So, we recently moved into a new (15 year old) house in Calgary. It's in a fabulous location, but it is so dated inside. We decided when we bought it to do a massive renovation.
The kitchen was white, with beat-up cabinets, an impractical pantry, a poor layout and granite that was chipped and heat-damaged. The enamel sink was chipped and scratched. The lighting is those big old pot lights and some really tacky directional spotlights with bare bulbs.
Out it all comes. We are having it taken back to the studs - out come the cabinets and counters, the drywall and even the ceiling! We have bought all new appliances to replace the high-end but half-broken appliances the house came with. The oven door didn't close properly, the dishwasher had a tiny interior, and the over-the-range microwave was big, black and ugly. The stovetop was ceramic and one of the burners didn't work - we're replacing that with a fabulous new gas range. We are doing a whole new kitchen layout with a big island to eat at.
The kitchen is open to the living room, which has a giant built-in bookshelf and fireplace that is a honey oak (not our favourite wood at all) with a big mirror that reflects the ceiling - it's too high to reflect anything else. The fireplace has an ugly tile surround and brass trim.
We are having that bookshelf stripped and painted white. We'll address the tile ourselves at some point.
With all this on the main floor, the oak flooring needs to be refinished. And since we're doing that, the carpet in the office, living and dining room is coming out and we are going to extend the hardwood throughout.
The front entry has hardwood already, which is a disaster with wet and dirty winters. So we are putting tile in that area.
The laundry room doesn't fit a standard washer and dryer, so we're having the door to the garage moved over a foot so that it will actually open. And so the closet in there has to be taken out. And so the flooring and ceiling need to be redone as well, as well as the cabinets and sink...
The master bathroom has carpet throughout (!!!) and NO DOORS! That's right, no door between the bedroom and the toilet. That is just not right. The vanity and tub are old and stained. The tiny bit of tile around the toilet is ugly. The shower is an insert. The mirror is kind of square but with rounded corners which looks tacky. The light fixtures are hideous.
Out it all comes. We are replacing everything, and having a custom tiled shower put in, and doors...! New cabinets, mirror, lighting, tile flooring, and fixtures.
HUGE, right?
AND, we're still living here while all this goes on.
Can't use the main floor so we are using the closet of a mini-kitchen in the basement. Yet the fridge is still on the main floor. So every meal involves several trips up and down stairs, either carrying the toddler and whatever food we need to bring down to the kitchen, or doing a mad dash and hoping she doesn't follow us up the stairs as she's not really safe to do it on her own yet. Think of how many times in a day you open the fridge. Now imagine it's on the wrong floor and every single time you have to lug a 25lb baby with you or run, run, run so she doesn't notice you missing for a couple minutes!
Every day the guys are banging as they demolish the old to make room for the new. Ever tried to get a toddler to nap while there is banging shaking the house ALL DAY LONG?
The estimated completion date is October 18th... I'm not sure I will still be sane by then.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Couch to 5k - the beginning
About a year ago, my husband and I decided to do the Couch to 5k program. It's basically a schedule for getting your butt off the couch and running. I used to run in high school (er... two decades ago, eek) and I would like to be in better shape, so it seemed like a great idea.
With lofty ambitions, we headed to the Running Room and bought ourselves some expensive fancy running shoes. And then... we stalled. Between moving three times between two provinces in the last year, and our daughter's busy transition from baby to toddler, we found a lot of excuses NOT to start.
But on Saturday night, we headed out on the trail near our house, with Mia in the Chariot. We're lucky to live right on the edge of Fish Creek Provincial Park (the fourth largest urban park in Canada), and half a minute from our doorstep is a beautiful trail right along the Bow River Valley, with views of the mountains and the Calgary skyline. The other day I was walking there with Mia and saw pheasants, a deer, and a flock of 25 pelicans! Beautiful.
Anyway, we did it. Day One of the Couch to 5k is under our belts. It was easy at first and hard at the end. But I am looking forward to it getting easier and easier.
Now if only it weren't 14 degrees (Celcius) and overcast/rainy today... I think I have to go anyway, and keep it up if I mean to do this, but OH, I hate being cold and wet.
With lofty ambitions, we headed to the Running Room and bought ourselves some expensive fancy running shoes. And then... we stalled. Between moving three times between two provinces in the last year, and our daughter's busy transition from baby to toddler, we found a lot of excuses NOT to start.
But on Saturday night, we headed out on the trail near our house, with Mia in the Chariot. We're lucky to live right on the edge of Fish Creek Provincial Park (the fourth largest urban park in Canada), and half a minute from our doorstep is a beautiful trail right along the Bow River Valley, with views of the mountains and the Calgary skyline. The other day I was walking there with Mia and saw pheasants, a deer, and a flock of 25 pelicans! Beautiful.
Anyway, we did it. Day One of the Couch to 5k is under our belts. It was easy at first and hard at the end. But I am looking forward to it getting easier and easier.
Now if only it weren't 14 degrees (Celcius) and overcast/rainy today... I think I have to go anyway, and keep it up if I mean to do this, but OH, I hate being cold and wet.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
vTech Toys Video Review - Disappointing!
This review of the vTech Crazy Legs Learning Bugs Ladybug and the vTech 3-in-1 Zebra Scooter is my own opinion - you can watch the video and judge for yourself. These toys were not sponsored for review. They were purchased for my daughter.
This is my first ever video review so go easy :) If it is vertical on your screen, be patient - it's being processed and will be horizontal soon, says YouTube.
We got two vTech toys last Christmas for my daughter. It is now early June, so these toys are about 5 1/2 months old. And both are broken.
Let me preface by saying that my daughter is easy on her toys. She doesn't drop or throw them. She's a careful little girl and gentle with her stuff, not a rough player at all.
