strict criteria for who you can nominate but she is most likely a mom who inspires you or a mom you think would benefit from having a photo session to help document and preserve the love she shares with her family. She may possess a trait you strive towards or maybe she’s been through a tough period in her life, or maybe you simply admire all that’s she accomplished while simultaneously keeping it together at home.

2. LIKE Diana Nazareth Photography Facebook page and share this Mother’s Day Giveaway with your friends. Ask them to visit my Facebook page and nominate a special MOM of their own. (We’ll need to receive at least 20 entries for the giveaway to take place).

3. Have your friends support your nomination by asking them to comment below your entry on my Facebook page. This will help us when it comes time to vote on the winning MOM.

Details:

The only requirement is that this MOM (single or married) lives with her family in one the following ares: Toronto/GTA, Oakville, Burlington, Markham, or Brampton. If she wins, the Family Photo Session will be extended to her immediate family members only and she must be able to schedule her session date before Nov. 2013.

Entries:

We’ll accept entries until April 30. The winning Mom will be announced on Diana Nazareth Photography Facebook page on Mother’s Day, May 12.
All entries will be read and the winner selected by vote by a panel of great woman servicing Moms and their families across the GTA. And as a special gift they’ve put together a “gift bag of goodies” for the winning MOM.

Please support local female entrepreneurs by visiting their websites and don’t forget to LIKE their Facebook pages!

What's inside the GIFT BAG:

The winning MOM will also receive a GIFT BAG containing:

~ A bottle of Pumpkin Seed Organic Moraccan Argan Oil (30ml) from Erica Ashmore of Everything Mom and Baby

~ Complimentary Mom and Tot consultation session (Value $107) from Maya Pande of Pande Family Wellness Centre

~ FREE admission to a nutrition workshop or a $50 gift certificate towards a one-on-one nutritional consultation with Aviva Allen, Nutritionist

~ Four 8″ organic cotton hankies hand-made by Jennifer Webster of Play Me Mama Crafts

~ $40 gift certificate from Nature’s Pure Bliss

~ $100 gift certificate from Twenty Toes Fitness

Our favourite #eco #parenting magazine: EcoParent

2013-04-01T12:00:00.006-04:00

Looks like the Eco Parent website got a little make over and it looks great! Pop over to visit and browse their new tabs so you can get a taste of what their excellent magazine is all about.

As a Canadian I find it so refreshing to read such a magazine that refers to a lot of my parenting philosophies to featuring my kind of advertisements to soothe my green shopping needs that ranges from cloth diapers, wooden toys to natural skin care and baby carriers. Find local shops, great schools and much more. It's a quarterly magazine for parents into natural, green parenting, eco, organic products, Waldorf/Montessori education and fabulous posts written by industry leaders take a peak at last months issue. I have thoroughly enjoyed every issue thus far.
Eco Parent is fun and leaves you with inspiration to live a greener lifestyle. I hope you'll check it out and get inspired to live a greener lifestyle this April in light of Earth Day coming up.....

" Live Better. Play Better. Parent Better and Buy Better. "

In a couple of weeks from April.12-14 you can visit The Green Living Show and if you're a confirmed member/subscriber you can be eligible to get a free ticket.

It's easy to subscribe and I encourage you to do so today! Even get the subscription as gift to a new eco Mom that you may know of. Subscribe at EcoParent and use this code to save 20% that is valid until April.30/13! Exclusive discount code: everything20

Thank you for visiting Everything Mom and Baby!

The One of a Kind Show Spring 2013, Toronto #MadeHere #OOAKS13

2013-03-29T10:30:00.000-04:00

I just got back from the One of a Kind Show and we saw so many wonderful vendors. From food, to wooden toys and accessories to fabulous baby clothing and women's apparel.
I was on the hunt for my favourite baby must haves and finds from these local artisans and here are my top favourites.
First off when you get to the OOAKS there is a great place called The Family Centre. You can drop the kids for an hour and half and let them play while you can shop alone or in peace and quiet ;)
Visit Complimentary Services.

