When I was a kid we always had a special pyjama bag to put our pjs in during the day. This meant that (a) they weren’t just lying around and (b) we always knew where they were when it came time for bed. I know it’s been a while since I was a kid, but when I hit up our friend Google to try and find one for Maisie I was at a loss – I came up empty time and time again. I turned to Etsy in hope that someone creative had similar childhood memories, and that’s where I discovered DesignLaboratoire’s PYJ-AMIS.

Sophie, the designer and creator behind PYJ-AMIS (a play on pyjamies & “amis”,  French for friend) was born in Paris, studied fine jewelry for four years in Lausanne, Switzerland, jewelry design in Geneva, and industrial design in Zurich. To say that PYJ-AMIS are well designed is an understatement! DesignLaboratoire were kind enough to send me a little bunny PYJ-AMIS for Maisie to try and it was an absolute HIT. Not only is the bunny design incredibly cute (its little cross-stitch nose is the epitome of cute), but Sophie added Maisie’s name making it personalized cuteness personified. (Maisie’s full name is very unusual and I’m positive we’re never going to find it alongside regular personalized items, so being able to add it to items like PYJ-AMIS makes them even more special.)

PYJ-AMIS come in seven different designs – Sooree the mouse, Foosh the Frog, Swing the seahorse, Boon the bunny, Pingoo the penguin, Kooky the koala and, the newest member of the PJY-AMIS menagerie, Piggy the pig. Each of the animals are available in six different colours (kiwi, raspberry, ocean, gold, oatmeal, and rich cream) with contrasting features and a hanging ribbon so that the PYJ-AMIS can be hung at the end of the bed or on a hook. They are even cuter in person than I imagined, and as soon as I showed Maisie what it was for she immediately insisted that ALL of her pyjamas go into the bunny. I think this would make an awesome birthday gift and if you are as big of an organization freak as I am, you HAVE to get one.

PYJ-AMIS cost $35 USD – add an additional $5 USD for personalization for that special little one but right now, as an Easter special you can get FREE name printing with any order of a “Boon the Bunny” Pyj-Amis during the whole month of April!

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Sophie from DesignLaboratoire has very kindly provided the opportunity for TWO readers to WIN their choice of personalized PYJ-AMIS (one each).

To Enter: Visit the DesignLaboratoire Etsy store and leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us what your favourite item is. Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” #WIN 1 of 2 personalized PYJ-AMIS pyjama bags from DesignLaboratoire & @SpiltMilkMoms http://tinyurl.com/4ppu6pl #giveaway #contest “ and leave us the link for extra DAILY entries.
  
• If you ‘Like’ Spilt Milk Moms on Facebook, leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave us a comment with the link for one extra entry.
• Subscribe to Spilt Milk Moms by RSS or Email Subscription and leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry.
  

This giveaway ends at 12:01am PST on Wednesday, April 6th, and the winners will be selected using Random.org.  Winners will have 7 days to respond to our notification email before other winners are selected.  This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents.

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I haven’t mentioned it here before, but for over a year now I’ve been suffering from Postpartum Depression (PPD) and more recently, Postpartum Psychosis.

I know it sounds cliche, but I never thought it would happen to me. When Little Miss was born I was on cloud nine – I’d had an easy pregnancy, an empowering labour, and, despite the sleeplessness, I reveled in motherhood. For the first few months I felt like being a mother was exactly what I was put on this earth to do.

Then, somewhere between five and seven months in, things started to change. Everything became harder, I felt less capable, I second-guessed my decisions, I felt anxious about everything from naps to food, I thought I was a bad mother, that everyone else was better than me, and that people were conspiring against me. I couldn’t cope. I was sure it was because my hormones were out of whack with my period returning and the breastfeeding, or that the sleep deprivation was kicking in. Slowly, slowly things grew worse and worse until I would rock Little Miss to sleep at every nap, every bedtime, with tears streaming down my face. I abandoned half-full shopping carts in the middle of the grocery store because I just didn’t have the strength to continue shopping. I didn’t go out much, hell, I didn’t shower much. It took all of my energy to pay attention to Little Miss and just to get through the day.

