One of the drawbacks of buying the safest, fanciest infant car seat thatyou can find for your brand new bundle of joy is that it likely isn’t going to be the lightest one you can find. Personally, I was willing to sacrifice the ease and convenience of toting around a light infant car seat for the peace of mind of protecting the health and safety of my newborn son withy a fancier, heavier one. Thankfully, this time around, I have some relief coming my way in the form of the Angel Arm by Baby Henry Co.

When I got the infant car seat out of storage, the impending birth of my second child looming, hoisting it out of the closet reminded me of how awkward and heavy it was to carry around. And with a growing baby in it, it only got heaver and heavier as time went on. Because we were lucky enough to have a stroller travel system where the infant car seat could be installed directly onto the stroller frame, this meant that everywhere we went, we would detach the infant car seat from the car, and attach it to the stroller, and off we’d go!

Of course, we didn’t always have the stroller frame with us, which meant that we had to carry the infant car seat around. And by carry, I mean lug. And by we, I mean my husband. That sucker just got to heavy for me to carry comfortably as my son got older.

This time, as I browsed vendors at a Baby and Toddler tradeshow last fall, it was like the angels were singing to me, church bells ringing, and a light from the sky lit up on the Baby Henry Co. Makers of the Angel Arm, a fantastic and simple device designed to help mom’s like me whose upper body strength (apparently) leaves much to be desired.

The shoulder strap construction of the Angel Arm is designed to take the weight of your infant car seat and redistribute it across your body, making it easier to carry and removing the stress and strain from the baby-toting process. I can recall all the bruising I endured on my forearms from carrying my son in his infant car seat on the crook of my arm, but no more. With the Angel Arm I just place the padded strap over my shoulder and across my body, looping the rest of the strap through the handle of the infant car seat and voila! The heavy infant car seat becomes instantly easier to carry around. This summer, carrying my new baby around in the infant car seat will be a pleasure. No more tortured arms for me!

The Angel Arm can be purchased online for $29.99 CDN and makes a great gift for new parents.

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Baby Henry Co. is offering a discount on the Angel Arm for our Spilt Milk Moms readers.

To receive the discount, send an email to info@babyhenryco.com with the  promo code SMM0411 and a note telling Baby Henry Co. why carrying your infant carseat is killing you, include your mailing address and Baby Henry Co. will send you the Angel Arm at $10 off . That’s a little bit of heavenly relief for just $19.99! (Orders will be billed through PayPal so include your PayPal email address in your email.)

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Introducing dringdring hand-painted bicycle bells!  dringdring designs and creates the most beautiful, bright, artistic, colourful and unique bicycle bells I have ever seen.  I don’t know who was more excited when the company agreed to send us one to try out, me or my son (I think it was me, actually).  Each original metal bicycle bell is hand-painted at the company’s Montreal, Quebec-based studio, and I promise that you will have a hard time choosing just one.  The bells are painted using Eco-friendly paints without solvents or toxic fumes, and they are first painted and then baked, making them resistant to all types of weather.  I love that the company uses a local organization that provides employment to young people from a diversity of backgrounds to apply the bells’ base coats.

Oliver was sent the company’s Bike Alarm bicycle bell (pictured above) to try on his new bike, and it is not only very cool but also very shiny with the most pleasant dring dring sound I have heard (neither harsh nor shrill).  My son spent the better part of his first time out with the new bell attached to his bike pushing his bike alarm ‘on’ and ‘off’, pretending to park the bike to go to work.  The bell was really easy to install (Oliver helped), and it is a quality bell that is built to last (both hardware and artwork-wise).

dringdring makes a huge range of beautiful bells with five categories to choose from: flowers (love the Orange Daisy), people, animals, special edition, and all (the LITE-BRITE, Broche, Polka Dots, and ART DECO are all right up my alley, while some fun ones for kids include the Ice Cream, Little Princess, and Soccer Ball versions).  Buy one for each member of your family or as a special gift starting at $24 CAD through the dringdring website, from the following retailers, or if you are in the Montreal area, at the company’s studio (I love the photos on this page).

dringdring’s hand-painted bicycle bells may just inspire you to get on your bike instead of into your car this spring … dring dring into spring!