1) Red Threads Design

Red Thread Design is a Toronto-based line of children’s clothing that's designed to last, using gorgeous quality fabrics and vibrant, funky colours. I'll be dressing the girls in ReThreads for sure!

2) Boogaloo Bubby Wear

Beautiful organic gift sets, trendy onesies with matching pants I didn't know what to get and I love Boogaloo Bubbywear. Love it! Their cashmere booties are the cutest.

Hailing from beautiful Salt Water Springs, BC Boogaloo Bubbywear uses 100% organically farmed cotton (non-GMO), for their baby attire to get its vivid colour from eco-dyes that do not contain heavy metals or toxins. They are chemical, pesticide, and sweatshop-free. What's not to love?

3) Wee Urban

I was so happy to run into Holly of WeeUrban and introduce myself as I had no idea they would be there. We've exchanged many emails and I've reviewed Wee Urban in the past and hosted a fabulous giveaway for their Must Have's Sleep Sacks. I wish she made newborn clothing because I am on the hunt for two fabulous rompers for the girls for their Coming Home outfit. Holly doesn't do newborn because they grow out of that phase so quickly so it makes sense.
Wee Urban is made in Canada and uses custom Velvet-X™ certified organic cotton blends, low-impact dyes, and other trendsetting fabrics. Again....what's not to love?

4) Bouton Jaune

Now this is classic Nursery bedding. I loved the soft colours, luxurious cotton and the high quality of these items. All products are made in Montreal with fabrics imported from Europe. I like the half bumpers but you can get a full bumper as well. This is a super chic line for your child's crib.

5) Organic Quilt Company

I was really looking forward to seeing The Organic Quilt Company. I first came across this shop researching eco finds on etsy and I saw this line and fell in love. I've added a few of their items to my Twin WishList on Pinterest. I love the material, the stitching and quality of the line. I bought two little hats for the girls to wear home from the hospital. I wish they made rompers! But the hats I bought will match the merino wool gowns I have for them. I was overwhelmed as I wanted to buy their bibs, burp cloths and quilts. I love this shop!

6) ElectrikKidz

Now this is a funky hip, modern line! Electrik Kidz is another company based out of Montreal. It offers a ]new generation of parents a more urban alternative to traditional children brands where teddy bears, and princesses rule! Their bibs rock, the leggings are utterly adorable and all items are made in Montreal and designed by Electrik Kidz. It's a really great, urban line and I love the funkiness of it.

Thank you OOAKS for having us as a guest and checking out all the great vendors. We had fun!

Thank you for visiting Everything Mom and Baby and I hope you get out to the One of a Kind Show!
They are open all weekend long and for visit the www.oneofakindshow.com website for show dates and times.

#WW My Monkeywearing future #babywearing big brother to be!

2013-03-26T20:08:00.000-04:00

http://www.everythingmomandbaby.com/2013/03/ww-my-monkeywearing-future-babywearing.html

We got a lovely gift from our friends at Je Porte Mon Bebe. With the anticipation of the twins arrival coming soon, future big bro and I got matching wraps. I got a shortie for spring/summer babywearing and he got their kids wrap. He really wants to babywear one of the twins but I think Monkeywearing is more appropriate for the time being ;) My son was happy and noted that he can carry "Cereal" his favourite stuffy with him everywhere now hands free. His words, I swear! At 4 yrs even he knows one of the benefits of babywearing!

Thanks for visiting Everything Mom and Baby for Wordless Wednesday! Apparently Tuesday is the new Wednesday ;)

Essential fatty acids to take through out pregnancy and beyond: Nordic Naturals

2013-03-26T15:02:00.001-04:00

We're big fans of Nordic Naturals in the EMB household and I've always used them. We love them for the quality and being a Nordic company their fish oils comes from clean water and they have a high standard when it comes to the process of creating high quality EFA's. Everyone knows Nordic Naturals is the brand to take for Essential Fatty Acids. If you didn't know it before you now do!

Why are Essential Fatty Acids important during pregnancy?