One day, after a particularly difficult nap time, I walked out of Little Miss’ nursery, down the stairs, and when I saw my car keys in the bowl by the front door I was overwhelmed by the thought that Little Miss would be better off without me. I thought about taking the keys and just going far, far, away and never coming back. Luckily, I had enough strength of mind to call my husband instead. He came home right away, and after a few more rough days I went to my doctor and told him that I thought that something was wrong with me. Like thousands of other women, I was diagnosed with Postpartum Mood Disorder.

I thought that PPD (or PPMD or PND) only happened in the first couple of months of motherhood. I wonder all the time how different things would have been if I’d simply known something, anything, about PPD. As soon as I had a diagnosis, I went online. Not only did I learn a lot more about PPD, but I also discovered an incredible support group, one so amazing that when I had a massive setback six weeks later, the women I’d connected with called and emailed me patiently answering all my questions about in-patient care, recovery and their experiences. (I narrowly escaped being admitted to the hospital, and was saved only by an outpatient program and some heavy drugs).

Although I have auditory hallucinations (I hear a baby crying when there isn’t one) and intrusive suicidal thoughts, it doesn’t have to be that bad for it to classified as Postpartum Mood Disorder. Please, please, PLEASE take a moment to read the list of symptoms on the incredibly resourceful website, Postpartum Progress, as it could save someone’s life. I went for five very long months without a diagnosis, without a reason for how I was feeling, and there’s no reason in today’s day and age why more people don’t know about this disease. Motherhood IS hard, but with a little education and understanding we can make sure that it doesn’t become harder than necessary for thousands of women.

If you, or someone you know, has a Postpartum Mood Disorder, you can find help and support at Postpartum Support International, and loads of info and encouragement at Postpartum Progress. If you’re on Twitter, check out #PPDchat on Mondays to chat with other mamas who understand what you’re going through.

I’m certainly not “healed” but I’m fighting everyday to get better and beat this disease and I know I’m not alone in that.

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I’m going to start this review by saying I have an incredibly rubbish immune system. I get every cold, flu, sniffle, cough  – I swear I get sick even if I even watch a tv show about sick people. My husband (who never gets sick) is always making fun of how often I’m sick. Which is probably why, last month when he and Little Miss came down with the pre-Christmas bug, he was seriously shocked – I DIDN’T GET SICK. I know. Freaky right?

Truth is I had a little trick in my back pocket – Oscillococcinum by BOIRON. No, I can’t pronounce it either but I’m telling you it’s my new secret weapon against those pesky bugs. My favourite part – it’s homeopathic so I don’t need to worry about any yucky chemicals.  You simply dissolve the contents of the little tubes in your mouth (they taste sweet) and then repeat with two more doses six hours apart. You’re supposed to dissolve the dose in water for children under two but Little Miss loves the taste so much we just pour them in her mouth and away we go.

BOIRON has a whole line of children’s homeopathic medicines (as well as products for adults too) and I haven’t been disappointed with any of them we’ve tried. (Check out our previous review of Camillia). Oscillococcinum costs around $12 CDN for 6 doses or $19.99 for 12 (although I’ve been told by friends it’s far cheaper in the US!)

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I carry a little notebook with me in my purse so I can write down any fun and cool things I come across in my travels so I can share them with you. The other day I sat down to go through them and to my surprise several of the items kept coming back to the same company Galison Mudpuppy.

I’m going to review both arms of the company but today we’re starting with Mudpuppy. Here’s the first thing you should know – if you have a kid in your life you NEED to know about Mudpuppy. What do they do? Well a better question would be what DON’T they do – they have a whole whack of fantastic kids products from sticker books, to puzzles, to flip & draws, to flashcards. All of the items I’ve seen (in stores, at friends’ houses and with the items they kindly sent me) have been fantastic quality.

Mudpuppy sent me the Painter’s Pallet Wooden Magnetic Numbers and the Sweet Owls Wall Clock (above). The wooden numbers were a hit before I even finished getting them out of the package! Each set holds 40 numbers or symbols: 3 of each number from zero through nine, 3 plus or times signs, four dashes, and three dots (so you make your own division sign!) The set is suggested for ages 3 and up because of the small pieces but I just removed the dots & the dashes for now and the rest of the numbers aren’t of an edible size (trust me – she’s tried!) As much as I love the product I adore the packaging too – the magnets come in a resealable “milk carton” style container which is great for storage & gift giving. And they come with “green” credentials too – the magnetic pieces are made of 80% recycled wood, the package contains 85% recycled paper and they’re printed with nontoxic inks. They retail for $18*.

