My Kinder Moments

One of our favorite brands, Kinder, has launched a fun application on facebook that has perks every Mom is sure to love!! My Kinder Moments allows Moms to create a whimsical custom frame showing off their families favorite memories with a chance to win an amazing monthly prize every time a frame is created. Show off your childs first haircut with a fun barbershop themed frame, share photos from your favorite seasonal activity with a holiday or season decked out frame, or simply share those fun every day moments that beg to be captured and shared with friends and family. There are lots of colorful themes and designs to choose from!! The best part?? EVERY time you create a frame you are entered into a monthly draw to win an envy worthy prize. The prize this month is a compact digital camera valued at approximately $500!! Check out the Kinder facebook page and click on the My KINDER Moments tab to get started. Good luck!!

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

Baby and You - The Hot Spot for Mom Talk

We have stumbled across a fabulous new online community for moms ( and dads or anyone with little ones about) to share stories and experiences, meet other like minded moms and score some fabulous savings while you're at it. The best part - this community is built within facebook, a place most of us are already visiting every day. Baby and You is my favorite new spot to chat up other busy moms and gain a giggle from stories shared from other new and veteran parents. On top of the great conversation members of this community can scope out the best weekly deals for moms and babes and right now there is an exclusive contest under way where you can enter to win $500 worth of Joe Fresh Gift Cards!!! $500!!! Joe Fresh is always my first stop when shopping for trendy gear for my kiddos....and occasionally I sneak in a fabulous piece or two for myself. Be sure to stop by the Baby and You page today and share your favorite mommy moments.

Disclosure - I am participating in the Baby and You program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Loblaw Companies. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Going Green with Seventh Generation

Keeping my home eco-friendly has always been something that is important to me - especially since starting my own family. When I think about the kind of future I want for my children, the kind of place I want them to grow and thrive in and one day start families of their own...the reasons why couldn't be any more obvious. I am truly a believer that good habits start at home. We have taught our children from a very young age the important of taking care of our planet as much as we take care of our bodies. After all...we only have one of each of those things and when the environment we spend our time in is healthy and flourishing our bodies reflect that goodness. Take the air quality in our homes for example. Have you ever thought about how many different chemicals you release into the air day to day with common every day cleaning products?? Studies have proven that the average person is exposed to 100 different chemicals per day - and that's just in personal care products. Changing the way you clean can make a tremendous difference in eliminating some of the toxins that you and your family are breathing in on a day to day basis. This is where Seventh Generation products come into play. I recently had the opportunity to try out the range of products that Seventh Generation has to offer and I am absolutely thrilled with the results. Here are a few of my favorites and why I love them...and why I know you will too.

Seventh Generation Natural 2X Concentrated Laundry Liquid. I ADORE the eucalyptus and lavender scented detergent. Besides the fact that it gets the job done and smells glorious it is made with plant-derived cleaning agents, is hypoallergenic and contains no tallow or animal based ingredients. Clean and green laundry ahoy!!



Seventh Generation's line of dishwashing products are another one of my favorites. The lavender floral and mint option is delightful and gains it's tantalizing scent from whole essential oils. It's non-toxic, free of dyes and synthetic fragrances, biodegradable and made from plant derived cleaners.


Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner lets your family breathe easy by providing a deep clean without the use of VOC's and harsh fumes. It works on many surfaces including marble, stainless steel and granite. Like other Seventh Generation products it's biodegradable, made with plant derived cleaning agents, is hypoallergenic and non-toxic. A clean home and a green home just became possible.

Besides offering a wide range of cleaning products Seventh Generation has also recently re-launched their collection of Free & Clear Diapers and Baby Wipes. Free & Clear Diapers are free of chlorine processing, free of fragrances and latex and are hypoallergenic. The Free & Clear Diaper Wipes (which are a new staple in my home) are alcohol free, hypoallergenic and also free of chlorine processing, fragrance and dyes.

To get more information on Seventh Generation products and to score some money savings coupons visit the Seventh Generation Community.

Disclosure – I am participating in the Seventh Generation program by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Kinder Re-Launches in Canada (AND I'm a KinderMom!!)

Kinder Eggs take me back. When I was a little girl I would save up my hard earned allowance to splurge on the sweet chocolate treat. What other goodie available at my local corner store would score me not only a sugar fix but a fun and collectible toy that I could put together myself?? My bedroom windowsill boasted one of the most impressive kinder toy collections in town. Years later I share the joy and anticipation of unwrapping a Kinder Egg with my two children. What was once my favorite childhood treat is now one of theirs. Kinder has brought us full circle...and that leaves me feeling kind of giddy and tingly inside.

