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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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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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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Recently our family relocated from a small one bedroom apartment in East Vancouver to a spacious three bedroom townhouse in Ladner. As soon as we moved in the renovating and remodeling began and my son’s room was the one room I had a clear idea of how it should look. I envisioned a transportation theme with one wall sporting a chalkboard silhouette of a town. I took the idea of a chalkboard mural from my mom, Linda Buckinham, the author of Projection Stenciling and Projection Art for Kids.

Regardless of talent (or lack thereof) anyone can create wonderful works of art by following the simple step-by-step instructions in the books.  In less than half a day my mom and I had my son’s wall completed.  Despite the work that still needs to be done I love showing people through our new house. I get so excited when we reach my son’s room, everyone loves the mural (below) and can’t believe it when I tell them how fast and easy it was to do.  I’m not sure who loves drawing on it more – the kids or the adults!

I used Benjamin Moore Aura paint. (You can also use regular chalk board paint.) I went with Aura because it is low odor, environmentally friendly and can be tinted in any desired color. It’s an expensive paint so I bought a cheaper paint tinted in the same color to paint the first two coats and then used the Aura as a topcoat. I only bought a liter and was left with enough for another project.  The color I used is called Stone Brown (2112-30).

For anyone who wants to be artistic but needs a little guidance, my mom’s books are great.  The techniques are easy to follow and minimal tools are needed.  My silhouette project is from the Projection Stenciling book.  However, if you are looking for some different ideas and inspiration for your children’s room the Projection Art for Kids has lots to offer.

Projection Stenciling and Projection Art for Kids are both available through Amazon.com or…

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You could WIN your very own copy of Projection Stenciling signed by the author!

To Enter: All you have to do is leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us what your child’s room theme is or what you would love it to be. Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” #WIN this book to learn to make fantastic chalkboard murals http://tinyurl.com/4lgoft3 @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 Friday, February 11th, 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.

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Humidifiers are appliances intended to increase the humidity levels in a room and are commonly used when babies or children have a cold because they work to relieve congestion, especially while sleeping.  Humidifiers also alleviate the physical discomforts of dry noses and throats by keeping airways moist and mucous thin.

We are into the double digits with the amount of colds we’ve had since September, and our old humidifier (circa 1981) was ineffective, spouted water like a fountain, and the resulting humidity levels were so high that it more or less helped us to grow our own mushrooms in our children’s bedrooms.  Not only that, but my three year old son, Oliver, was not a fan of our prehistoric model, often telling us that the noise level and look of the machine frightened him.  I was so happy when Crane agreed to send me one of their Adorable Animals Cool Mist Humidifers to try out!

Here are the features I love the most about Crane’s Adorable Animals Humidifiers:

• Both of my kids love the frog shape (above) of the Crane humidifier.  Oliver especially thinks it’s really funny that the mist of this particular model comes out above the frog’s eyes.  The company’s Adorable Animals line also includes elephant, cow, pig, penguin, panda, cat, dog, and dragon models, so you’ll be sure to find one that excites your child (below).

• These humidifiers turn themselves off when the tank is empty!  This, as you can imagine, is a huge step forward from our 1981 model, which continued to blow air and make sounds like a dying cow long after the water tank had emptied midway through the night.  Dying cow sounds are not conducive to a happy toddler.
• Speaking of making sounds like a dying cow, this is not even remotely an issue with our new Crane humidifier.  The first time I used the frog unit in Charlotte’s room during her bout with a particularly bad cold, I could not get over how quiet it was.  I still can’t, actually.  And because it’s ‘whisper quiet’, I know that it won’t keep my sick children awake all night while it’s running.
• The tank doesn’t require refilling during the night, and on the minimum setting you can get about 11 hours of use out of the humidifier before it empties.
• You can control the intensity level of mist produced by these humidifiers.  Crane recommends that humidity levels in a room be kept at about 30-50% of relative humidity, so the flexibility of being able to adjust the mist setting allows you to prevent damage from condensation that may build up on your windowsills.  Not only that, but making sure the humidity levels are kept at ideal levels keeps bacteria and fungi from growing.