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I first came across Look Who’s Growing’s personalized growth charts at a trade show last fall. The gloriously bright colours instantly caught my eye and when I found out that not only were they beautiful decorative pieces for kid’s rooms, but they were also functional growth charts, I knew I had to have one for my son. The charts come in 2 widths (6 or 12 inches), are printed on durable vinyl material and come in the most beautiful colours and designs you can imagine. You can even personalize them with your child’s name, birth date and picture! Fantastic!

Look Who’s Growing was kind enough to send me a sample chart for my son’s room and I chose the beautiful Giraffe design because really, what toddler doesn’t love giraffes!  When I took it out of the box the look on my son’s face when he saw the beautiful image was priceless! Hanging it in his room was a bit of a challenge because he wanted to take it down and play with it. And getting him to stand still long enough for me to take his measurement against it is was whole different story entirely, but once we work the kinks out it will be great!

The best thing about the personalized growth charts from Look Who’s Growing is that they are completely portable! We just moved last week and unlike back in the day when you’d have to leave that closet door frame with all your kid’s growth marks behind, Look Who’s Growing’s charts are completely portable and can be moved from one home to the next as the years pass, serving as a great keepsake for kids and parents alike!  And since this chart measures to over 6 feet tall you can bet that I’ll be doing my best to measure my son for as long as he’ll let me, or until my husband tells me that measuring my 6 foot tall kid against a giraffe chart is getting to be a bit much. We’ll see who wins this one!

Thanks to Look Who’s Growing for sending me the beautiful sample, I’m definitely going to have to get one for my new baby who’s due next month. I’m totally going to place that order once this kid is born. I’m so excited! For both the birth of my second baby and for the new growth chart I get to order! Now the big decision of which design to pick this time….

The Look Who’s Growing personalized growth charts come with a wooden dowel at the bottom and two grommets at the top for easy wall mounting. They are available for purchase online starting at $34.99 CDN.

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If you’re in the Toronto, Ontario area, Look Who’s Growing is sponsoring a fantastic mommy’s day out at the Sweet Grass Spa on May 29th! Click here for more information on The Great Mommy Escape and sign up to take advantage of some great spa pampering deals!

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To Enter: Go to the Look Who’s Growing Website and then leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us which growth chart design you love most.  Once you’ve entered by leaving a comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @lookwhosgrowing and @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” WIN a Personalized Growth Chart THX TO @lookwhosgrowing http://tinyurl.com/473zz5l @SpiltMilkMoms #giveaway #contest ” and leave us the link for extra DAILY entries.
• ‘Like’ Look Who’s Growing on Facebook, leave a comment there letting them know that the Spilt Milk Moms sent you for one extra entry.
• ‘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 link in the comments 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.
• Go to http://www.lookwhosgrowing.ca to sign up for their newsletter for one extra entry.

This giveaway ends at 12:01am PST on Friday April 1st, 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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Silkberry Baby was founded by Carrie Shan, who started the company because of her daughter’s allergic reaction to synthetic fibers and polyester filled bedding.  What’s unique about Silkberry Baby’s line of products is that they are made using  mulberry silk floss, which is the highest quality of silk available on the market.  Mulberry silk floss is:

• 100% natural, odourless, and hypoallergenic.  Natural materials like silk and cotton result in less allergic reactions, and both my three year old son and 18 month old daughter have incredibly sensitive skin so this is really important to me.
• Soft, light. and durable.  When the Toddler Comforter arrived, I couldn’t believe how light the bedding was given its generous size (117cm x 102cm).  And soft … I can’t even begin to tell you how incredibly soft the comforter is!  It was such a big hit upon arrival that Charlotte and Oliver fought over the blanket all afternoon, alternately laying on the floor snuggling in it and exclaiming, “It’s SO soft, Mama!”
• Breathable and comfortable.  My children sweat like crazy when they sleep, so I was excited to learn that silk filled bedding absorbs moisture and releases it into the air, which regulates body temperature and keeps babies and toddlers from feeling too hot or too cold during the night.  Sure enough, after testing it on my son for a few weeks, I can honestly say that he is no longer ‘sticky’ at night and wakes up having slept much better because of the even body temperature the comforter provides.
• Eco-friendly and sustainable.  Silk floss comes from renewable resources as it is produced by silkworms, the farming of which leaves little ecological footprint compared to the production of petroleum-based bedding products.