Supports brain and visual function in developing babies*

Provides mood and nerve support for mothers*

Unflavored, for the sensitive palates of pregnant women

As the official omega-3 of the American Pregnancy Association, Prenatal DHA is the ideal supplement before, during, and after pregnancy, providing safe and effective omega-3 nutrition for both moms and babies. With 450 mg DHA per serving, Prenatal DHA generously fulfills international recommendations for daily DHA intake. Plus, we’ve added 400 I.U. of natural vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), for strong bones and mood support.*
Why we need DHA's
Studies have showed that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help promote emotional balance and a positive mood. Even though our bodies need EFA's it cannot produce itself so that's why it's important to get it through diet and supplements. In toddlers and preschoolers beyond a lot of aggressive behavior has been linked to EFA's deficiency.

Brain development in babies and beyond
It's simple. Babies need fat to develop a healthy brain. The brain is the fattiest organ in the human body. During pregnancy the mothers body is capable of using all if its reserves to nourish and provide for the development of the child. Most of the brain growth happens during fetal life mind you and is completed by the age of 5-6 years. So yes....keep giving your kids EFA's. My son loves the Children's DHA.
DHA via breast milk is another reason to keep taking PreNatal DHA. What is interesting from doing my research for this post is that in follow up studies infants born to mothers who supplemented with DHA had higher mental processing scores and a high degree of vision(to perceive depth) etc at the age of 4 years.

A bonus for mothers

Through clinical studies preterm labour is 4 times less to occur if the mother is supplementing with DHA.
If you suffer from psoriasis or eczema taking EFA's can help treat the condition as well.
Prevents heart disease and pre-eclampsia in pregnancy
Can treat mood disorders such as post partum depression, so take this before during and after

What kind of supplements did you take when you were pregnant? Did you know about EFA's and DHA?

Sources: American Pediatrics, American Pregnancy Org, MedInd.

Abeego~ An original, reusable way to store and protect your food

2013-03-25T14:56:00.005-04:00

I find Abeego to be simply brilliant and a must have for any eco conscious mom of the house. They are by far the most unique way to avoid plastic coverings, kid friendly and boy do they work fabulous!

I was sent the above set for review and I love every little piece. I've been using their Abeego wrap for my sons sandwiches for school, for snacks the Snack wrap is just as brilliant and for bigger things like when making pizza dough, baked goods, or anytime you'd be using saran wrap, Abeego's Flat wrap is all you need.

Abeego is one of my favourite eco friendly products for home so naturally it gets my Green Seal.
It cleans well, I've been using these since November, hand washing and they are still in tip top shape and truly a unique reusable product. They are a true kitchen utensil that everyone should have and experience.

Abeego is completely and proud to be free of plastic!

So..what is Abeego exactly?
Abeego began back in 2008 as a natural alternative to regular plastic film and plastic storage bags. Abeego wraps are completely biodegradable, easy to clean(do use alcohol free soap) and works wonderfully for protecting food naturally and keeping things fresh.

What are they made of?
It's really neat! They are made of hemp/cotton, beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin. It's all completely natural and can be reused over time again. Those 3 simple ingredients keep food fresh because it's breathable. Seriously!

How do I use it?
When using the flats just press and form/mold over the bowl or whatever you using to contain food. Easy peasy! With the form of pressure and the warmth of your hands you can form it tightly to protect the food you are storing.

How should I wash them?
It's best to hand wash in cold water, using eco friendly soap. See Care & Tips here.

Here is just some of the Abeego options that you can do with food!

{ Giveaway is over! }

Win 4 Abeego Flats! We want to encourage you to keep one or two for yourself and gift the others! Share and let others enjoy the benefits of Abeego.

~~How to Enter~~

Tell us what do you think about Abeego?! Which item do you like best? Visit Abeego here to browse and comment below.
Please do not comment under Anonymous or Unknown, those get moved to the spam folder and are not read.
Open to Canada and USA, winner will be announced on April.8
Please read the terms and conditions and enter your contact info here. All info is confidential.
Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter have no affiliation with this giveaway or with Abeego and Everything Mom and Baby.

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Good Luck and thank you for visiting Everything Mom and Baby!

I hope you enjoyed this post and have discovered another great product on EMB.

Shop Abeego!

Congratulations Wanda B! #33, you've won!
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