My love affair with all things Skip*Hop began with my purchase of the company’s clever Splash bottle drying rack a few years ago, and I continue to be impressed with the company’s large range of useful and gorgeous products (including their new crib bedding collections, TreeTop Friends and Flower Burst).  Charlotte immediately fell in love with the Hare, toddling about with a comb and brush in each hand alternately attempting to comb her own hair, the dog’s, mine, or the carpet.  When I showed her the mirror on the base of the rabbit, I swear she started chanting “Mirror mirror in my hand, who’s the prettiest princess in the land?”  Her breath, saliva, and lips all left marks on the mirror, she was holding it that close to her face (I really should get that on video).  I can personally attest to the durability of the Hare, as the day it arrived was also the day it sailed down the stairs and onto the hardwood floor after it ‘slipped’ from the tiny fingers of a girl who loves to see what happens when things get pushed through the baby gate at the top of the landing.  That mirror is, as promised, shatter proof, and I’m happy to report that the Hare had not a scratch on it as a result of its adventure.

We have successfully worked the Hare into our morning and after-bath routine.  I love how easy the brush, comb, and mirror are for Charlotte’s little hands as well as my own to hold thanks to their excellent rubber grip.  The comb has really smooth teeth without pointy edges, while the brush has nice soft bristles.  This Skip*Hop creation is BPA, Phthalate, and PVC free, and was designed for children aged zero and up.  My favourite part, though, is how the brush and comb each form one of the rabbit’s ears – the Hare is just so cute!

The Hare is available in orange or green, and costs $20 USD through the Skip*Hop website.  Put up your hand if you think the Hare would make an excellent Easter gift!

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“He shoots, He scores!”  My husband, Yuji, is an avid hockey fan, and those words never fail to excite him.  Not a week goes by that Yuji doesn’t play, attend a game or watch one on T.V.  So when I learned I was pregnant, it was my hope that my child-to-be would share his dad’s passion.

We wasted no time introducing Koji to the ice rink.  When he was a small infant we pushed him around the ice in his stroller.  As he grew, he was no longer content in his stroller and he wanted to hit the ice himself.  My husband and I were uncomfortable putting a toddler who had just learned to walk on single bladed skates,so we did a little research and my husband found Baby Skates on line.  Thank you to Baby Skates for sending us a custom engraved pair for Koji to try out.

What makes Baby Skates different than other children skates on the market is that each skate is constructed with two stainless steel blades.  They are designed with a rear balance stabilizer which helps reduce backward falls and they have been developed so that they never need to be sharpened.  The boots are excellently crafted using high quality leather.  The leather stretches over time, forming to the foot.  The boot of the skate is insulated, has a comfortable insole, and is easy to clean.  These skates are truly a thing of beauty.

Koji’s new Baby Skates arrived with his name and a logo of a hockey stick and puck exquisitely engraved on them.  He was so excited when I removed them from their package.  He couldn’t wait to put them on.  We have now taken him skating several times and each time he is eager to suit up.  With each step on the ice he gains a little more confidence.  At first he was content to be pushed around the ice, but now he is happy to move his legs back and forth.  He is even able to stand on his own and take a few steps.  As proud parents of our little skating boy we feel Baby Skates provide the appropriate first step for the physical devolvement of a young child learning to skate.  They make for an easy transition to single bladed skates.

Baby Skates are available in toddler sizes two to eight.  They come in a variety of styles and colors and the blades can be custom engraved with writing and logos of your choice.  Baby Skates have a full one year warranty.

And, as if that weren’t enough, Baby Skates make wonderful heirlooms.  Their handsome little two bladed skates can stand on their own.  Years from now, there they will be standing on a den shelf, their blades proudly flashing “Kaneko”.

As well as checking out www.babyskates.com, you can find them on Facebook, and can sign up for their monthly newsletter.

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Thanks to BABY SKATES, one lucky Spilt Milk Moms reader is going to receive a pair of Baby Skates of their choice!