I am absolutely thrilled with the quality of the Silkberry Baby Toddler Comforter.  It is incredibly soft and unbelievably well-made (so well made that I had trouble finding the well-hidden zipper to see how the silk filling could be removed).  I love how it keeps my son or daughter (depending on who wins the fight to sleep with it) warm but not overheating at night, and that it is light and portable yet durable and easy to clean.  Also, I cannot say enough about the charming art work adorning the company’s products – how cute is the sheep on the Toddler Comforters or the elephants on the Sleeping Sacks?  Adorable!

Silkberry Baby has a great range of Eco-bedding products for children including Comforters, Sleeping Sacks, Silk Fleece and Bamboo Blankets, and Cuddly Pillows.  The company also has a mulberry silk-filled Candy Pillow and a line of Eco-friendly bathing products coming soon!  Purchase Silkberry Baby Eco-bedding through the company’s website, or from the following retailers.

I am so delighted with the Silkberry Baby Toddler Comforter that I’m heading to my local retailer to pick up one of their amazing Baby Sleeping Sacks with removable silk filling for my daughter this week!

Silkberry Baby has TWO fabulous promotions on right now!  Get a FREE Cuddly Pillow with the purchase of a Toddler Comforter (valid until April 26, 2011) or get FREE SHIPPING with the purchase of a Sleeping Sack (valid until March 31, 2011).  To take advantage of either of these great offers, make your purchase online through www.silkberrybaby.com and then email the company at carrie@silkberrybaby.com (for the free Cuddly Pillow, use subject line ‘Buy One, Get One Free‘).

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Juice is a treat for my kids, and when I do let them indulge I give them Leading Brands’ babyblue line of juices, which are made especially with children in mind.  Charlotte and Oliver love the yummy taste of babyblue juices, and I rest assured knowing that their ‘treat’ is a healthy one.

babyblue juice is made by the same Canadian company that produces TrueBlue juices, which may be familiar to those of you living in Western Canada and in the States.  babyblue juices come in blueberry (our favourite), blackberry, or raspberry flavours, and what I love most about them is the list of (or lack thereof) ingredients.  For example, the babyblue blueberry juice contains: water, concentrated grape juice, concentrated wild blueberry juice, concentrated black current juice, concentrated cranberry juice, natural flavours, and asorbic acid (Vitamin C).  A nice short list of things I can pronounce, but also an obvious lack of added sugar.  I like the subtle taste of babyblue juices because they aren’t sweet, yet they taste refreshing and pure.  Additionally, while most other juices and blends on the market are comprised of ‘filler’ juices like apple or pear (which are high in carbohydrates and sodium), babyblue juices include only Superfruits high in Polyphenols (naturally occurring antioxidants) like blueberries and black currents.

For adults and older kids, Leading Brands has a varied line of Poyphenol rich juices available as well, all of which have truly full-bodied, rich, natural flavours.  The TrueBlue line of blended blueberry juices are available in seven wild blueberry and Superfruit options including Wild Blueberry, Wild Blueberry and Pomegranate, Wild Blueberry and Acai, Wild Blueberry and Cranberry, Wild Blueberry and Blackberry, Wild Blueberry and Raspberry, and Lite Wild Blueberry.  Just out is the new TrueBlue 100% Juice Blend line, in Wild Blueberry, Pomegranate, and Blackberry flavours.  Finally, Leading Brands Pure Blends line, which includes PureBlack, PureBlue, PureRed, and PureWhite, are concocted out of varietal wine grapes mixed with Superfruits for a unique taste and high antioxidant value (without the alcohol content!) – they also contain two servings of fruit per bottle.