The Sweet Owl Wall Clock is one of six available clock designs (others include a robot, a monkey, a pirate, butterflies & the Very Hungry Caterpillar). They’re made from fiberboard, come ready to hang and measure nine and a half inches in diameter. They do need one AA battery which is not included but I’ve discovered that being a parent means you always have batteries on hand. The clocks are also printed with nontoxic inks and are phthalate free. Now they are fiberboard so they probably aren’t going to be heirloom pieces that get passed on from generation to generation but they are charming & will add to any child’s room. Oh and the best part? They sell for $20 so they’re an affordable room accessory and make a perfect gift.

I highly recommend checking out their website, especially the (very long) list of award winning products – I’m sure you’ll like what you find!

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Galison Mudpuppy is generously giving away each of the items they sent me – the Painter’s Pallet Wooden Magnetic Numbers and the Sweet Owls Wall Clock, one item each to TWO lucky readers.

PLUS Galison Mudpuppy are giving ALL our readers the chance to save 15% on purchases made from their on-line store – all you have to do is enter coupon code ZZZ2 at checkout. This is a great chance to stock up on perfect birthday presents for all the kids on your list!

To Enter the contest: Go to Mudpuppy’s website and then leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us which of their products you love the most. Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @galisonmudpuppy and @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” Enter to #WIN fabulous @galisonmudpuppy products & save 15% on purchases! http://tinyurl.com/6fj3ydv @SpiltMilkMoms #giveaway “ and leave us the link for extra DAILY entries. This entry method will count as TWO ENTRIES for this giveaway (leave two comments, please).
• If you ‘Like’ GalisonMudpuppy on Facebook, leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry. If you visit their page be sure to let them know Spilt Milk Moms set you!
  
• If you ‘Like’ Spilt Milk Moms on Facebook, leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog and leave us a comment with the link for one extra entry.
• Subscribe to Spilt Milk Moms by RSS or Email Subscription and leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry.
  

This giveaway ends at 12:01am PST on Saturday, March 5th, and the winners will be selected using Random.org.  The winners will have 7 days to respond to our notification email before other winners are selected.  This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents.

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Ahhhh Valentine’s Day- how I used to hate you.  You seemed like such a flake with your cheap chocolates and overpriced roses.  Then I had a child and now you’re my new favourite holiday!  I’m not entirely sure how this metamorphosis happened but at the beginning of January one of my best girlfriends and I decided that we would throw a Valentine’s Day party “hosted” by our two little girls for all of their friends.  Slowly and surely as I searched for ideas and resources I started to love this holiday as a sweet celebration of all kinds of love and if there’s anything us Moms know, it’s love.

I thought I’d share the best of my on-line discoveries with you in hopes that I can win some more people over to the heart side!

First off check out these AMAZING and FREE downloadable Valentine Subway Art from the ladies at Eighteen25.

I had mine printed at a local drugstore and it cost me less than $6 for 8 x 10′s of the two different designs- how fabulous is that?

Want more free printables?  How about this entire Valentine’s party collection (includes party circles, favor tags, candy bar wrappers, mini candy bar wrappers, food tents, and a “Be Mine” banner) designed by Green Apple Paperie especially for Catch My Party.

Are you making a little romantic dinner at home?  Check out these fabulous felt heart placemats from Pier 1- a steal at $2.95 each.

Looking for some decoration ideas?

I used this easy tutorial from the master of decoration, Martha Stewart to create tissue paper poms in fuschia, soft pink and red to hang from the ceiling for our party.  The first one was a little tricky but once you get the hang of it you’ll be surprised at how easy it.  Hit the dollar store for some cheap tissue paper and then poms away!

And this paper heart garland by Oh So Crafty is so sweet (and simple).  I don’t have a sewing machine so I hand stitched mine- I think the little contrasting white stitches look super cute.  I also made a couple of vertical garlands by stitching downwards and using double sided tape to ensure the patterned hearts had a design on both sides (the tape also kept the pieces in place).

If you need some kid friendly Valentine’s food ideas head on over to my personal blog, Aprons & Heels for a sneak peak at our menu for the upcoming party as well as some of the YUMMY recipes we’re using.