The vTech Crazy Legs Learning Bugs Ladybug was fun for a while. It played music and you can match the shapes by plugging in the 'feet' to the appropriate shape and then tap the bug on top to release them. It's pretty cute and the sound is not terribly loud. My daughter loves music and would play it just to dance to the music.
About two months ago, the music began to slow down and speed up randomly. Not a battery issue, it just seemed to start changing the tempo. Not the end of the world, though it did make it harder for me to sing the words to the songs for her.
Then last week, it began to play only little snatches of the voice or music in loops, OVER AND OVER. I am sure you can imagine how annoying that is.
Our other vTech toy, the 3-in-1 Zebra Scooter, was recommended by a friend who had a baby just a bit older than ours. Their daughter loved it so my husband picked it up as a special gift for Mia for Christmas. Special because we found it pretty expensive for a toy at $60.
It's a neat toy because it has three positions: a walker push-toy for littles just learning to walk, a ride-on toy for toddlers, and a scooter for when they're a bit older. Besides that, it has fun lights and buttons to push, music, and animal sounds and tidbits of information.
Mia used it as a walker for a couple months, and now happily rides it around. She loves the music and pressing the buttons. The other thing she's quite interested in is the way the seat can be adjusted up and down for the other functions, so we sometimes raise it up or lower it. And that's where the trouble is.
As you can see in the video, the plastic screw that holds the seat up in the scooter position has snapped right off in the middle. It can never be used as a scooter now. We hadn't tightened it too tight. It was simply the stress of torque on the plastic causing it to shear. Checking out the reviews on ToysRUs.ca, I can see that the same has happened for other people as well.
I contacted vTech Canada with the contact form on their website. I asked if there was a way to purchase a replacement screw for the zebra, and a way to repair the bug. Soon after, I received a form email telling me my email had been received and that I'd be hearing from them within 2-3 business days. Two weeks passed and I hadn't heard anything, so I called their toll-free number.
The recording on the other end asked if the toys were under or over 3 months old. Since we got them at Christmas, I chose "over". It took me directly to a recording stating that our toys were no longer under warranty. Five months old and broken, and they assume no responsibility.
The kicker for me is that the very next thing the recording says is that I have the "opportunity" to purchase more vTech toys on their website. Um, really? Somehow I don't think we're going to follow the $60 we spent on the zebra and the $25 on the ladybug with giving more of our hard-earned money to vTech.
So my verdict on these two toys? Don't waste your money. You may get a few months' use of them but if they break (and based on my experience, it seems likely that they will), you're out your money and your child has broken toys. That is definitely not fun.
This is my first ever video review so go easy :) If it is vertical on your screen, be patient - it's being processed and will be horizontal soon, says YouTube.
We got two vTech toys last Christmas for my daughter. It is now early June, so these toys are about 5 1/2 months old. And both are broken.
Let me preface by saying that my daughter is easy on her toys. She doesn't drop or throw them. She's a careful little girl and gentle with her stuff, not a rough player at all.
The vTech Crazy Legs Learning Bugs Ladybug was fun for a while. It played music and you can match the shapes by plugging in the 'feet' to the appropriate shape and then tap the bug on top to release them. It's pretty cute and the sound is not terribly loud. My daughter loves music and would play it just to dance to the music.
About two months ago, the music began to slow down and speed up randomly. Not a battery issue, it just seemed to start changing the tempo. Not the end of the world, though it did make it harder for me to sing the words to the songs for her.
Then last week, it began to play only little snatches of the voice or music in loops, OVER AND OVER. I am sure you can imagine how annoying that is.
Our other vTech toy, the 3-in-1 Zebra Scooter, was recommended by a friend who had a baby just a bit older than ours. Their daughter loved it so my husband picked it up as a special gift for Mia for Christmas. Special because we found it pretty expensive for a toy at $60.
It's a neat toy because it has three positions: a walker push-toy for littles just learning to walk, a ride-on toy for toddlers, and a scooter for when they're a bit older. Besides that, it has fun lights and buttons to push, music, and animal sounds and tidbits of information.
Mia used it as a walker for a couple months, and now happily rides it around. She loves the music and pressing the buttons. The other thing she's quite interested in is the way the seat can be adjusted up and down for the other functions, so we sometimes raise it up or lower it. And that's where the trouble is.
As you can see in the video, the plastic screw that holds the seat up in the scooter position has snapped right off in the middle. It can never be used as a scooter now. We hadn't tightened it too tight. It was simply the stress of torque on the plastic causing it to shear. Checking out the reviews on ToysRUs.ca, I can see that the same has happened for other people as well.
I contacted vTech Canada with the contact form on their website. I asked if there was a way to purchase a replacement screw for the zebra, and a way to repair the bug. Soon after, I received a form email telling me my email had been received and that I'd be hearing from them within 2-3 business days. Two weeks passed and I hadn't heard anything, so I called their toll-free number.
The recording on the other end asked if the toys were under or over 3 months old. Since we got them at Christmas, I chose "over". It took me directly to a recording stating that our toys were no longer under warranty. Five months old and broken, and they assume no responsibility.
The kicker for me is that the very next thing the recording says is that I have the "opportunity" to purchase more vTech toys on their website. Um, really? Somehow I don't think we're going to follow the $60 we spent on the zebra and the $25 on the ladybug with giving more of our hard-earned money to vTech.
So my verdict on these two toys? Don't waste your money. You may get a few months' use of them but if they break (and based on my experience, it seems likely that they will), you're out your money and your child has broken toys. That is definitely not fun.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Little Tikes Ladybug Pillow Racer Review
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| It's fun to ride! |
One of her very first words is "bug" (well, "buh", which means: bug, bird, banana, bath, button, bunny, bum, and bear), and she looooves spotting ladybugs in the grass when we play outside. So what a treat to try the Ladybug Pillow Racer!