All of Leading Brands’ juices are 100% natural, made with premium ingredients, and do not contain added sugar, artificial colours, flavours, or ‘filler’ juices.  High in antioxidants, just one serving of these juices will also fill your daily Vitamin C quota (which has been great during cold and flu season).  Because it isn’t summer yet, I haven’t tried out my theory that any of these juice lines would make great popsicles.  The company’s website provides some creative recipe ideas for all kinds of salad dressings and vinaigrettes, main courses, deserts, and drinks (cocktails, smoothies, shakes, and punches).  I really like adding a little sparkling water to my juice for a refreshing drink.  Summer – here we come!

Leading Brands’ line of juices can be purchased at grocery stores across Western Canada and the States.  Thank you to Leading Brands for providing me with samples in order to write this review.  For Vancouver residents interested in trying out the kid-friendly babyblue juice line, we’d like to thank Leading Brands for the following special coupon offer (see terms and conditions below):

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I bought a bag of Ripe Mixed Flavor Kamoo Bars, and creator/mom Angela threw in a bag of Ripe Organic 5-Grain Mush for me to try out as well. Travis and I devoured the tasty bars, choosing from three flavors: Organic Apple, Carrot and Oatmeal; Organic Rhubarb, Apple and Spelt; and Organic Spiced Pumpkin and Spelt. I’m not sure which one we liked best, but I know I was happy not to feed him the same old, same old for our afternoon snack.

Ripe Baby Food’s Kamoo Bars are made from organic ground grains and fresh organic produce, and they are just the right size for small hands. Twice baked, these gourmet bars come in five flavours. It says on the company’s website that they are suitable for children 10 months and older, and they truly are a perfect finger food for snacks or on-the-go. All Kamoo Bar flavours are wheat-free, dairy free, nut-free and contain no white sugars.

As for breakfast, I’ll let this video of Travis speak for itself! He is enjoying the Gingerbread Flavor Organic 5-Grain Mush with a touch of vanilla yogurt. It includes five Canadian-grown organic grains: barley, kamut, oatmeal, rye and spelt, which are combined with a mixture of spices. My favorite aspect is that the mixture is sugar-free, so parents can control the level of sweetness. You can mix it with yogurt, smoothies, fresh fruit, raisins, or applesauce to sweeten it up for your little monkey.

You can order your Kamoo Bars or 5-Grain Mush online through Ripe Baby Food’s website. Each Kamoo Bar bag contains 10 bars for $7.50 CAD, and a bag of 5-Grain Mush (approximately 12-14 servings) is $8 CAD. Happy healthy eating!

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Anyone who has been shopping for maternity clothes in the last decade or so knows that you have your choice of 2 different kinds. The frumpy flowery kind that makes you look like you’re giving birth in the 1970’s, and the awesome kind which lets you look modern and pregnant and beautiful.  KSeraSera Maternity shirts are of the awesome variety, making me feel like a modern pregnant girl with fashion sense.

When I first spotted them at a baby trade show last fall I knew I had to have one.  They are super soft and eco-friendly. Made from organic bamboo fabric and organic cotton, the shirts are screen-printed with a variety of beautiful baby themed designs. And did I mention that KSeraSera Maternity is a husband and wife team from Canada? I love buying locally!

What I love about these shirts (aside from them being super soft on my itchy pregnant-chick skin) is that they are long enough to cover my growing belly without me having to worry about it shrinking and riding up! A definite must when you’re seven and a half months pregnant in the cold depths of winter! The shirts are warm but the organic bamboo fabric is really lightweight which suits me just fine since I’m usually feeling pretty warm these days anyways!

A big thanks to KSeraSera Maternity for sending me a sample of their Pitter Patter Heart shirt. I just love the tiny little footprints on my belly that remind me of what I have to look forward to in a few short months. Of course these days it’s kind of hard to see the screen-print from my vantage point since it’s below my belly bump, but I know it’s there and I love it!

These fantastic shirts can be bought online at the KSeraSera Maternity website for $20 CDN (short-sleeved) or $25 CDN (long-sleeved) each. They also sell Daddy Tees and Kids Tees for $14.95 CDN each.

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KSeraSera Maternity has generously supplied us with a PitterPatter Heart Long Sleeve Tee for one lucky reader to WIN!  Thank you KSeraSera Maternity!