Crane’s Adorable Animals frog humidifier really does help alleviate the discomforts of my children’s colds.  As I’m sure you know, there is nothing worse than a sick baby or toddler with a runny nose and a sore throat.  Lots of rest and quality sleep helps them get better faster, and a humidifier paves the way to a speedy recovery for my family ….

Should you purchase an Adorable Animals humidifier, be sure to teach your children that, while cute, they are not toys and read the use and care instructions for the disinfecting of the tank and water basin to prevent the buildup of bacteria and mold.

Purchase a Crane Adorable Animals Humidifier from these retailers from $59.99 CAD.

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Crane is generously giving away one of their Adorable Animal Cool Mist Humidifiers to one lucky Spilt Milk Moms reader!  Thanks Crane!

To Enter: Go to Crane’s website and then leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us which of the Adorable Animal Humidifiers you think your child(ren) would like best. Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @CraneHumidifier and @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” Enter to #WIN an Adorable Animal Humidifier @CraneHumidifier for your child! http://tinyurl.com/4g3dhsf @SpiltMilkMoms #giveaway #contest “ and leave us the link for extra DAILY entries.
• If you ‘Like’ Crane 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 Tuesday,  January 25th, 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 residents only.

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Over the last several months my three year old, Oliver, has taken to rising early, staring into my face at 5:30am every morning asking me, “Is it morning time yet, Mama?”  The problem, of course, is that toddlers simply don’t have a concept of time.  Telling Oliver to go back to bed for three more hours or trying to explain to him that it wasn’t time to get up simply didn’t work, so I was thrilled when Live Love Dream agreed to let me try out their Kid’Sleep Classic clock for children.

The Kid’Sleep Classic is a wake up/sleep clock meant to help you child stay in bed longer.  It uses a simple, brilliant method to show children whether or not they should still be in bed (for both nap time and bedtime) or if it is time to wake up.  Our Kid’Sleep uses the cutest little bunny to show Oliver what he should be doing.  If the bunny is tucked into bed, it’s time to be sleeping/stay in bed (pictured above), and if the bunny is off to daycare with his backpack on (that’s what we tell Oliver the bunny is doing), then it’s okay to get out of bed.  The alternating light illuminates which Oliver should be doing and the times are set by us.  Because the display is interchangeable, you can also switch the sleep/awake face to a night light display (in the case of our Kid’Sleep, the bunny is napping in a hammock, pictured below).

What I love about the Kid’Sleep Classic is that you can use it as a night light, a wake/sleep clock, or an alarm clock (when set, the alarm sends birds chirping and a rooster crowing).  One of my favourite features is that you can set two separate alarm times – one for nap and bedtime – without having to reset the digital clock’s alarm time.  The LED display light also features three settings so that you can control the brightness.  My only complaint is that the digital time is not back-lit, which would be handy so you didn’t have to turn on an overhead light to see the numbers and re-set the alarm.

We have been using the Kid’Sleep Classic for about a month now with great success.  Before we began using the clock, we spent some time talking to Oliver about how the it worked and what his job was when the bunny was asleep and awake, and he was very excited to try it out.  The first night we used it, we set it so the bunny would ‘wake up’ at 7:30am, and at precisely 7:31am Oliver came running into our room, very excited, yelling, “My bunny is awake now!  It’s morning time!”  I know for a fact that sometimes he’s awake for at least half an hour before the clock switches to wake up mode, but instead of staring me in the face at 5:30am asking me if it’s time to get up, he’s staring at the clock patiently and excitedly waiting for it to switch over so he can get out of bed.  Not only has Oliver developed a better understanding of when he should be getting out of bed, but he is in a better mood in the mornings as a result of his new routine.  Additionally, my husband and I have been getting more quality, uninterrupted sleep, which has been great now that we’re both back at work and need to be firing on all cylinders for our jobs.

I have to run …  I hear the rooster crowing upstairs, which means my little bunny is about to get out of bed after his nap and my writing time is over!  Purchase your Kid’Sleep Classic through Live Love Dream for $39.99 USD or the Kid’Sleep Globetrotter (smaller and battery operated for portability) for $29.99 USD.  These clocks make great gifts for sleep deprived parents of toddlers, so be sure to add one to your Christmas list!