To Enter the contest: Leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us which pair of Baby Skates you would like to win. Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @BabySkates and @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet “Baby Skates are great #giveaway from @spiltmilkmoms & @BabySkates! http://tinyurl.com/3u265s8“and leave us the link for extra DAILY entries.
• If you ‘Like’ Baby Skates 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 Thursday, April 28th, and the winners 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 only open to US and Canadian residents.

Also, Baby Skates has kindly offered free engraving from Thursday, April 14th to Thursday, April 21st, 2011 for all readers who order a pair of Baby Skates. All you have to do is order your skates, and then send an email to information@babyskates.com letting them know that the Spilt Milk Moms sent you for free engraving, and what you would like engraved.

Happy Skating!

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hello books are available in robot mission (above right, and the one we were sent to try), princess castle, monkey business, and yum yum bakery (new!) themes.  Each pack contains a 5″ x 30″ accordion book that forms the basis of the ‘story’ (made from FSC-certificed recycled paper) that can be folded back down into a 5″ x 5″ book and is perfectly sized for putting into the mail for that special someone.  Five sheets of removable stickers are also included, and it’s the stickers that make these books different from traditional sticker books.  hello books’ stickers are buildable and abstract, so that your child’s version of a robot will be completely unique – every time.  Luckily for Oliver (aged three and a half) and myself, the packaging of our robot mission hello book gave us some examples of what we could do with all the neat shapes, but we quickly moved on from these to come up with our own cool robots, rockets, planets, and unnamed creatures.  While Oliver is a little young yet to get the actual creation of a story line concept of the hello books, I can see how older children will run with building sticker characters and backgrounds to tell a story.  As for our robot mission book, Oliver has his robot saying ‘hi’ on the cover of his – too cute!

You can purchase any of the four hello books through the hello hanna website for $10.95 USD, or from our favourite Canadian on-line retailer, Raspberry Kids, for $10.99 CAD (use discount code spiltmilk15 at checkout for 15% off of your purchase!).

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hello hanna generously provided us with a monkey business hello book to give away to one lucky Spilt Milk Moms reader!  Thanks hello hanna!To Enter: Go to hello hanna’s website and then leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us which hello hanna hello book you think your child would like best and why. Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @annehellohanna and @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” Enter to #WIN an @annehellohanna monkey business hello book for your creative child! http://tinyurl.com/3pp9szm @SpiltMilkMoms #giveaway “ and leave us the link for extra DAILY entries.
• If you ‘Like’ hello hanna 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 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 Friday, April 22nd, 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 both US and Canadian residents.  Good luck!

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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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1.  Write a love letter. So simply, so cheap, and so … meaningful.  Really, when was the last time you sat down and penned a love letter to your special someone?  And I don’t mean Tweeted about your love, or texted him or her ….  Why not put some time into making or buying a a beautiful card and then telling your Valentine about how you really feel – Shakespeare style!

2.  Pull a John Cusak from Say Anything. Okay, maybe don’t go as far as holding your iPOD over your head in front of your loved one’s house.  But honestly, is there anything better than getting a really good mixed tape/iTunes collection (besides a love letter)?  I still have a special mixed tape from my university years that I cherish to this day, and if you get it right this gift may keep giving and giving and giving.

3.  One word – CHOCOLATE. And not the cheap stuff either … go buy a really quality box of chocolate for your love (maybe even one packaged in those heart shaped boxes).  Not only will the chocolate be thoroughly enjoyed, but there may even be some sharing!  You’re probably thinking, “You had me at chocolate,” so enough said.

4.  Breakfast in bed. Okay, I take back the “in bed” part, but only because I’m a bit of a neat freak and am certainly not interested in getting my beautiful Margaret Muir sheets dirty.  But I’ll definitely take breakfast made for me, especially if it includes pancakes in the shapes of hearts with strawberries on top.  Sweet!

5.  Roses. Who doesn’t love flowers?  Although I’m feeling pretty certain that anyone peddling flowers around Valentine’s day is likely to gouge you for the purchase of a measly dozen roses, splurging just this once is definitely a way of saying “I love you.”

6.  Tree of Love. Read our review about Anvil Island Design’s Tree of Love on Thursday!  You will love this unique and totally personalized gift.

We want to hear from you.  What will you be doing for your special Valentine next week?

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