The Racer is easy for a parent to assemble. The wheels on the bottom are a lot like office chair wheels - they swivel in all directions, so no more riding a toy into a wall and not being able to turn around. This toy can spin! Not pictured in the above image (but you'll see it in the ones with Mia) is the anti-tip stabilizing piece at the front of the bug, so it can't topple forward.
The handle is the perfect size for little hands. Mia likes to hold on to it with one hand and take her dog along for a ride with the other! Another fun option is playing with the cute antennae!
One thing to note is that it is recommended to wear shoes while riding the Pillow Racer. Mia was barefoot the day I took pictures, but really she should have had shoes on. A wheel accidentally rolling over a foot would hurt.
The soft pillow top is comfy to ride on and good for cuddles, too. It is removable and can be washed - my one complaint is that it's hand wash. Of course the first thing Mia did was share her banana with the bug... But it came clean with a little spot wash.
The height is just right, easy for her to get on and off. I have noticed at play places some of the riding toys are too high or too awkward for her to get her leg over to ride or get down from a toy. She's about 31" tall and has no trouble with this one.
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| It's fun to push as well! |
 | ||
| The Ladybug is very light. Mia can pick it up herself. |
What a fun toy! Great for indoor play. I'm sure this will last her quite a while. At 16 months she is about 25 lbs or so, and it will handle up to 50 lbs! And I like that it has no batteries - no songs or noises that are annoying long after they are cute.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Sibu Beauty - Review and Giveaway!
I just got some of Sibu Beauty's new products to try: the Exfoliating Scrub, Purifying Mask and Clarifying Toner.
If you haven't heard of Sibu Beauty before, it is a line of products made from the Sea Buckthorn berry, a remarkable berry from Tibet. This premium line of beauty products is designed to help you care for your skin from the outside and the inside, with products ranging from creams, cleansers and soaps to sea buckthorn berry puree and cellular support tabs. The line is also paraben-free and preservative-free, as well as cruelty-free and fair-trade.
The Exfoliating Scrub is granular to freshen the complexion. I have extremely sensitive skin, so I find I need to go easy with this. The particles of apricot kernel are a little large and coarse for my skin. But with a gentle touch once or twice a week, this is great to get a deep clean and exfoliate.
The Purifying Mask is designed for all skin types. It contains kaolin clay, so is great for taming oily complexions like mine - yet it does not leave my skin dry after using it like so many clay masks do. It is a very light mask, with a creamy texture, almost slippery. Very easy to apply, and in 3-10 minutes you rinse it off. I use this a couple of times a week as well, and I find that it does help with my oily skin. Not to mention helping me feel a little pampered :)
The Clarifying Toner is a refreshing spray that you can use directly on the face, or on a swab. I like using it after cleansing to ensure that all makeup residue comes off. Unlike other toners, it does not leave my skin dry either.
All of these products have a lovely citrusy smell, from the citrus essential oils in them. Nice and fresh, but not overpowering or too sweet.
Click "read more" if you do not see the Rafflecopter form to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read my previous review of Sibu Beauty products as well!
If you haven't heard of Sibu Beauty before, it is a line of products made from the Sea Buckthorn berry, a remarkable berry from Tibet. This premium line of beauty products is designed to help you care for your skin from the outside and the inside, with products ranging from creams, cleansers and soaps to sea buckthorn berry puree and cellular support tabs. The line is also paraben-free and preservative-free, as well as cruelty-free and fair-trade.
The Exfoliating Scrub is granular to freshen the complexion. I have extremely sensitive skin, so I find I need to go easy with this. The particles of apricot kernel are a little large and coarse for my skin. But with a gentle touch once or twice a week, this is great to get a deep clean and exfoliate.
The Purifying Mask is designed for all skin types. It contains kaolin clay, so is great for taming oily complexions like mine - yet it does not leave my skin dry after using it like so many clay masks do. It is a very light mask, with a creamy texture, almost slippery. Very easy to apply, and in 3-10 minutes you rinse it off. I use this a couple of times a week as well, and I find that it does help with my oily skin. Not to mention helping me feel a little pampered :)
The Clarifying Toner is a refreshing spray that you can use directly on the face, or on a swab. I like using it after cleansing to ensure that all makeup residue comes off. Unlike other toners, it does not leave my skin dry either.
All of these products have a lovely citrusy smell, from the citrus essential oils in them. Nice and fresh, but not overpowering or too sweet.
And here's something beautiful for you - Sibu Beauty has generously offered a prize pack of the same products I received to one of my lucky readers!
Click "read more" if you do not see the Rafflecopter form to enter!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read my previous review of Sibu Beauty products as well!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Build A Bear Review
I never thought I would be impressed by Build a Bear. It's a weird concept and seemed totally gimmicky and lame.
If you haven't been (as I never had before today), here's how it works - you (for "you" assume you or your child, if your child is old enough) choose an unstuffed animal, you can choose a sound pack to put in it (for an extra fee), you take the animal to the fluff machine where a staff member fills it with blown-in stuffing. You can press the pedal to power the machine if you like. Once the animal is full, you choose a small heart to add to the animal. Then the staff pull the pre-stitched threads to close it up, and you can either take it home like that, or spend more money in the "boutique" on outfits, shoes and accessories (even small plastic branded wardrobes, ugh) for your stuffed animal. A little upsell attempt at the till to negotiate, as they tried to sell me some kind of mesh carrying bag. If you don't opt for the upsell, you can take it home in a printed house-shaped cardboard box (I opted out of that too - it would just go directly in the recycling).
All that sounds awful to me as I write it out.
But I had a $20 gift card and also a $5 off $25 printable coupon for Build a Bear (click the link to get your own coupon - not affiliated or anything, just sharing). So with $25 burning a hole in my pocket, we had to go.