Imagine my joy when I discovered I was chosen to take part in the Kinder Mom ambassador program celebrating the Canadian re-launch of Kinder Surprise after 30 years of creating memories with Canadian families. Kinder is all about finding time to enjoy special moments with your children and the re-launch of one of our favorite brands is all about sharing the ways Canadian Moms make that time with their families. Be sure to swing by the Kinder Canada facebook page to join in on the conversation and share the ways your family makes time for play every day!!


The 2012 re-launch brings with it a whole new collection of Kinder Surprise Toys!! The new collection boasts over 70 brand new toys...and this collection is shaping up to be the most exciting yet. The new collection includes flying, water squirting, stamping and inflatable toys and even a collection of giant safari toys that measure at 22 cm each!! To get a sneak peek at these toys and more check out the Kinder Canada facebook page.

Tomorrow (August 29, 2011) you'll be able to get in on the fun yourself when Kinder gives away 5,000 eggs on their facebook page!! Be sure to get in on the action and stay tuned for more exciting Kinder news.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

I'm Making the switch to Sonicare Flexcare!! And You Can Too!! (Giveaway!!)

I have somewhat of an embarrassing confession to make. I am an electric toothbrush virgin. It's true. Not only have I never used an electric toothbrush but I am the only person in my household without one. Even my 2 year old uses one. It's shameful. It's not that I have some kind of an aversion to tossing my manual brush I just have simply never put that much thought into making the switch. Like most Moms I run in overdrive day to day putting my families needs first. Doing my best to stay afloat amongst the daily to-dos leaves little time for thinking of myself. Now that we have a third little one on the way it has made me realize it's either now or never. We wouldn't let our children fluff off their dental health...why should we treat ourselves any different??

With a wedding date only 2 weeks away starting the Sonicare Flexcare+ challenge seemed like just the right way to jump start my preparations for the big day and start taking my dental health seriously!! 2 weeks to healthier teeth and gums...I'm all over it. Thanks to Mom Central Canada my old manual has hit the road and my soon-to-be husband is green with envy over my new (and much cooler than his) Phillips Sonicare Flexcare+ brush. You can join in on the fun too by scoring one of these amazing complete gum care systems of your own with our giveaway!!


Here's Why You'll Love It -

• There are 5 power modes - Gum Care, Clean, Refresh, Sensitive and Massage
• UV brush head sanitizer kills up to 99% of bacteria and viruses
• Sleek design and easy to read illuminated display (my kids think my toothbrush in from the future) plus reliable battery life of 3 weeks (wow!!)
  
• Built in 2 minute timer to ensure recommended brushing time
• Patented Sonicare technology removes everyday stains and helps naturally whiten teeth

So you want one of your very own right?? Of course you do!! Entering is EASY. Comment on this post letting us know why you want to make the Sonicare switch and you'll be eligible to win a Phillips Sonicare Flexcare+ power brush valued at $219.95. Please be sure to leave us your email address. Contest is open to Canadian residents only and all entries must be received by August 10, 2011. Readers may enter this contest on multiple blogs but are only eligible to win one Sonicare Flexcare+ complete gum care package.

Disclosure – I am participating in the PHILIPS SONICARE FLEXCARE+ program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Philips Canada. I received a Sonicare product pack and a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

We LOVE Chex Gluten Free!!

If you know anyone with a gluten intolerance it's almost a guarantee you have heard the same old complaints about the lack of delicious gluten free foods available. Whether you avoid eating Gluten because of medical reasons or for the digestive benefits no one should have to suffer with bland alternatives in this day and age. Good news for Canadians is that Chex Gluten Free has now arrived in grocery stores across the country!! Chex is celebrating the arrival of their delicious new cereals with a twitter party taking place TONIGHT at 8:30pm. Look for the hashtag #ChexGF for great conversation, recipes and chances to win great prizes from Chex (including a Cuisinart hand blender)!!!

Our family was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try out the new gluten free cereals for ourselves. The cereal is available in two delicious flavors, Rice and Honey Nut. The Honey Nut cereal was so well loved by my snack loving kiddos that we went through an entire box in 2 days!! I have to say I can't blame them..it's now one of my very favorite cereals and from now on I am hiding that box on a very high shelf!! Chex Gluten Free is not only a fabulous choice for breakfast or a midday snack it can also be used in a variety of unique recipes that your whole family is sure to love. Check out Life Made Delicious for the top 10 list of gluten-free recipes using Chex Gluten Free.