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

• Follow @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” WIN a Pitter Patter Heart Long Sleeve Tee THX TO KSeraSera Maternity http://tinyurl.com/4ejfubr @SpiltMilkMoms #giveaway #contest ” and leave us the link for extra DAILY entries.
• If you ‘Like’ KSS Apparel on Facebook, leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry.
• 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 link in the comments for one extra entry.

This giveaway ends at 12:01am PST on Friday March 4th, 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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Although I already had a cute diaper bag, when I spotted the Funky Skulls Diaper Bag (above) at a local Farmer’s Market the other weekend, I HAD to have it!! Not only is it very me, but it was also bigger than my current diaper bag, with more pockets (eight in total) and an insulated bottle bottle holder. These diaper bags are made to be worn over the chest (messenger style) freeing up both hands for other things, or over the shoulder like a purse. They are also equipped with an adjustable strap to fit all sizes. Maxwell Designs’ bags are made from either Organic Brown Cotton Canvas or Hemp in Black, Army Green, Taupe, Blue or Natural (cream). To top it off, the bags are dye-free, anti-microbial, and Eco-friendly! With all these great features, my (very picky) husband gave it the thumbs up also! Oh, and just in case none of the fabrics suit your desire, you can contact Maggie and work with her to create a custom bag just for you – how cool is that?

Because I was buying a new diaper bag, I decided to get a new change pad as well. Maxwell Designs generously provided me with one of their fab Travel Change Pads to write this review. I opted for the Jungle Black fabric (shown below), and couldn’t be happier! These Travel Change Pads have a cotton exterior with soft cotton toweling interior and a Velcro closure. Easy to use on-the-go or at home, and they are machine washable as well. I like that this Change Pad rolls up nice and small, and fits conveniently into my super stylish new diaper bag.

Not that mom Maggie isn’t busy enough with three kids and her own design company, she also has a web-based store called Toots n’ Tots where she sells everything Eco-friendly that you could possibly need as a mom. Her specialty is cloth diapering, and she even runs cloth diapering sessions. Just in case you don’t already love Maxwell Designs, I should mention that 10% of all Charlie Banana products sold on Toots n’ Tots gets donated back to local various beneficiaries!

Maxwell Designs diaper bags can be purchased online from $44.95 CAD, and Travel change pads cost from $8.95 CAD to $18.95 CAD. For you, our loyal readers, Maxwell Designs has kindly provided us with a promo code for you to save  15% off their Travel Change Pads and all cloth diapers. Use promotional code “Love” until February 19th, 2011 to take advantage of this discount! Thanks Maxwell Designs!!

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Looking for a unique way of expressing your love?  Feast your eyes on this beautiful Tree of Love metal sculpture by Anvil Island Design of Nanaimo, Canada.

I almost never write about things which I do not own or receive, but I’m going to admit that I do not have a Tree of Love hanging on the wall in my dining room (that’s the spot I have picked out).  However, I came to know about Tree of Love from my co-worker, who bought one at a local fair a few years ago and showed me pictures of it hanging in his house (thanks Paul!).  We’re in the middle of saving for ours, so I figure it’s safe to share with you, dear readers, despite not having my hands on one at the moment.

Tree of Love metal sculptures are created by artist Jack Willoughby and are modeled after Japanese maple trees.  This is what the Anvil Island Design website says about this tree: “Usually the focal point in a garden, the Japanese Maple is loved for its elegant, delicate foliage and bright vibrant fall colour. In legend and lore the tree is also thought to tie humanity to the soul of earth and create connectivity with man to nature. Often the central tree in a bonsai garden, the pruning and care of a bonsai Japanese Maple was said to inspire harmony and creativity and evoke a sense of tranquility and peace.“  Mr. Willoughby takes his version of the Japanese Maple a step further by adding the custom carving of initials and/or dates to help people celebrate their love or a special occasion (as pictured above and below).

Purchasing your Tree of Love is a completely personalized experience and there are a variety of options available to select from in the creation of this unique piece of art.  This metal sculpture is available in only one size, 16 ¾ inches high x 35 ¼ inches wide (42.5 cm high x 89.5 cm wide), but you select both the style and finish.  There are two styles – wall mounted (so it can be hung on a wall), or table standing (which comes with a base so it can be placed onto a window sill or bookcase).  Finishes include steel, matte black, or bronze.  You can then decide whether or not you want to add up to two sets of initials and a date (which appears as Month/Day/Year, with the month abbreviated to the first three letters).