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My mother-in-law is a terrible worrier, so when she heard about a baby monitor that would tell you if your child stopped breathing, there was no way we were going to use anything other than the Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor.

How the system works is that you place the Sensor Pad under the crib mattress (it needs to be on a solid surface rather than slats), plug it into the main unit, and if your child stops moving or breathing an alarm on the monitor will sound within 20 seconds.

For almost the entire first year of Little Miss’ life we co-slept (it was co-sleep or NO sleep!), so we only used the Angelcare as a monitor. Strangely, when she started sleeping through the night in her crib just before her first birthday, we felt more anxious than when she was a newborn – we could no longer just roll over and see that she was breathing, and so we began using the Sensor Pad and it has given us great piece of mind.

The Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor also features a great blue-light night light, sound lights so you can watch you baby scream rather than have to listen to it, the option of voice activation or continuous listening, and, what is one of the best features in my opinion, a room temperature display.

My only suggestion is that you might want to change the sensitivity level once your child is a little bit older and sleep travelling around the crib. We were all once terrifyingly awoken by the alarm when Little Miss had maneuvered all the way down to the end of the crib and was curled up in a tiny corner.

The Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor is available at Babies R Us or Amazon for between $100 – 150. All-in-all, I think this is a great monitor and provides a fabulous amount of piece of mind – which is priceless.

PS – Do not Google “Angelcare monitor saved my baby” unless you like crying.

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I’m not into the girly-girl type room where everything must be ultra pink, instead I prefer feminine yet classy and modern decor (not that pink can’t be classy, of course).  While checking out the beautiful things available from Cocoon Couture (having been introduced to the company by fabulous on-line retailer Raspberry Kids), I noticed the range of beautiful wall stickers produced for them by The Wall Sticker Company.

The Wall Sticker Company is an Australian-based company that creates the most elegant, modern and beautiful wall stickers imaginable.  Their designs incorporate unique and intricate patterns and colours in the most clever themes.  The company was generous enough to send me the Enchanted Branch wall sticker (the girl version, pictured above) I requested, and I could not wait to put it up in Charlotte’s room, knowing it would go perfectly with her walnut-coloured Stokke bedroom set.  My photo, below, just does not do the Enchanted Branch sticker justice ….

The Enchanted Branch wall sticker set ($85 AUD, which is about $83 USD) is available in pinkish hues for girls or in bluish ones for boys.  This specific set comes with a total of 20 stickers, which includes 13 clusters of funky-patterned leaves, three beautiful birds, three acorns, and one big long branch to hold it all.  You can arrange the stickers however you like, and because they are removable and reusable, you can even switch it up from time to time.  There was only one hitch in the application of my Enchanted Branch stickers, and that was that I decided to be a hero and do it all by myself, and not to wait for my husband to help me (what can I say – that’s how excited I was to get the stickers up).  The issue was that sometimes not all of the sticker was cut perfectly to the edge, which meant that I held my breath and pulled when it came to getting the most delicate parts of the stickers off of the sticker sheet (like the bird’s beaks, for example).  I really recommend getting someone to help you with the sticker to wall application, and the second set of hands will also help prevent your stickers from folding in on themselves as you watch in horror.  Luckily, everything worked out perfectly at the end, and not only does my Charlotte’s room look gorgeous, but she loves to point at and touch the birds and leaves while standing on her change table and cooing (assisted and supervised, of course).

The Wall Sticker Company’s stickers are made to order specifically for you, and are PVC-free and carbon neutral with a neat, textured, fabric-like finish.  I absolutely adore the Enchanted Branch sticker set, and some of my other favourites include the Jungle, Babushka doll, and their Jane Reiseger gemmi the giraffe wall sticker sets … and those are just a few of them.  The company has a set of stickers for every room in your house and everyone special in your life.  Purchase your The Wall Sticker Company wall stickers through the company’s website and get ready to watch your child’s room become enchanted!