We recently made up a batch of Chex Brittle which was of course gluten free and a crowd pleaser.

Chex Brittle
Source: Adapted from the original recipe on Life Made Delicious


Ingredients

• 4 cups Chex Gluten Free Rice Cereal
• 1 cup salted peanuts
• 1/2 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions

1. Heat oven to 325. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl mix all ingredients until evenly coated. Spread on cookie sheet in single layer.

3. Bake 12 minutes. Spread on wax paper until completely cool. Store in an airtight container.

*If you find your brittle is a little too sticky for your taste just leave out for a little longer..it will turn out nice and crunchy!!

Enjoy!!

Disclosure: I am participating in the Chex Gluten Free program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received a Chex gift pack and a gift card as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Stuff We Love: ShoeDazzle

Do you love my new shoes?? I scored them from one of my new favorite websites and obsessions shoedazzle.com. I am HOOKED and my newest hobby is hooking all of my friends. Why is it SO fabulous you wonder?? Ever wish you could have a personal stylist to hand pick for you styles to suit your needs on a monthly basis?? ShoeDazzle does just that..and EVERY item is only $39.95. For real. Your first item is 20% off...and that is how I scored my new favorite pair of flats above. A whole new showroom is created for you EVERY month with shoes that are the epitome of your own personal style. Special edition shoes created by celebrities as well as extra special limited edition collections are a regular sight to see. The more friends you sign up..the more free credits you can earn towards FREE shoes!! Plus you have the option of browsing your friends showrooms and shopping from their styles. You're welcome.

Maybelline Eye Studio Makeup

I was recently, thanks to the folks at matchstick, extremely lucky enough to have the opportunity to try out the entire line of Maybelline Eye Studio products. IT'S LOVE - real, ridiculous, head over heels, extraordinary love. I have been swept off of my feet. For the first time in my life people (strangers!!) literally stop me in my tracks while I am out and about to ohhh and awwe over my eye makeup. It would be ridiculous if it wasn't so incredible. I have lost count over the number of people who have asked me "What brand of eye makeup are you wearing and where can I get some??" Do I have your attention yet??
My personal favorite picks from the collection (and now perma staples in my makeup bag) have to be the complete line of Lasting Drama Gel Liners, the XXL Pro Volume Mascara and the Colour Plush Ready to Wear Palettes. Each morning I wake up and choose an eyeshadow palette from the collection to compliment my look. The palettes are really easy to use and create a professional, coordinated look anyone can create at home, no makeup artist required. The colors glide on smooth and are long lasting and vibrant. To really make my eyes pop I use the drama gel eyeliner next. This liner is, bar none, the best I have EVER used. It stays put ALL DAY LONG. I've cried with this stuff on, slept with it on..and it somehow hangs in there. Finally I finish everything off with the XXL pro volume mascara. The volume mascara actually does what it promises. My eyelashes are thick, long and OUTSTANDING.

The only complaint I have about Maybelline's Eye Studio Collection?? I'm ADDICTED!! I've definitely added some extra time into my daily beauty regime..but it's worth it.

What are you waiting for?? Go get your beautiful on!!

Stuff We Love - Crayola Chalk Maker

What kid doesn't LOVE sidewalk chalk?? While enjoying some Saturday morning cartoons recently my 5 year old squeeled with delight at a commercial advertising the Crayola Chalk Maker. Sure enough on our next shopping trip we had to hunt down a kit for ourselves to try out at home. The price was totally reasonable at only $13.99 and the box comes with 2 reusable molds as well as 6 chalk powder colors and mixing containers. Mixing and pouring the chalk was simple, quick and fun and the finished result gave my little artist something to be really proud of. The Crayola Chalk Maker kit is a really fun project for a sunny weekend afternoon and is guaranteed to provide smiles and countless hours of artistic pleasure for your little Picasso.Shake Shake Shake!!!Pour.Let set for 10-20 minutes.
SO PROUD of the finished product.Putting his chalk to some good use :)

Oh Poop (my newfound love for Purina Maxx Scoop)

Poop. It's one of those unavoidable not so glamorous parts of being a Mom. Every Mom has one kind of a poop horror story or another. Now if it wasn't bad enough that we deal with all these poop antics from our own children (and sometimes other peoples children) most women are unfortunately the ones that get to tackle the poop of the family pets as well. There is no avoiding it...and most of us have grudgingly come to terms with this fact. The good news is though is that at least when it comes to your cat there is a way to make this burden a little easier to bare.