And finally if you haven’t already checked them out don’t miss the AWESOME promo code from the stunning Naomi Gray Designs, Trea’s fabulous list of Valentine’s Ideas (I’m partial to number 2!) or the mesmerizing Tree of Love.

From all of us here at Spilt Milk Moms – Happy Valentine’s Day! xoxo

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I have been looking for a personalized necklace to celebrate Maisie’s birth since before she was even born. I didn’t want anything that screamed “family necklace” or was too cutesy, and it had to go well with my other day-to-day jewellery (a combination of Tiffany & Co, Hot Diamonds & Joy Everley Designs.) (Yes, I’ll be honest – I’m picky!) Shortly before Christmas, I discovered Naomi Gray Designs and fell head over heels in love with the My Little Angel necklace (above) in silver. This beautiful necklace features a hand stamped heart with an initial, a semi-precious birthstone briolette and the charming little angel wing, all on a delicate rope chain – it was the perfect thing to spend some of my Christmas money on.

I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with my necklace – it is SO beautiful and I get compliments on it whenever I wear it. It’s definitely become my day-to-day necklace and there’s something about having a memento celebrating my lovely girl so close to my heart that makes me smile every time I see it. I seriously considered purchasing the Birthstone Mini Ring Necklace as well – I’m thinking it might be the perfect gift for my mum’s birthday this year. I’ve also fallen in love with the Big Love Ring and may need to send Husbando some serious hints before my birthday. There are so many beautiful pieces in this collection that you really are spoiled for choice!

Naomi Gray Designs has created some really lovely pieces especially to celebrate the season of love. Just look at the Love Necklace and Love Ring – they’re both available in rose gold too which would be so sweet for Valentine’s Day.

The jewelry isn’t the only thing about this company that sparkles, the customer service was fantastic. I was in a rush to receive my necklace before Christmas and Nicole responded to my emails so quickly and then went above and beyond to get the info I needed. And when she discovered that they didn’t currently have shipping options to Canada she set them up specifically for our Spilt Milk Mom readers – how amazing is that?

I LOVE the beautiful simplicity and charm of all their fabulous designs, so I am super duper excited that the fabulous Nicole from Naomi Gray Designs has very generously provided Spilt Milk Moms with a 25% off promo code for their readers just in time for Valentine’s Day. All you have to do is use the code “SpiltMilk25″ at check out! What a wonderful offer (I know I’ll be taking advantage of it!) Don’t miss out!

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This year for Christmas I really wanted a digital photo frame. I have so many digital photos on my computer and it makes me sad to never see them (and they don’t seem to print quite right the few times I’ve tried). My (hopefully) brother-in-law-to-be drew my name this year and I have to admit that he hit it out of the park with his present  – an ALBUM. Now this isn’t just any album, this is a portable digital photo gallery  – basically a digital photo book that fits in your purse!

I (erroneously) expected the ALBUM to be a bit gimmicky or low res, but it’s completely the opposite. The photo resolution is AMAZING and the just over 5″ x 7″ size is perfect. You can download photos from any digital camera, memory card, flash drive, other ALBUMs or through a computer. And the kicker? It holds 40,000 photos. (I can’t get the image in my head of a little old lady showing me photos of her grandkids on a plane and then pulling out the ALBUM and showing her my 40,000 photos – hahaha!)

The European design is obvious in how easily the ALBUM changes from photo album to photo frame. and I love how the thick real leather cover protects the screen (while looking cool).

The other night my husband mentioned how wonderful it was to look up from the couch to see photos from our wedding, travels together and Little Miss as she grows up. These photos each represent a fantastic memory and it would be so hard to choose just one to look at – with the album I don’t have to, even on-the-go!

The ALBUM by ALBUMteam sells for around $150 USD and is available from Amazon.com or these local stockists.

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I’m conflicted about the Wean Cubes I was sent by Wean Green. They’re super Eco-friendly (and cute!), which makes me want to luuuuuuuurrrrrrvvvvvvve them, but the day to day use makes me a little unsure about using them as often as I’d like. Let me break it down for you!