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The Wall Sticker Company has agreed to do giveaway with the Spilt Milk Moms!  One lucky winner will choose from either the Boys or Girls Enchanted Branch by Cocoon Couture .  Thanks The Wall Sticker Company!

To Enter:  Go to The Wall Sticker Company website and then leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us which of The Wall Company’s removable wall stickers you like best and why.  Once you’ve entered by leaving this mandatory comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @WallStickerCo and @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” WIN an Enchanted Branch wall sticker for your child’s room thanks to @WallStickerCo! http://tinyurl.com/29qw5l4 @SpiltMilkMoms #giveaway “ and leave us the link for extra daily entries.
• If you ‘Like’ The Wall Sticker Company 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 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, December 7th, 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 all INTERNATIONAL entries.

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If the only kind of nasal aspirator you are familiar with is the type sold at your local drugstore, now is the time to THROW THAT CRAPPY NASAL ASPIRATOR OUT!  I’m about to introduce you to a TRUE snot sucking superstar thanks to the recommendation of one of our Spilt Milk Moms readers (thanks Diana!).

I’m talking about the Nosefrida Nasal Aspirator, also known as ‘the snotsucker’.  The Nosefrida will leave you feeling that not only was your old nasal aspirator ineffective and unsafe, but also unhygienic.  Ironically though, you might get an unfounded dirty feeling when reading the instructions on how to use the Nosefrida (but that will all change once you’ve tried it out for yourself):

Put the red piece in your mouth, and the blue tube against baby’s nostril (not inside).  The tip of the tube should form a seal with your baby’s nostril.  Apply SUCTION.  You will be able to hear and see the mucous coming out of the nose – gross, but gratifying.

Nosefrida was kind enough to send me their nasal aspirator to try out, but of course it arrived in the mail a few days after both of my kids got over their first colds of the season.  I couldn’t wait for my kids to catch their next colds just so I could try out the Nosefrida on them – that’s how intrigued I was by this product, and it did not disappoint.  Two days ago, Charlotte (13 months) and Oliver (three) both came down with runny noses.  Charlotte’s was so bad that it caused her some discomfort and caused her to wake up during the night crying.  Out came the Nosefrida and out came massive amounts of snot from my poor baby!  I still can’t believe how effective this nasal aspirator is, and since then I’ve used it on my son and have been singing it’s praises to anyone who will listen (including you, Spilt Milk Moms readers!).  Until I used this snot sucker, I had no idea just how terrible my old nasal aspirator really was – I just knew that it wasn’t very effective and that inevitably my baby would fight the aspiration and get a bloody nose because of the hard plastic tip up his/her nose.

The Nosefrida is made in Sweden, was invented by Specialists and Pediatricians, and has been used effectively in Europe for several decades.  It forms a seal when placed at the base of the baby’s nose, which means that sensitive nasal tissue isn’t poked resulting in injury during aspiration.  There is no risk of bacterial transfer to the person responsible for snot sucking because the base of the plastic nasal nozzle is fitted with a disposable filter.  The Nosefrida is BPA and Phthalate free, easy to clean (I rinse mine out with hot water but to disinfect it I put it in the dishwasher – top rack).  I like that it is non-invasive and that I control the amount of suction applied, but the bottom line is that I love it because it actually works.  After aspirating using the Nosefrida, neither of my children require suctioning for several hours because their nasal cavities have been effectively cleaned out the first time.

If you still have questions about the Nosefrida, have a look at their FAQ page which also includes two informative videos.  The Nosefrida retails for $15 USD through the company’s website and replacement Snot Blockers (the barrier filters, in sets of 20) cost $3 USD.  This excellent product can also be purchased at these local retailers, as well as online through Babies R Us, Walmart, and others.

Find out for yourself how great this product is – Nosefrida has generously provided us with a discount code for our readers.  Simply use promo code spiltmilk through the company’s website when ordering for 10% off of your purchase!  Happy super snot sucking!

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A few weeks ago Mama Zone generously sent me a package of their Eco-diapers by Moltex to put to the test on my 13 month old daughter.  I was intrigued to discover what was different about this disposable diaper – how can a company use the term Eco-responsible in the same sentence as the word disposable diaper?  And would these diapers be as absorbent as my usual brand?