Each customized Tree of Love costs $195 CDN plus shipping and handling ($28 for Canadian orders, $39 for US orders – international orders will receive quotes prior to processing) and can be ordered through the Anvil Island Design website.  Happy Valentine’s Day!

Anvil Island Design is generously offering the readers of Spilt Milk Moms a 15% discount on Tree of Love orders!  To use this promotional code, please contact Anvil Island Design directly (do not use the online order form) by phone or by email referencing Spilt Milk Moms to place your order.  Thanks Jack and Anvil Island Design!

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Starfish Kidz clothing line includes onesies from size three months to t-shirts in XL and also have bottoms for three to 24 months. What really caught my eye was their beanies; you can chose between applique or floral, from newborn to mom size. Their current line of appliques includes All Star, Hush (as seen above), and Skullz, and Starfish Kidz are just about to release a new line of appliques!

Not only is Starfish Kidz’s kid’s line ridiculously cute, but the company strives to give back to the community by donating money to various beneficiaries. When I bought Travis his Skullz onesie, the company was having a promotion where they donated $1 from every beanie sold to baby Molly. The reason behind the company’s interest in giving back (as if there needs to be a reason!) is that the founding trio of Starfish Kidz moms had been to visit Children’s Hospital and had met with Dan Mornar, the hospital’s parent/patient advocate. Dan Mornar took these moms through the oncology ward to meet with the children, their parents and the staff. Starfish Kidz graciously donated almost 60 beanies, florals and appliques as well as over 50 t-shirts and onesies to the children! Yeah, it made me tear up too. They missed meeting little Molly by three days, and so they sent her a beanie of her own (so she can feel like part of the group), as well as a cash donation to help out her family.

Starfish Kidz’ clothing is made from a blend of 70% bamboo and 30% organic cotton and it is deliciously soft! But aside from the softness, there were many reasons why the company chooses this Eco-friendly fabric. Bamboo can grow to full maturation within seven years and it grows so rapidly that it self-regenerates automatically. Bamboo is grown pesticide-free, and a chemical free process distills the bamboo into cellulose fiber, which is then manufactured according to rigid ISO world standards. Unlike nylon, polyester and other synthetics which cause odors and harbor bacteria, bamboo has natural anti-bacterial properties, and is extremely breathable as it wicks away moisture. It also contains a natural UPF, which helps to protect skin from harmful sun damage.

You too can own a piece of Starfish Kidz clothing for your little monkey by making a purchase through the company’s website. A onesie retails for$26 CAD, short sleeve t-shirts cost $20 CAD, bottoms cost $18 CAD, and beanies range from $20 to $24 CAD. You might want to grab a beanie for yourself while you shop, because trust me, the fabric is so soft that when your child’s clothing arrives, you’ll be jealous!

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Sniffs and Snuffles is meant to use externally on your little ones, or yourself, to help ease congestion from allergies or colds. It is made from all natural ingredients such as Caster oil, Cocoa butter, Beeswax, Macadamia oil, Hemp oil, Vitamin E, and essential oils, and does not contain any petroleum – hurray (unlike the many store brands)!

We gave away 20 Sniffs and Snuffles, and with all the reviews that came in,I am pleased to say that everyone agreed that the smell was great. One of our reviewers said that it has a “pleasant, earthy smell” which isn’t too powerful, and “doesn’t smell like sickness!” The majority of our reviewers agreed that the smell was powerful enough to ease their children’s, or their own, chest congestion, and that they were able to get to sleep better. As one winner pointed out, “it wasn’t too overpowering which I think is key if you want a kid to use it.”

Although everyone liked that the smell wasn’t overwhelming, a few readers thought it could have been a little stronger. That being said, all of the guinea pigs, errr … children , liked how the Sniffs and Snuffles felt on their chest – not sticky, stingy, nor too greasy!