Thanks to the folks at Matchbox I recently had the opportunity to try out a fabulous new cat litter made especially for small spaces called Purina Max Scoop Small Spaces. We all know cat litter boxes are disgusting places. I have been known, I admit, to let mine sit for entirely too long between changes for fear of - THE SMELL. I have changed about a million diapers in my life time but nothing can come close to the nasty smell that comes from that cat litter box. I admit I was skeptical and in my mind was writing this product off as 'just another cat litter' ..but I was wrong. Not only is holding my breath while changing the dreaded box no longer required but nasty smells no longer waft up the hallway after my kitty has done her business. REJOICE!! One less thing in the world of poop that I have to worry about!! What makes this cat litter so fab you wonder?? Well I looked it up so I can tell you that Maxx Scoop is formulated with HealthGuard which is an antibacterial agent that controls the growth of odor causing bacteria. Pretty much it drastically minimizes THE SMELL. Neat.
Guess what?? You can try this awesome product out for yourself as well..FOR FREE!! Visit www.trymaxxscoop.ca today for an opportunity to try a box out yourself for free.

Green Works Natural Laundry Detergent

This is a re-post from our old blog url. 10 lucky itmom readers won themselves a free bottle of this fabulous (and our personal favorite) green friendly laundry detergent. The final word is in - YOU LOVED IT. If you haven't tried Green Works Natural Laundry Detergent out for yourself yet please give our review below a read to find out what all the fuss is about. :)

Come on..all the cool Moms are doing it. You know you want to. No pressure but going green is without a doubt the new black. Everywhere you look nowadays it is nearly impossible not to notice the many brands that are joining the green movement. And why not? Families everywhere are embracing products that are not only friendly to our environment but are also safer for every day use within our homes. Those of us with young children know all too well the fears and risks that come with the use of harsh chemicals found in too many of our day to day cleaning products. With all of these fabulous new options available to us in our local grocery store cleaning isle how do we now narrow it down to which brand is best for our family?? And why in the heck with more than a handful of environmentally friendly toilet bowl cleaners out there does there not seem to be a natural based laundry detergent?! No need to fret, we've got you covered.

Thanks to matchstick our itmom team was recently given the opportunity to test out the new Green Works Natural Laundry Detergent. Already being a fan of the Green Works line I was enthused and more than a little curious to give this new laundry detergent a go. Being like most Moms I know I am usually pretty brand loyal when it comes to my cleaning arsenal. Always ready to step up to a challenge I, along with my itmom crew, gathered up our washing and got busy. The final verdict - WE LOVE IT. Green Works Natural Laundry Detergent how do we love thee?? Let us count the ways. 1) Friendly to all types of machines (including he!!) Major points scored before I even opened the bottle. 2) THE SMELL!!!!!! I am thoroughly 100% addicted. I cannot stop huffing my clean laundry. As an added bonus the fresh scent lasts for days and days. Not to mention the amazing smell that fills my home when I am running a load. 3) SOFT!! FLUFFY!! Sounds nice right?? My daughters baby blankets have never felt as plush as after washing with this new detergent. Impressive. 4) Effective stain treating. Gone are the days of scrubbing out diaper mishaps with a separate stain remover prior to washing. Rubbing a small amount of detergent into what would have been a difficult poop stain 5 minutes prior to washing took that sucker right out. K.O. 5) Options!! Green Works also offers a Free & Clear version of their Natural Laundry Detergent (perfect for those newborn sleepers or for a family member with extra sensitive skin) 6) Remember what I said about how going green is the new black?? This applies here. All natural plant-based ingredients. No icky chemical residue. Better for your family..and better for our big, beautiful planet. Feels good doesn't it??

Review & Fabulous GIVEAWAY Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara

Ladies I am admittedly rather loyal when it comes to my most favorite brand of mascara. I've been using the same kind since as far back as I can remember. If it ain't broke don't fix it, right? Well recently I was fortunate enough to be offered the opportunity to try something new..something daring..something different. I was unfaithful....and I loved every minute of it. I am talking of course about the brand new and innovative Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara.This mascara BLEW ME AWAY. To be honest I was more than skeptical the first time I eagerly unwrapped the pretty black and gold tube from it's packaging, but I was far from disappointed with the finished results. What makes this mascara different than the rest? Pulse Perfection boasts a small vibrating engine that automates application with 7,000 unique vibrations per minute. On more than one occasion in the past I have given thought to lash extensions to achieve the sexy and sultry look I have been dreaming of. Now thanks to this revolutionary mascara I can achieve lash perfection with ease I never thought possible. Honestly..this stuff is a-mazing. You can find out more about Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara by checking out pulseperfection.caAfter recently sharing my love for Puse Perfection with my friends and family the verdict is in - WE LOVE IT.