Well, here’s what makes Mama Zone diapers more Eco-friendly than your average disposable diaper:

• The backsheets on these diapers are 100% biodegradable.
• The packaging is compostable.
• Here’s a big one for me – the diapers are 100% chlorine, natural latex, and fragrance free.
• The internal absorbent fluff is made from 100% sustainable resources.

Now, while all of these features sound excellent, do these diapers really work to keep babies dry and happy?  YES.  Charlotte has been wearing them during the day and at night, and they are just as (if not more) absorbent than my regular diapers even though I find that Mama Zone’s Stage 3 (15-39 pounds) size fits a little large on my narrow-waisted little Miss. To be honest, the only problem I have with these diapers are the tab closures.  It’s hard to explain without looking at them, but each tab has two lifting ends making it difficult to figure out which side you need to pull to open the diaper (especially in the dark).  But I have found that Charlotte is extremely comfortable in them and she hasn’t had even the slightest bit of diaper rash or skin irritation since we began using the Mama Zone diapers.  Also, I appreciate the fact that there is very little graphic covering these diapers.  The amount of dyes used by the big brands out there in the producing their diapers is completely unnecessary, and I dislike it even more when commercial characters are used.  The Mama Zone diapers do have some cute little bears on their diapers, but they are minimal.

Each pack of Mama Zone diapers contain between 32 and 44 diapers (depending on the Stage) and costs $19 CAD – more per diaper than other much less Eco-friendly diapers out there, which may be a stumbling block for some families.  Compostable packaging and partially biodegradable diapers made from sustainable resources make Mama Zone diapers worth trying out in any case!

Mama Zone has provided us with a 10% promotional code for the readers of Spilt Milk Moms.  Simply enter SPILTMILKMOMS just before checkout for your discount to apply.  Thanks Mama Zone!  Mama Zone also has an ongoing giveaway through their website to win three months worth of diapers - a new winner is chosen every three months, so enter today!

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I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it or not, but last month we moved our family from an insanely spacious 3000 sq/ft house to a “make the best of it” 900 sq/ft apartment. It hasn’t been an easy transition and for a while it looked like we were living in a furniture warehouse. So in order to try and make the most of the space we have, I decided to become the Queen of storage solutions. I have absolutely fallen in love with the Kangaroom Wally Wall Organizer and I couldn’t wait to share it with you all.

We have next to no wall space or hallways in the new place, so I knew I needed to utilize the lesser used spaces, like behind doors or on closets, and the best thing for me about the Wally organizer is that it comes with little metal hooks which allow you to hook it over the door (it also comes with wall attachments if that’s easier for you). It has 12 pockets of varying sizes, including five transparent sleeves that are great for photos (or keys), two media pockets that have little slots in the back so you can thread your chargers through, one marked for pens or pencils, and a half-moon shaped one at the top which holds more than it looks like it can. The Kangaroom Wally Wall Organizer also has a magnetic white board, complete with a pen attachment. Seriously – this thing is AWESOME!

The possibilities are endless with Wally – it would make a great diaper station and would be fantastic for keeping sewing or crafting supplies in. Kangaroom also make Corky Wall Organizer, a half size organizer great for the office cubicle or other small spaces.

My only (minor) complaint is that the over the door hooks don’t fit on an exterior door, so Husbando had to play around with them to make them fit our front door (which is where it saves our lives everyday by keeping our keys, phones and sunglasses in the same place.)

The Kangaroom Wally Organizer is  24″wide  x 60″ long (Corky is 24″ wide x 30″ long) , is available in green, pink, and navy, and retails for $39.99 USD (Corky costs $34.99 USD) directly from Kangaroom.

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The Happy Cuddle, by ID Selection, is one of those innovative, brilliant ideas I wish I had thought of.  It’s basically a plush, toy-like pacifier holder weighted at the bottom and shaped so that even very young babies can manipulate it to get the soother into their mouth on their own.  It’s big enough to be safe for babies to use in their beds, and also large enough so that it can’t be tossed from the crib through the rungs.  My daughter has been using the Happy Cuddle for over a month now and she loves to cuddle with it.  She can easily use it to get her soother into her mouth on her own, and no more pacifier overboard calls in the middle of the night.