The reviews were evenly split about the texture and application of Sniffs and Snuffles. About half of our readers thought that it was smooth, easy to apply, and that it rubbed in easily. The other half felt that the texture was a bit rough, and they had to rub it between their fingers first to soften it before application. Everyone agreed that it was much less gooey/greasy than the usual alternative – which is a good thing! One reader wrote, “I’m wondering if Sniffs and Snuffles will soften up as we use more of the container.” I can personally vouch for that – although the product is a bit hard at first, the more it gets used, the easier it is to remove from the container and rub into soft skin.

Overall, I think that Sniffs and Snuffles is a great natural product, and would definitely recommend this product to others in the future. Thanks for sponsoring our review and this great tester giveaway Broody Chick!!

Broody Chick’s Sniffs and Snuffles can be purchased from online retailer Amazon for $8.50 USD or at these local and online retailers.

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I’m not proud.  When I was offered the opportunity to try out the Today I Ate A Rainbow! kit (a product which just might encourage my boys to eat more vegetables), I elbowed the other Spilt Milk Moms out of the way and claimed it as mine.  I have four sons – I’m one tough cookie.  That is, until supper time rolls around when I can be found begging my sons to Please. Just. Eat. Your. Vegetables.  I’ve threatened.  I’ve bribed.  I’ve given in.  I’ve held my ground.  And in the end, our chickens usually end up eating the uneaten vegetables.

Apparently at least one other Canadian mom out there has felt my pain, because she developed this really cool interactive chart that makes eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables FUN for kids.  The Today I Ate A Rainbow chart is made up of five colour groups:  red, orange, yellow, green, and purple.  There are enough magnets included in the kit for up to four children to track their rainbow-eating progress each day.  At the end of the day, if they’ve made it through the whole rainbow, there’s an extra special achievement magnet.  Although it’s important that us parents know that each colour represents the phytonutrients that each fruit or vegetable contains, it’s enough for my three-year-old to be motivated to eat a whole rainbow everyday (he can learn the big words from his friend Oliver later).  The colour coded shopping list is one of my favourite parts of the kit- it helps me make sure I have enough of the right colours to allow my boys to meet their goals.

I knew that the Today I Ate A Rainbow chart would be a big hit with my three-year-old son, but I had no idea that my six and eight-year-old sons would be just as excited about it.  And although he has no idea what the colours represent, my 21 month-old son gets in on the action too.  This chart has been a fantastic way to establish healthy eating habits for our whole family.

Be sure to check out Today I Ate A Rainbow’s website – it’s a great resource for meal ideas and includes the Rainbow blog as well as colouring and activity pages for kids.  You can also order the Today I Ate A Rainbow Kit for $25 CDN (free shipping to Canada and the US!) to get your family started on the road to healthy eating!

A big thank you to the Today I Ate A Rainbow crew for providing me with a Today I Ate A Rainbow kit to try out (and ultimately saving my chickens from over-consumption of vegetables).

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I adore the company’s value statement: Natural.  Pure.  Simple.  Clean.  I spend a lot of time and effort ensuring that the food I put into my children is natural and good for them, so why wouldn’t I do the same with the potions and lotions I put onto them?  Coco & Tini’s product line includes Body Wash, Bubble Bath, Shampoo, and Conditioning Detangler, and each bottle is adorned the most adorable graphics (check out the owl, below, and for extra fun meet all of the Coco & Tini characters on the company’s fun Our World page).

We have been using the entire Coco & Tini range of hair and bath products for about two months now, and I am in love, love, love.  Aesthetically speaking, my kids get a real kick out of the cute graphics on each of the bottles (and this is how they remember what is in each bottle at bath time).  I can honestly also say that my kids have never been cleaner … I don’t know, but somehow after a Coco & Tini bath they’re especially squeaky clean and lovely smelling.  I think this has everything to do with the natural products the company uses, and there’s just something about the scent of lavender and chamomile that is so pleasantly clean and wholesome smelling.  If I’m in a rush, I use only the Shampoo and Body Wash, but I have to say that the Conditioning Detangler gives the kids’ hair an extra nice sheen and leaves it silky smooth.  When we’re really cutting loose, we add the Bubble Bath to our water as well, and despite the company’s disclaimer that natural bubble baths won’t ‘produce bubbles up to the ceiling’ I actually find the bubbles produced to be just the right amount.