We took our 15.5 month old daughter there today, and here's the thing... she LOVED it. I mean, she was in a grouchypants, complainy mood (molars, I needn't say more). And the minute we went into the store it was all squeals of delight. She's in a phase where she adores stuffed animals, so it was really no surprise. She spent a great deal of time hugging and squealing at the unstuffed animals, armfuls at a time, until we spotted The One - a chocolate lab much like our beast of a dog, Cadbury.
Pure joy!
The dog was $27 and we did not choose a sound pack or any outfits or accessories. Total cost to me after tax and my coupon and gift card? $3.10. She went to bed with it tonight.
So. Worth. It.
If you are thinking of what to get a child (anywhere from 15 months to, I don't know, 12?) for a gift, maybe a gift certificate for Build a Bear would be a good one! It's a fun experience for them.
Disclosure: This is in no way a sponsored review.
If you haven't been (as I never had before today), here's how it works - you (for "you" assume you or your child, if your child is old enough) choose an unstuffed animal, you can choose a sound pack to put in it (for an extra fee), you take the animal to the fluff machine where a staff member fills it with blown-in stuffing. You can press the pedal to power the machine if you like. Once the animal is full, you choose a small heart to add to the animal. Then the staff pull the pre-stitched threads to close it up, and you can either take it home like that, or spend more money in the "boutique" on outfits, shoes and accessories (even small plastic branded wardrobes, ugh) for your stuffed animal. A little upsell attempt at the till to negotiate, as they tried to sell me some kind of mesh carrying bag. If you don't opt for the upsell, you can take it home in a printed house-shaped cardboard box (I opted out of that too - it would just go directly in the recycling).
All that sounds awful to me as I write it out.
But I had a $20 gift card and also a $5 off $25 printable coupon for Build a Bear (click the link to get your own coupon - not affiliated or anything, just sharing). So with $25 burning a hole in my pocket, we had to go.
We took our 15.5 month old daughter there today, and here's the thing... she LOVED it. I mean, she was in a grouchypants, complainy mood (molars, I needn't say more). And the minute we went into the store it was all squeals of delight. She's in a phase where she adores stuffed animals, so it was really no surprise. She spent a great deal of time hugging and squealing at the unstuffed animals, armfuls at a time, until we spotted The One - a chocolate lab much like our beast of a dog, Cadbury.
The dog was $27 and we did not choose a sound pack or any outfits or accessories. Total cost to me after tax and my coupon and gift card? $3.10. She went to bed with it tonight.
So. Worth. It.
If you are thinking of what to get a child (anywhere from 15 months to, I don't know, 12?) for a gift, maybe a gift certificate for Build a Bear would be a good one! It's a fun experience for them.
Disclosure: This is in no way a sponsored review.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Coconut Oil and Your Skin
I'm about to write another review of Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil, and while my review is of the oil as a cooking ingredient, I also want to share my experience with it as a skin treatment.
I love virgin coconut oil for the skin. It's completely non-toxic,
of course... compare that to most of the moisturizers you see on the
shelf and it's a sure winner (see the Skin Deep cosmetic safety database for more info on your current moisturizer!). It's really nice rubbed into the skin for moisture, and beyond moisturizing, it is also anti-bacterial. My daughter is constantly kissing or otherwise putting
her mouth on me, so using a skin care product that is perfectly safe for
her to consume is important to me).
Let's have a little disclosure here: I'm
no doctor, dermatologist or expert of any kind, and Tropical Traditions
makes no health claims nor endorses use of this product as a medical
treatment.
However, I have found that it has been helpful in treating a minor case of Tinea Versicolor that I got after pregnancy (where the skin becomes discoloured in patches). A little rubbed on the area every day has very noticeably reduced the problem in just a week of use.
I
can't use any medical treatments for it as I am nursing, so my
dermatologist recommended trying out natural or home remedies and this
has worked well, so far, for me. I have also seen reports of people using it to treat minor skin blemishes, eczema, and even scrapes. You can even use it as a hair oil. Your mileage may vary (but isn't it
worth a try?!).
Here's the one I've been using, from Tropical Traditions.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Stash review update
I've updated my cloth diaper stash review with mini-reviews of Rumparooz, Happy Heinys and a note on the WuddaH diaper.
Read all my mini reviews of cloth diapers here! I've got a lot of variety in my stash, and am still on the hunt for the perfect diaper. I wonder if she'll potty-train before I find it?
Read all my mini reviews of cloth diapers here! I've got a lot of variety in my stash, and am still on the hunt for the perfect diaper. I wonder if she'll potty-train before I find it?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Fairhaven Health Nursing Time Tea - Review and Giveaway!
I know, another giveaway?! Oh, my. I'm finding it a little hard to keep up with a toddler and a blog (how do those mums of many do it all??), and it seems the rambling posts have given way (for now) to the review posts. Hopefully my lovely readers can stand yet another review and giveaway :)
I have had the pleasure of working with Fairhaven Health several times already and have never been disappointed by any of their products. I actually reviewed the Nursing Time Tea previously, back when Mia was just about 3 weeks old (read that post here, if you like). Early on, I was so engorged all the time it was painful, and leaked ounces at every feeding (for about seven months. So glad that doesn't happen - often - anymore). Supply was not really an issue for me!
Now she's 15 months old, and it's a whole different game. These days, I find that my milk supply changes with the time of the month, and there are days when she lets me know that I'm not meeting her quota!
I'm still nursing Mia frequently - I guess it's not that usual, as people seem surprised when they ask how much she nurses, and I reply, "Well, it's about six times before noon, and beyond that I lose track - as often as she wants!" I am proud to still be breastfeeding, especially after the ridiculous challenges we faced in the early days (raging thrush, mastitis, overactive letdown... it was excruciatingly painful for me and difficult for her). We are stubborn creatures, my daughter and I! (She does eat solid food, of course; she just loves her milk!)
And that's where the Nursing Time Tea comes in at this stage. I find that it helps during those times of the month when my supply is low. It's a relaxing blend of herbs that are lactagogues (promote milk production), help with gas for baby, and contain nutrients for mum and child. The ingredients are organic, and it is caffeine-free. A bag is about a 1-month supply!