The Happy Cuddle retails for $14.99 USD from the company’s website or from online retailer Amazon for $16.95 USD, and is available in five different colour combinations (blue/cream, pink/cream, green/cream, green/pink, and green/gray).  It is designed to hold all shapes and sizes of pacifiers, and has a washable surface.  The Happy Cuddle is the ultimate solution for lost pacifiers in the middle of the night, and would make a great shower gift!

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ID Selection/International Innovation has been kind enough to provide us with a blue/cream Happy Cuddle to give away to one lucky Spilt Milk Moms reader!

To Enter:  Go to the Happy Cuddle website and then leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us which Happy Cuddle feature you like best OR which colour you like best.  Once you’ve entered by leaving a comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet ” WIN a Happy Cuddle Pacifier Holder – no more lost soothers in the middle of the night! http://tinyurl.com/2vfyj6s @SpiltMilkMoms #giveaway ” 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 for one extra entry.

This giveaway ends at 12:01am PST on Friday, September 24th, 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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When it came to deciding how to decorate my son’s room I knew there was only one way to go.  Wall decals!  They are a quick way to add colour and life to otherwise plain walls, but the selection in my local home fix-it store was limited at best.  That’s why RoomMates wall decals and stickers for kids fit the bill perfectly!

RoomMates has an absolutely HUGE selection of vinyl wall decals, banners and super large posters available on their website in every design you can think of.  These peel and stick wall decals are removable, re-positionable and reusable, and won’t damage my painted walls, which is fantastic!

RoomMates kindly provided me with the Jungle Adventure theme decals we used in my son’s room, and this package came with a whole assortment of animals including monkeys, giraffes and elephants in beautiful, bright colours that catch my son’s eye everywhere he looks.  I put many of them low on the walls within arm’s reach so that he can touch them and see them up close, and I just know I’m going to spend quality time teaching him what each of them are!

Using the wall border was a bit of a challenge.  Getting up high enough on chairs and stools so that I could position it was … interesting, and since the border was quite long, getting it straight took a couple of tries.  Thank goodness it peeled off the wall easily and I was able to get it on straight eventually.  The individual animal stickers were super easy to peel and stick to the walls, and because they are printed on clear vinyl, the paint on your wall will show through the edges and you won’t have to worry about borders around the prints.

My son’s room is quite small, and I probably needed more than one wall sticker pack to finish decorating his walls sufficiently from top to bottom.  The room still looks great, though, even with some of the decals far apart from each other!

The Jungle Adventure Wall Stickers and Wall Border I used in my son’s room are available through the RoomMates website for $13.95US each.  RoomMates has a wide variety of other products, too, including peel and stick mirrors, chalk and white boards, and something called “wall pockets” – which I just may have to try soon!

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RoomMates wants to help you enhance your room decor and has offered Spilt Milk Moms readers in Canada and the US a 20% discount on any of their fantastic products available through RoomMates Peel and Stick Decor.  Just use coupon code SPILTMILK until Sunday, July 11th at checkout to receive your discount!

RoomMates has also generously supplied us with one of their wall decal MegaPacks for one lucky reader to WIN!  Thank you RoomMates!

To Enter: Leave us a comment HERE (one per day only, please) telling us which RoomMates MegaPack you like the most and where you would use it.  Once you’ve entered by leaving a comment, you can gain additional entries like this:

• Follow @RoomMatesDecor on Twitter and tweet this giveaway for extra daily entries.
• Follow @SpiltMilkMoms on Twitter and tweet this giveaway for extra daily entries.
• Mention this giveaway on your blog for one extra entry.

In order for your additional entries to count, you must come back HERE to let us know that you follow RoomMates or Spilt Milk Moms on Twitter, and if you tweeted or blogged please provide us with the link.  PLEASE LEAVE US SEPARATE COMMENTS FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY.

This giveaway ends at 12:01am PST on Tuesday, July 13th, 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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