Pro’s

• Wean Cubes are made of glass, which makes my shiny puffy heart love them. I’m trying, trying, to not use too much plastic with Little Miss, but it’s not always easy and these are the first glass, small size, weaning/baby food containers I’ve discovered. Glass also means they’re BPA, PVC, Phthalates, and Plasticizer free.
• They’re bigger than other weaning cubes I’ve used, which is fantastic when your child moves from eating a few spoonfuls to a more substantial meal (although she’s just recently returned to her non-eating ways – UGH!) The size of these containers is fantastic and because of this I was able to find room for them in my freezer in all those funny little spaces between the bag of peas and the perogies.
• You can freeze them, microwave them and serve in them, which saves on clean up.
• The lids click in to lock and hold well, although I haven’t actually performed the “full of liquid and tossed in my purse when I wasn’t looking” test (I’ll get to that in a minute.)
• Wean Cubes are Canadian!

Con’s

• The weight. Wean Cubes weigh A LOT more than both Baby Cubes and my small click & lock (albeit plastic) containers. I find them to be too heavy & bulky to throw in my purse (hello snack bags!) for short trips out, and if we were going out for longer I definitely wouldn’t pack these cubes due to their heavy weight. Because of this I’ve mainly used them around the house and they do work great, but I would have preferred them to be a bit more portable.
• As soon as I received the cubes I washed them and put them in the Tupperware drawer. I then went to do some laundry when I heard an insanely loud noise. Little Miss had got a hold of the cubes and was banging them together as hard as her little toddler arms would allow. I’ve read how durable the cubes are and we did get to test that with the “thrown-from-the-high-chair” test, but, although I should have probably known better, chances are that these will fall into little hands. Now I’ll be honest – they didn’t break when Little Miss was “playing” with them, but this isn’t something I’m willing to put to the test.
• Wean Cubes are sold in sets of four for $25 CDN. Four isn’t enough and almost $50 for the ideal eight cubes is out of my price range but if you can stretch that far they’re a great choice.

So there you go – I love them for at home use and if you want glass weaning cubes then these are definitely the way to go, but I found them a bit too heavy to be portable for everyday use.

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1. Hipstamatic (Synthetic Corp) $1.99

Apple named Histamatic the App of the Year and for very good reason. Basically Hipstamatic brings old school photo style to the digital camera on the iPhone. You can change film, lenses and flash with the flick of a finger and the pictures are pure nostalgic gold. I adore it and love capturing my family in different ways.

2. Sound Shaker (zinc Roe/Tickle Tap Apps) $1.99

Sound Shaker may be my favourite kid-friendly App. You choose the type of sound you want (chimes, flute, drum, xylophone, farmyard animals or the mystery sounds) and then touch the screen to produce sound. Holding your finger on the screen changes the colour and tone of the sound. Shake the phone and they all bounce against each other – kind’ve like a 21st Century rattle. My favourite, FAVOURITE thing about this App is that the sound isn’t tinny or annoying AND if you keep holding your finger down the “sound circle” turns into an egg and a little bird, Robin, is born. SUPER cute. In fact I’ve just downloaded the Field Flier App from Tickle Tap Apps which involves Robin flying around and engaging in different activities (dancing, nesting, sleeping, etc) and Maisie ADORES it. They do other games for older kids as well, which although I haven’t used I would recommend checking them out if you have older kids.

3. Yelp (Yelp) Free!

This is one of those Apps that leaves you wondering how you lived without it. Yelp finds businesses near you and provides you with their details, links to their website and even maps and driving directions if you need them. For example, one afternoon my mother and sister kidnapped Little Miss and I was left with (gasp!) several hours of free time with nothing to do. I entered “spa” into Yelp and after two phone calls was able to snag a last minute appointment pedicure appointment at a local spa. HEAVEN! I’ve also used it when we’ve been in unfamiliar neighbourhoods and wanted to grab something to eat – the reviews mean we don’t end up somewhere hideous or child-unfriendly.

4. Preschool Prep Games $0.99 (Meet the Vowels is currently FREE!)

We love Preschool Prep here at Spilt Milk Moms so I was tres happy when I discovered they had iPhone Apps as well. You can choose from Meet the Colors, Meet the Vowels, Meet the Numbers, Meet the Shapes, and Meet the Letters (both upper and lower case). They use the similar imagery to the popular video series, and as games they are fantastic. My 16 month old can already identify different colours and loves the game and the little clips when she picks the right answer. A great educational entertainer!