I find the flavour to be herbal rather than "lemony" (as it is described) - with a predominant flavour of anise, which I love. Add a little honey or maple syrup in there and it's truly fabulous. I tend to brew a big pot, then keep it in the fridge. Hot, it's relaxing and soothing. Cold, it's refreshing.
Do you know what? I think the loose tea would be lovely in a not-too-sweet shortbread as well. A new kind of lactation cookies? Hmm! I may just try that.
Anyway, I am thrilled that Fairhaven Health has generously decided to offer one of my readers a bag of the loose leaf Nursing Time Tea to try out for themselves!
Click "read more" if you don't see the Rafflecopter form to enter!
Also, feel free to visit some of my past reviews for Fairhaven Health products: FertilAid for Women, FertileCM, FertilAid for Men and Digital Basal Thermometer, Natural Pregnancy Deodorant, DreamBelly Stretch Mark Cream, Nipple Nurture Balm, Nursing Blend Breastfeeding Supplement and Nursing Time Tea, Nursing Postnatal Breastfeeding Multivitamin and DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter. Loved. Them. All.
I have had the pleasure of working with Fairhaven Health several times already and have never been disappointed by any of their products. I actually reviewed the Nursing Time Tea previously, back when Mia was just about 3 weeks old (read that post here, if you like). Early on, I was so engorged all the time it was painful, and leaked ounces at every feeding (for about seven months. So glad that doesn't happen - often - anymore). Supply was not really an issue for me!
Now she's 15 months old, and it's a whole different game. These days, I find that my milk supply changes with the time of the month, and there are days when she lets me know that I'm not meeting her quota!
I'm still nursing Mia frequently - I guess it's not that usual, as people seem surprised when they ask how much she nurses, and I reply, "Well, it's about six times before noon, and beyond that I lose track - as often as she wants!" I am proud to still be breastfeeding, especially after the ridiculous challenges we faced in the early days (raging thrush, mastitis, overactive letdown... it was excruciatingly painful for me and difficult for her). We are stubborn creatures, my daughter and I! (She does eat solid food, of course; she just loves her milk!)
And that's where the Nursing Time Tea comes in at this stage. I find that it helps during those times of the month when my supply is low. It's a relaxing blend of herbs that are lactagogues (promote milk production), help with gas for baby, and contain nutrients for mum and child. The ingredients are organic, and it is caffeine-free. A bag is about a 1-month supply!
I find the flavour to be herbal rather than "lemony" (as it is described) - with a predominant flavour of anise, which I love. Add a little honey or maple syrup in there and it's truly fabulous. I tend to brew a big pot, then keep it in the fridge. Hot, it's relaxing and soothing. Cold, it's refreshing.
Do you know what? I think the loose tea would be lovely in a not-too-sweet shortbread as well. A new kind of lactation cookies? Hmm! I may just try that.
Anyway, I am thrilled that Fairhaven Health has generously decided to offer one of my readers a bag of the loose leaf Nursing Time Tea to try out for themselves!
Click "read more" if you don't see the Rafflecopter form to enter!
Also, feel free to visit some of my past reviews for Fairhaven Health products: FertilAid for Women, FertileCM, FertilAid for Men and Digital Basal Thermometer, Natural Pregnancy Deodorant, DreamBelly Stretch Mark Cream, Nipple Nurture Balm, Nursing Blend Breastfeeding Supplement and Nursing Time Tea, Nursing Postnatal Breastfeeding Multivitamin and DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter. Loved. Them. All.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Finish Quantum dishwasher detergent - Giveaway!
You may have been following along as I tested out Finish Quantum dishwasher tabs. Trial by fire in two dishwashers (the old beast at the rental house we lived in, and a higher-end one in the house we moved into). The results were sparkling!
I don't think I mentioned in any of my previous posts how much I appreciate that there is no strong scent in the product. I really don't like scented dishwasher detergents. Eating off a lemony, soapy smelling dish does not appeal to me at all. One more thing I like about Finish.
Click 'read more' if you don't see the form. Giveaway begins at 12:01am May 19th and ends at 12:01am on May 29th (EST). Best of luck!
I don't think I mentioned in any of my previous posts how much I appreciate that there is no strong scent in the product. I really don't like scented dishwasher detergents. Eating off a lemony, soapy smelling dish does not appeal to me at all. One more thing I like about Finish.
Check out the Finish Canada Facebook page as they once again are offering FREE SAMPLES!The kind folks at Finish have generously decided to give TWO boxes of Finish Quantum to one of my lucky Canadian readers!
Click 'read more' if you don't see the form. Giveaway begins at 12:01am May 19th and ends at 12:01am on May 29th (EST). Best of luck!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Do you know a Mom of the Year?
I know there are mums out there who have overcome huge personal crises and obstacles in their lives and I admire that. I also admire the everyday heroes, the mums who keep families running smoothly and happily, mums who can be counted on to be there for their little ones, stand by their husbands, put family first and still find time to be good friends.
There's one mum I know who I really admire for all she does. Maggie is a mum of four great kids who are happy, smart and interesting children (not to mention cute as all get-out). She manages to keep her house spotless, get the boys off to school, entertain her two little girls all day, and prepare a hot dinner for the family, all before heading off to work at her job - and still finds time to hit the gym.
Maggie is also a great friend. She organizes play dates for all the mums she knows, often hosting loads of little ones and their mothers at her house (and I'm sure you all can imagine the chaos that can entail). She is the person who gets everyone together and sorts out what to do and when. She's a great listener, and a thoughtful and intelligent person to have a conversation with. Just the sort of friend you want to have.
Maggie is my pick for Mom of the Year. What is MOTY, exactly?