Now wouldn't you love to get in on the action too??

Thanks to matchstick we are giving away 2 Maybelline Pulse Perfection sampler packs to 2 of our lucky readers. Each package contains 1 full size tube of the mascara, a starter guide and 3 $5 pass along coupons to share with friends and family.

TO ENTER-
1. Post a comment here with your email address. Contest deadline is Monday, July 20 at midnight.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES (please post a seperate comment for each additional entry)
1. Follow us.
2. Twitter about this giveaway, linking to this page, and share your twitter url here.
3. Post our button on your blog, share your blog url here.
4. Blog about this giveaway, share your url here.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

Best Beauty Bang for your Buck

My favorite beauty picks this season are all about quality and affordability. Yes..you can have BOTH. Who says you can't have it all??



1. Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse. This air-whipped liquid makeup creates the appearance of an airbrushed finish for a flawless complexion. I traded up my high-end brand for this and have never been happier. I have been asked several times since by complete strangers how I manage to have such smooth, perfect looking skin. Maybe she's born with it???

2. Revlon Age Defying Translucent Finishing Powder. This weightless powder contains botafirm which helps minimize the appearance of fine lines while protecting against moisture loss. The translucent powder finishes beautifully. No caked up mess here. This compact comes with me wherever I go. Loves it.

3. Mark Juice Gems. I admit it - I'm a lip gloss addict. If there was a 3 step program I would be seated in the front row every week. I love juice gems because not only are they a fantastic bargain but they also come in about a million fun shades (ok well not really..but close) and each tube contains real fruit extract giving each shade it's own unique flavor. The gloss lasts a really long time, contains the perfect amount of shimmer and moisturizes like no other gloss I've tried. Buy some. Now.

4. Revlon Beyond Natural Blush & Bronzer. The perfect combo of sheer blush and bronzer to give you the natural look of a sunkissed glow. Blend the blush and bronzer together with a big brush and lightly dust your cheekbones, temples, the tip of your nose and tops of your forehead. Think wherever the sun would hit your face...that is where you want to apply this. The perfect finish for a flawless face. Pale is not cute..you need this.

5. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Blackest Black. Or as I like to call it - THE BEST MASCARA EVER. I have tried many, many different brands of mascara at all different price points and I keep coming back to this one. Why? Because it's fantastic. The brush glides on smooth every time with no clumps, lasts for hours (or days if you tend to fall into bed without removing your eye makeup as I have admittedly done some days) and is priced to please. Don't waste your money thinking you will find something better..it's not out there.

6. Maybelline Expertwear Eyeshadow. If you want an expert look every time this is the shadow for you. Expertwear is like paint by numbers for your eyes. You can not mess this up. Besides sporting 48 beautiful colors to choose from each palette comes labeled with where it is to be properly applied to your lids and detailed how-to instructions on the back of each case. Perfectly coordinated results every time. If you're like me you will rush out and buy several, with matching liners to coordinate with your spring/summer wardrobe. And you know what..you wouldn't regret it.

Product Review - Gracious May Baby Boots

One of the items at the top of my list of baby girl must haves was a pair of Gracious May's adorable apple baby girl boots. Of course as soon as the doctors verified that I was indeed having a girl I ordered my little one a pair that very afternoon. The timing in which I received the much anticipated package couldn't have come on a better day. The moment I walked into my front door the afternoon I was induced there they were waiting for me..Arianna's very first gift from Mommy eagerly awaiting to be opened. Amidst contractions I tore into the packaging and wept with delight when I pulled the tiny, perfect boots from the box. Arianna's very first pair of boots. Let me tell you these boots cannot possibly be justified by a photo. They are handcrafted with love in the little details and are so soft and sweet..perfect for little feet. After recently checking Gracious May's shop I have discovered they now also offer baby boots in an adorable cupcake pattern as well. You can get your own gorgeous, original designed baby boots at Gracious May for $29.95. I can't possibly think of a better gift for a new baby or a sweeter indulgence for your own trendy little one.