5. Talking Tomcat, Hippo, Santa, John, etc (Outfit7) FREE – $0.99!

You might hate me for this one. Outfit7 have created a series of Apps with critters (cat, hippo, robot, hedgehog, bacteria, Santa, bird) which are interactive. For example, you can stroke the cat (above) and he’ll purr, stomp on his foot and he’ll hop around – you can even punch him till he falls over and sees stars. You can also be nice to him – pressing little circles next to him will give him milk, have him try to eat a bird, throw a pie or (every child’s favourite) fart. But wait – that’s not all! The best part of these Apps is that they listen to anything you say and then repeat it in a silly voice. Even though Maisie can’t really talk she LOVES making noises and having the cat (and the Hippo) repeat what she says. It generally sends her into hysterics, which then sends whichever critter she’s playing with into hysterics and the whole cycle repeats itself. I use this one in the car A LOT. It keeps her busy and I’d rather listen to the resulting bizarre conversation than whining any day!

6. Toddler Activity Farm (EduGameUK) $0.99 (Lite version is FREE!)

I ADORE Toddler Activity Farm. All you have to do int his game is scroll through and touch an animal to hear its sound. The name of the animal appears in the cloud (where it says “Hello” above), and if you touch the cloud it says the animal’s name (cow, horse, duck, etc).  Then, if you touch the animal you hear the sound it makes. Maisie is really into animal noises right now and this one keeps her very happy. I loved how they brought out a winter version (picture above) and that the update itself was free because I’d bought the previous version.

7. Baby Sign (iDev2.com) $4.99 (Lite version FREE!)

We are using baby sign language with Maisie and I absolutely LOVE it. I have a fabulous signing dictionary at home, but sometimes we’re out and about and I need to remember (or discover) a sign. The absolute BEST thing about this Bay Sign App is that you’re not just given images of a sign but also a video so that you can SEE the sign in action. I tried the Lite version and the ads drove me insane so I shelled out the $4.99 for the regular version and I think I’ve definitely have gotten my money’s worth. The dictionary isn’t extensive (for example there aren’t signs for “pretty” or “good”), but you can look at it alphabetically, by category or you can quiz yourself (or your kid). It’s a great tool to have with you on-the-go.

8. Color Me!!! Free (Sid On) FREE!

This was a late arrival to my favourite Apps of 2010, but it’s a great one so I thought I’d share it. Color Me!!! is so easy to use – you simply scroll through the different types of images to select one and then you’re presented with a black & white colouring page. You can choose between three painting modes – the dainty paintbrush which fills areas with colours without going outside of the lines, the household paintbrush which adds colour anywhere you touch, or the paint can which fills in any area you touch. Choosing colours couldn’t be easier than sliding your finger along the colour spectrum on the bottom. Color Me!!! is such a cool App to get for FREE and offers hours of colouring fun at the touch of a button.

9. Baby Piano (Dream Cortex) $1.99

I don’t know what it is about the Baby Piano App, but we love it. Maybe it’s the cute animal art, maybe it’s the fact that you can lock the different modes so your child isn’t constantly fiddling with things, or maybe it’s the fact that you don’t have to take your finger off the screen to play the different keys. You can swipe your finger over the keys and each note is recognized, so there are no frustrated little fingers playing around without producing any sound. You can choose from three different modes and even record your “concertos” for later listening. Baby Piano is so easy to use that even a baby can use it (literally!)

10. Angry Birds (Clickgamer.com) $0.99 each (Angry Birds & Angry Birds Seasons)

This one’s for Mama! Oh Angry Birds how I love (and hate) thee! First I downloaded the regular Angry Birds, then I discovered the Halloween version but THEN there was the Christmas-themed Angry Birds Seasons (kicked off by the Halloween version) which was an advent calendar. Every day leading up to Christmas a new level of angry birds were released – it’s embarrassing how excited I was to open the “big” window on Christmas day. The premise of the game is simple – the green pigs have stolen the eggs of the (protagonist) birds and it’s your job, through a combination of skill and physics, to beat those evil pigs and rescue the eggs. It might sound stupid but it is SERIOUSLY addictive and I will admit that both Husbando and I have stayed up long past our bedtime trying to get rid of those crazy pigs! This is the best $0.99 you will spend!

So there you have my Top Ten Apps of 2010 – which are your favourites?

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Every year (for 15 years now) I’ve made these gingersnaps* for Christmas. They are a definite favourite of family and friends (one of my best friends used to ask for them as his Christmas present!) and (bonus!) they’re very easy to make. Enjoy!