This year Walmart is launching the Mom of the Year Award to help celebrate and recognize the huge contribution moms make as role models and integral members of the family and community. This award will become an annual program to celebrate all that Mom does and shine a light on what is important to her.Wow - talk about a generous and amazing award! Way to go, Walmart. So get thinking about who you are going to nominate for Mom of the Year.
Nominations will be accepted Mother’s Day (May 13) through July 8, 2012 and can be submitted through www.momoftheyear.ca. They can come from daughters, sons, family members, friends, colleagues or community members.
Eight finalists will be selected and notified in mid-August and will be treated to an award celebration weekend in September. The Mom of the Year Award recipient will receive $10,000 for personal use and $100,000 to their cause or charity of choice. The remaining seven finalists will each receive $10,000 for personal use and $10,000 to their cause or charity of choice.
Disclosure: I’m part of the Walmart program by Mom Central. I received compensation as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Mom of the Year Award: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY Internet access and valid email account required. Nominations open May 10, 2012 to July 8, 2012 for legal residents of Canada over the age of majority. Entrants cannot nominate themselves. One (1) grand prize available to be won consisting of $10,000 cash, a $100,000 donation by Wal-mart Canada Corp. to charity/cause and a trip to Toronto (ARV $22,000). Seven (7) runner-up prizes available to be won consisting of $10,000 cash, a $10,000 donation to charity/cause and a trip to Toronto (ARV $22,000). Charity/cause subject to verification and final approval by Wal-mart Canada Corp., at its sole discretion. Odds of winning depend on how the judging panel evaluates each entry according to the criteria. For Official Contest Rules and to nominate an entrant, visit [www.momoftheyear.ca].
Monday, May 14, 2012
Mom4Life
I just wanted to share with you an online store for mum and baby products. Mom 4 Life is US-based (and offers free shipping with no minimum order in the US - if only that was for Canada, too!), and carries loads of products that take you from maternity through labour and delivery, to parenthood.
I love the name, it really resonates with me. Especially with Mother's Day just past, I really feel the honour, joy, and responsibility that comes with being a mum. Definitely a mum for life!
A couple of products they carry that I can personally recommend are the Ingrid and Isabella BellaBand (fabulous for pregnancy, it's a firm yet stretchy fabric that keeps your belly comfortable and covered - and there are some in the clearance section! Deals, mamas!) and the popular BabyLegs - super cute legwarmers that make diaper changes so easy! Mia has several pairs and they're great. Mia also has a Wubbanub that she loves. She never took to soothers (fine with me) but adores her cute Wubbanub puppy. It's a plush toy with a soother attached, which I find helps keep track of the soother and makes it harder to lose! They carry cloth diapers as well!
It's a store to check out if you are doing some online shopping for babies, mums, or mums to be!
Disclosure: Mom4Life sent me products in return for an article on their store. My opinions of the products I've mentioned are honest and my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
I love the name, it really resonates with me. Especially with Mother's Day just past, I really feel the honour, joy, and responsibility that comes with being a mum. Definitely a mum for life!
A couple of products they carry that I can personally recommend are the Ingrid and Isabella BellaBand (fabulous for pregnancy, it's a firm yet stretchy fabric that keeps your belly comfortable and covered - and there are some in the clearance section! Deals, mamas!) and the popular BabyLegs - super cute legwarmers that make diaper changes so easy! Mia has several pairs and they're great. Mia also has a Wubbanub that she loves. She never took to soothers (fine with me) but adores her cute Wubbanub puppy. It's a plush toy with a soother attached, which I find helps keep track of the soother and makes it harder to lose! They carry cloth diapers as well!
It's a store to check out if you are doing some online shopping for babies, mums, or mums to be!
Disclosure: Mom4Life sent me products in return for an article on their store. My opinions of the products I've mentioned are honest and my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Better Dishwashing with Finish Quantum
As part of the Finish Revolution campaign, I had the privilege to watch a webinar on getting the most out of my dishwasher. You think it's easy, right? Throw the dishes in the dishwasher, add some detergent, turn it on, voila! Clean dishes.
HA! There is much more to it to achieve the gleaming dishes we all want to see come out of our dishwashers.
I had no idea about the science behind detergents, or the best techniques of loading and caring for our dishwasher. So let me share some of the things I've learned, and hopefully we will all have better, cleaner results from our favourite kitchen machines (okay, my favourite kitchen machine, at least... I hate washing dishes by hand!).
Did you know that there are two types of cleaners that can be in detergents? Enzymes take care of proteins and starches, and bleach gets the rest. Enzymes work at a lower temperature than bleach, and start the cleaning process - as the water temperature rises, bleach kicks in. The bleach kills the enzymes. For this reason, a gel detergent can only contain one or the other. So a separated detergent tablet like Finish Quantum seems the ideal way to go. The wall inside the tab keeps the bleach from killing off the enzymes - hence, more cleaning power!
Then there's that ball of rinse agent in the Finish Quantum tabs. This helps prevent soft water etching (damage on glasses, for instance) or hard water film and calcium buildup on your dishes and in your dishwasher.
Another thing I learned (which should be common sense, but for some reason this was an eye-opener for me) - under the kitchen sink is one of the dampest places in the house. So keeping your dishwasher detergent in there is not the wisest plan! Have you ever had a box of powder detergent go hard? That's the moisture activating the cleaner. Once it's hardened, it will not have the same cleaning power anymore.
And my technique of loading every last thing I can jam into my dishwasher before running it probably isn't doing me any favours. I often have put small bowls under big ones, thinking the water will wash up and over the little ones. Not so. Nesting like that can trap particles and prevent water from reaching the upper dish. So for the best results I should be taking care that each dish has its own space. It may mean more frequent loads as a result (our current Bosch dishwasher has a small load capacity), but better results. Huh!
So I'm trying this new approach on loading the dishwasher and I have to admit, I am running it a bit more often, but doing a lot less post-dishwasher hand-washing. And why have a dishwasher if you have to hand-wash what comes out of it?!