I think that the only thing which may hold some people back from purchasing Coco & Tini hair and bath products would be the price.  The product line is sold in 225ml bottles, and the Shampoo retails for $16.95 CAD, the Conditioning Detangler for $19.50 CAD, the Body Wash for $15.95 CAD, and the Bubble Bath for $19.95 CAD.  However, I’ve been using these products sparingly on my two children for over two months and I’m not even a quarter of the way through any of the bottles – a little goes a really long way to get your little mud monsters clean, which is enough for me to justify purchasing these fabulous products.  Coco & Tini all natural hair and bath products can be purchased through the company’s website or from these fine online and local retailers.

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Coco & Tini is generously giving away full sets of their hair and bath product line (Shampoo, Conditioning Detangler, Body Wash, and Bubble Bath – valued at $72.35 CAD) to TWO lucky Spilt Milk Moms reader!  Thanks Coco & Tini!

To Enter: Go to Coco & Tini’s website and then leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us why you are interested in trying out OR what you like about this line of hair and bath products. Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @CocoandTini and @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” Enter to #WIN the full @CocoandTini all-natural hair&bath product line for kids! http://tinyurl.com/4mqcxlb @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’ Coco & Tini on Facebook, leave us a comment letting us know for one extra entry. This entry method will count as TWO ENTRIES for this giveaway (leave two comments, please).
• 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 Tuesday,  February 8th, 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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Have you ever thought about pulling your hair out and poking yourself in the eye at the same time as you wait and wonder how much longer you’re going to have to be in line at the border, or for the plane to start boarding, or in line at the grocery store? And all of these thoughts were there because you have a child, or even worse, children who do not like to be still, and so you’re trying in vain to think of things to keep their brain, and them, occupied. Not to worry, hope has arrived in the form of the Spark Your Imagination Story Starters!

Spark Story Starters are exactly what they sound like: story starters. The idea is that you read a question aloud from the card, and every member of the family has a chance to answer. The best part about them is that there is no right or wrong answer, and they can’t be answered by a simple “yes” or “no”! What do you think your family would answer for this question: If you could have only one word on your t-shirt, what would it be? Why?

Because my son Travis has only recently started using real words in his vocabulary instead of barking like our dog, I couldn’t test the scenarios out on him, so I used my grade 6/7 class instead. I was interested in seeing how these cards would fair in a class of 12 and 13 years olds as opposed to younger kids, and I wasn’t disappointed. The cards are so creative, that even the “coolest” of kids got into answering the questions. I think the class favorite was: You have been asked to invent a new ride for an amusement park that will attract people from all over the world. What does it do? – - – I think it helps that we all live in East Vancouver and Playland is at our back door!!

The idea came to Kamloops, B.C. based mom Tamara while she was thinking of ways to encourage her two boys to think creatively and outside of the box. Her boys are very active, and enjoy partaking in various shenanigans, but by using Spark’s Story Starters at the dinner table the family now enjoys creative stories with their meals instead of boy buffoonery!

What’s really nice about Spark Story Starters is that they were written so that the scenarios would not be dated … five years from now you could pick up the deck and they would still be relevant. Also, because the questions are so open ended, kids can think of new ideas each time you re-read the card.

You have two choices when acquiring Spark Story Starters – you can purchase the deck of 50 playing cards for $11.99 CAD (special Spilt Milk Moms promo!!), or you can buy the App for your phone for only $0.99 so that you never forget the cards when you need them most!

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Spark Story Starters is generously giving away Spark Story Starters to THREE lucky Spilt Milk Moms readers (the winners will have a choice of the deck or the App for their phone)!!!  Thanks Spark!

To Enter:  Enter by writing your very own open ended story starter and leaving us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) . Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” Enter to #WIN a Spark Story Starters GAME for your family (APP or cards)! http://tinyurl.com/6gga7gp @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.
• 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, February 3rd, and the winners will be selected using Random.org.  The winners will have 7 days to respond to our notification email before another winner is selected.  This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents.

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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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