Gingersnaps

1.5 cups (340g) Butter

1/4 cup Molasses

1 tsp Vanilla

2 cups Flour

1 cup Sugar (plus some for rolling)

2 tsp Baking Soda

2 tsp Ground Ginger

2 tsp Cinnamon

1/2 tsp Nutmeg

1/4 tsp Ground Cloves

1/4 tsp Salt

1 large Egg, slightly beaten

• Pre-heat oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Melt butter. Remove from heat, stir in molasses and vanilla. Set aside to cool.
• Sift together dry ingredients. Add the egg to the cooled butter mix and stir in dry ingredients. Combine well.
• Cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Fill a small bowl with sugar. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and then roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie tray.
• Bake until bottoms begin to brown – about 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving cookies to a cooling rack.

Makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.

* I have no idea where this recipe originally came from – I’ve had it written down on various slips of paper over the years. So if you know what cookbook it came from please let me know & I’ll give you credit!

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This year we decided to team up with The Beer Wrangler and suggest some interesting beers and ales for you to try over the holidays.  Most of these beers are based on traditional recipes that have been around for ages and basically fall into two categories:  winter warmers or spiced Christmas beers.  Winter warmers are rich, malty and stronger than your average beer (5.5%-7%), while spiced Christmas beers can be of any style but also have sweet spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and allspice added.  Like the winter warmers, spiced Christmas beers are stronger than average in alcohol content (5.5 – 10%).

These beers would make great gifts for those hard to buy men- and women!  Women are now the fastest growing demographic of beer drinkers (who knew?).  So this year why not try a few and have your very own Christmas beeracle!

Please note that all pricing is for BC which has one of the most expensive alcohol prices in the Western world, almost everywhere else will be cheaper (where available).

Samuel Smith’s Winter Welcome 2010

Samuel Smith’s is a renowned historic English brewery that has been crafting beer since 1758 and every year they brew up a limited batch of their Winter Welcome Ale. This beer is a winter warmer style which means it is seasonally brewed, usually rich amber in colour, and has a higher alcohol content than other ales. This smooth rich malty beer has tastes of caramel, dried fruit and orange peel (have you ever had Sorren malt raisin loaf? Its kind’ve like that in a beer!) Despite it’s strength, its a very easy drinking ale. $6.65/550ml

Pyramid Breweries Snowcap Winter Warmer

The Snow Cap winter warmer from Pyramid Breweries in Seattle, WA is dark red amber in colour (much darker than the Samuel Smith’s above) and slightly hoppier than most.  I found that the hops gave it a slightly lighter taste which compliments the notes of brown sugar and caramel.  Winter warmers are less carbonated because they’re designed to be rich and warming rather than refreshing and this makes them taste smooth and slightly creamy.  Snow Cap is a strong (7%) filling beer and as it comes in a 650ml bottle it’s perfect for sharing at any festive get-together. $7.50/650ml

Dead Frog Brewery Christmas Beeracle

Dead Frog is a newer, up & coming Canadian brewery who this year, for the first time have bottled a limited edition, 650ml Christmas beer.  Christmas Beeracle is an amber ale with hints of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.  This is a much lighter beer than the two winter warmers above which makes it a better party beer.  The ginger notes are most obvious on the finish and definitely leave you with a warm, yummy feeling.  Dead Frog definitely wins the prize for the best winter beer name and the bottle label incorporates a handy gift tag- in case you’re stuck for Secret Santa ideas. $6.85/650ml

Eel River Brewing Company Climax Noel

Climax Noel is the winter warmer offering from the Eel River Brewing Company- America’s first certified organic brewery.  This beer is a dry hopped imperial red ale and the “red” is obvious in the red amber colour.  It’s full bodied flavour combines the fresh citrus-y notes of the hops and the rich, sweet, molasses taste from the malt.  Now this one is a doozy in terms of alcohol, its 10%, but don’t let that put you off- it’s evenly balanced and PERFECT for sharing on a cold winter night! $8.65/650ml

Howe Sound Brewing Father Johns Winter Ale

Howe Sound Brewing‘s Father John’s Winter Ale is definitely my favourite winter beer.  It tastes of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla, yellow sugar & molasses- basically it’s Christmas in a glass!  I think its the most balanced of all of the beers:  it’s rich without being too rich and the spices meld well with the beer as a whole- no single taste overpowers the others.  It has an alcohol content of 7% so you have to be careful as it sneaks up on you- but I can guarantee some upcoming nights in my house sitting by the (fake) fire, drinking this fabulous beer and listening to Little Miss snoring on the monitor.  This is a limited release so get them while you can – you won’t regret it. $8.00/1L

If we’ve piqued your beery interest be sure to check out The Beer Wrangler for more beer reviews and info, including a glassware guide, beer styles and book reviews.