Here are my top takeaways from the webinar. I hope you find this helpful!
Disclosure: I am part of the Finish Blogger Program by Mom Central. I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
HA! There is much more to it to achieve the gleaming dishes we all want to see come out of our dishwashers.
I had no idea about the science behind detergents, or the best techniques of loading and caring for our dishwasher. So let me share some of the things I've learned, and hopefully we will all have better, cleaner results from our favourite kitchen machines (okay, my favourite kitchen machine, at least... I hate washing dishes by hand!).
Did you know that there are two types of cleaners that can be in detergents? Enzymes take care of proteins and starches, and bleach gets the rest. Enzymes work at a lower temperature than bleach, and start the cleaning process - as the water temperature rises, bleach kicks in. The bleach kills the enzymes. For this reason, a gel detergent can only contain one or the other. So a separated detergent tablet like Finish Quantum seems the ideal way to go. The wall inside the tab keeps the bleach from killing off the enzymes - hence, more cleaning power!
Then there's that ball of rinse agent in the Finish Quantum tabs. This helps prevent soft water etching (damage on glasses, for instance) or hard water film and calcium buildup on your dishes and in your dishwasher.
Another thing I learned (which should be common sense, but for some reason this was an eye-opener for me) - under the kitchen sink is one of the dampest places in the house. So keeping your dishwasher detergent in there is not the wisest plan! Have you ever had a box of powder detergent go hard? That's the moisture activating the cleaner. Once it's hardened, it will not have the same cleaning power anymore.
And my technique of loading every last thing I can jam into my dishwasher before running it probably isn't doing me any favours. I often have put small bowls under big ones, thinking the water will wash up and over the little ones. Not so. Nesting like that can trap particles and prevent water from reaching the upper dish. So for the best results I should be taking care that each dish has its own space. It may mean more frequent loads as a result (our current Bosch dishwasher has a small load capacity), but better results. Huh!
So I'm trying this new approach on loading the dishwasher and I have to admit, I am running it a bit more often, but doing a lot less post-dishwasher hand-washing. And why have a dishwasher if you have to hand-wash what comes out of it?!
Here are my top takeaways from the webinar. I hope you find this helpful!
My Top 5 Tips for Great Dishwasher Results:
- Use hot water. If your kitchen is far from your hot water heater, or your heater is set too low (it should be at 120 degrees, and no hotter than 125 to prevent scalding), you may not be getting the ideal temperature for your dishwasher's peak performance.
- Load with care. Make sure cutlery and dishes are not nesting or pressed up against each other. Give the water and detergent room to do their job!
- Use detergent that contains everything you need. You want enzymes, bleach, and a rinse agent to get the cleanest dishes (Finish Quantum contains all three - and does not contain phosphates).
- Check and clean your dishwasher once in a while. Check the holes in the spray arms for build-up, and check the water outflow drains for food or buildup as well. Water should be able to enter and exit the dishwasher freely. Running a cleaning agent like Finish Dishwasher Cleaner once in a while will keep your dishwasher running smoothly and odour-free!
- Keep your detergent away from moisture! In my experience the powder in boxes always goes hard before I finish the box. That's wasted money and useless detergent. And despite the smaller boxes, tabs are more concentrated and keep longer as they are sealed - and generally do the same number of loads as a big box of powder detergent!
Disclosure: I am part of the Finish Blogger Program by Mom Central. I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Friday, May 11, 2012
One new winner for DreamBelly Butter
Think you didn't win? Maybe you did! One of my winners did not respond, so I have chosen a new one. Announced on the original review of DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter, and emailed!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Things I wish I didn't have to say...
Oh, Honey! Don't lick the bathroom floor!
No, no! Don't put your finger in there! Yuck!
Don't drink the bathwater!
Settle down, we're dealing with poop here!
Stop biting your pants!
..sigh..
No, no! Don't put your finger in there! Yuck!
Don't drink the bathwater!
Settle down, we're dealing with poop here!
Stop biting your pants!
..sigh..
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Goodbye, Goodlife
We've been Goodlife Fitness members for years. I mean, I joined in 2001 - back when the bi-weekly rate was $16 (it's now $23, or $21 if you sign up during a sale). I was always a big advocate of the club, too. I loved their Les Mills classes. BodyFlow was my favourite - a mix of tai chi, pilates, and yoga. I brought several new members into the club myself with my glowing praise and enthusiasm for it.
Over the years I was thrilled to keep my locked-in member rate as prices increased. In 2007, I moved to a location that was fairly far from a club, and terminated my membership. What a mistake that was. I ended up missing it enough to make the 20 minute drive and re-signed soon after at a higher bi-weekly rate. It was not ideal to pay more than I had been, but I recognized that I'd cancelled my membership and was considered a new member.
Then my husband's company started a corporate partnership account with Goodlife. We got a great rate by going with the corporate plan. Knowing their tendency to increase rates, we asked the club before we switched to the corporate plan if we could return to our current rates should we leave the corporate plan. "Sure," they said, "No problem." And with that sorted - or so we thought - we went ahead with it.
And guess what? A year later, my husband has changed jobs and provinces, and we are no longer eligible for the corporate plan. Fair enough. But when we tried to switch back to our old rates, we were told that was not possible, despite what we'd been assured of before.
We went to the local club to talk about it. The staff member disappeared several times into an office to "call the district manager" and every time came back saying there was nothing they could do. If we wanted to stay at the club, we could pay the sale price (ending the next day - no pressure!) of $21 bi-weekly each.
One staff member enthused about the Jump Fitness child care at the gym, as she saw that we had Mia with us - I found that ironic considering my recent, first and LAST experience with that - read my review of Goodlife's Jump Fitness Child Care to see why!