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Growing up we had a family tradition that every year we would buy one new Christmas album. Each year we would delight in a different type of music from choral, to classical, to pop and even Motown! It’s a tradition that I’ve carried on now that I have a family of my own, and last year’s CD, A Family Christmas, was one of the biggest Christmas CD hits yet.

A Family Christmas is a charming CD from wonderful company Putumayo (we’ve reviewed their CD European Playground previously) with something for everyone. From the soft country stylings of Deana Carter singing Winter Wonderland to the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy retro-swing style of Is Zat You Santa Clause, this album is a Christmas delight. Our personal hands-down favourite is the old English song Here We Come A-Wassailing sung by Kate Rusby – this is often played, on repeat, in the car so we can all loudly sing along.

This year we’re thinking of adding one of Putumayo’s other Christmas CDs to our collection, either A Jazz & Blues Christmas (with tracks from BB King, Ray Charles and The Ramsey Lewis Trio) or the World Christmas Party with songs and musicians from around the world. Right now, you can also download 2 FREE tracks: Alegria by Maria de Barros from the new Putumayo CD World Christmas Party and Jolly Old St. Nick by Brave Combo from our favourite CD, A Family Christmas. Definitely worth checking out to help you get in a festive mood!

Putumayo CDs are sold directly through the company’s website or at a variety of fine retailers.

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When I was in New York for BlogHer this August, I attended the most wonderful Christmas party hosted by Hallmark. The party included a sneak peek at some of their upcoming products and lines (along with some fabulous Christmas cocktails and a sexy Santa). My absolute, hands down favourite were the recordable Christmas books, and I’m so excited to now be able to share them with you in time for the holidays!

Hallmark has three Christmas-themed Recordable Storybooks – The Night Before Christmas, The First Christmas and Frosty the Snowman. Using their special voice-save technology, you are able to record your own voice reading the story which is saved even if you remove the batteries.

Now while I was at the party they had a video showing with stories from real people about how they used the books. I won’t lie – I shed a tear (or two). Christmas is a magical time of year, but it can be heartbreaking when you’re separated from the ones you love. As someone who has feet strongly planted on two continents, I know all too well that you can’t always be with everyone when you want to be. For Little Miss’ grandparents to be able to record themselves reading her a special Christmas story – and for us to be able to keep it for years to come – is truly priceless.

When my copy of Frosty the Snowman arrived, Husbando insisted that we open and try it out to see how easy it really is. It’s very easy to use (as long as you read the directions, unlike certain husbands!), and you can record each page as many times as you’d like until you’re happy with the results.

I really think Hallmark’s Recordable Storybooks would make a fabulous Christmas gift for young and old alike (I mean what grandparent’s heart wouldn’t be melted by the grandkids reading them Frosty the Snowman?) Hallmark Recordable Storybooks retail for $29.99 and available at your nearest Hallmark Gold Crown store.

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Hallmark has generously supplied us with a copy of their Frosty the Snowman Recordable Storybook for ONE lucky reader to WIN!  Thank you Hallmark!

To Enter: Leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us who you would send this Hallmark recordable storybook to.  Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @HallmarkPR & @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet “Lend your voice to Xmas w/a @HallmarkPR Frosty The Snowman recordable book: http://tinyurl.com/2vl5l3w @SpiltMilkMoms #giveaway #contest” and leave us the link for extra DAILY entries.
• If you ‘Like’ Spilt Milk Moms on Facebook, leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry.
• Subscribe to Spilt Milk Moms by RSS or by Email and leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog for one extra entry.

This giveaway ends at 12:01am PST on Friday, December 17th, and the winner will be selected using Random.org.  The winner will have 7 days to respond to our notification email before another winner is selected.  This giveaway is open to Canadian and US residents only.

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