We were happy and loyal members and felt like we had just been treated like dirt. Broken promises, what a disappointment.
So goodbye, Goodlife.
We're going to spend the summer (if it ever gets to Calgary - it snowed today!) outside exercising and making the most of the beautiful parks, lakes and mountains around us. And in the fall, we'll look for a new fitness club. Hopefully one that honours its promises and has some interest in keeping loyal members.
If there are any co-ed fitness clubs in the south of Calgary that are interested in a review, well, my husband and I would be happy to test out your facilities :)
Over the years I was thrilled to keep my locked-in member rate as prices increased. In 2007, I moved to a location that was fairly far from a club, and terminated my membership. What a mistake that was. I ended up missing it enough to make the 20 minute drive and re-signed soon after at a higher bi-weekly rate. It was not ideal to pay more than I had been, but I recognized that I'd cancelled my membership and was considered a new member.
Then my husband's company started a corporate partnership account with Goodlife. We got a great rate by going with the corporate plan. Knowing their tendency to increase rates, we asked the club before we switched to the corporate plan if we could return to our current rates should we leave the corporate plan. "Sure," they said, "No problem." And with that sorted - or so we thought - we went ahead with it.
And guess what? A year later, my husband has changed jobs and provinces, and we are no longer eligible for the corporate plan. Fair enough. But when we tried to switch back to our old rates, we were told that was not possible, despite what we'd been assured of before.
We went to the local club to talk about it. The staff member disappeared several times into an office to "call the district manager" and every time came back saying there was nothing they could do. If we wanted to stay at the club, we could pay the sale price (ending the next day - no pressure!) of $21 bi-weekly each.
One staff member enthused about the Jump Fitness child care at the gym, as she saw that we had Mia with us - I found that ironic considering my recent, first and LAST experience with that - read my review of Goodlife's Jump Fitness Child Care to see why!
We were happy and loyal members and felt like we had just been treated like dirt. Broken promises, what a disappointment.
So goodbye, Goodlife.
We're going to spend the summer (if it ever gets to Calgary - it snowed today!) outside exercising and making the most of the beautiful parks, lakes and mountains around us. And in the fall, we'll look for a new fitness club. Hopefully one that honours its promises and has some interest in keeping loyal members.
If there are any co-ed fitness clubs in the south of Calgary that are interested in a review, well, my husband and I would be happy to test out your facilities :)
Friday, May 4, 2012
Game of Thrones!
Are you watching it? My husband and I enjoyed the first season of this HBO program so much that we have begun reading the book series by George R. R. Martin as well. The books are great - and make me realize how true the show is to the story. My husband says he's finding that reading the thoughts each character has adds a lot, as that is something that's harder to portray on television.
I love the sets on the show - so detailed, so large - and the costuming and casting is fabulous.
If you have a chance, start at the beginning with Game of Thrones: The Complete First Season
and A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 1)
. We are just over half way through the first book, and a few episodes into the second season of the show. It's super addictive! Highly recommended. I'd love to hear your favourite character. It's hard to commit to one, because you never know who's going to die next! But I really like Daenarys - her transformation in the first series was remarkable. And I am rooting for Arya as well! Who do you like?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Boxes
We have officially moved into our new house. It is a big home in a great location - in a fabulous neighbourhood, right on the edge of a provincial park - a view of the mountains to the west and a view of the city skyline to the north, even with a lake that we have access to - but it needs some serious TLC. We're planning a full kitchen renovation (gutting and redoing), renovating the master bathroom, and the laundry room (walls coming down), ASAP!
I can't describe all the things that we have discovered that are wrong with this house. It's clear that the previous owners did little to no maintenance on the house at all. I spent ages scrubbing the kitchen sink as it was nasty-dirty. (Who leaves a house like that?) Lots of things are broken (plumbing in several locations, the fireplace, even cracked windows) and lots of things need repair - the biggest one being the roof, which needs a complete re-do - it's untreated pine shakes, which was a terrible idea. It's falling apart! Oh, my. It's going to cost a small fortune just to get everything up and running.
The gardens are also a disaster - poorly planned beds with falling-apart brick walls around them, overgrown evergreens and ugly shrubs. I am looking forward to getting that fixed, but the interior comes first. Maybe next summer.
Meanwhile, we are living on the top floor and the basement, using the kitchen on the main floor, but knowing we'll have to move all our stuff out of there when we start renovations. The ceiling on the main floor will have to come down (walls and lights are moving), and the floor will be all redone, so there's no point moving anything in on the main floor at all. Mia is loving running from empty room to empty room. She's handling all this transition so remarkably well!
So, it's another several months of living out of boxes and in a fugue state. We are happy to be out of the grotty rental house, but oh, it will be nice to actually settle in.
Anyway, that might explain the lack of posting lately. It's been extremely busy lately around here and we have a lot to do yet.
I can't describe all the things that we have discovered that are wrong with this house. It's clear that the previous owners did little to no maintenance on the house at all. I spent ages scrubbing the kitchen sink as it was nasty-dirty. (Who leaves a house like that?) Lots of things are broken (plumbing in several locations, the fireplace, even cracked windows) and lots of things need repair - the biggest one being the roof, which needs a complete re-do - it's untreated pine shakes, which was a terrible idea. It's falling apart! Oh, my. It's going to cost a small fortune just to get everything up and running.
The gardens are also a disaster - poorly planned beds with falling-apart brick walls around them, overgrown evergreens and ugly shrubs. I am looking forward to getting that fixed, but the interior comes first. Maybe next summer.
Meanwhile, we are living on the top floor and the basement, using the kitchen on the main floor, but knowing we'll have to move all our stuff out of there when we start renovations. The ceiling on the main floor will have to come down (walls and lights are moving), and the floor will be all redone, so there's no point moving anything in on the main floor at all. Mia is loving running from empty room to empty room. She's handling all this transition so remarkably well!
So, it's another several months of living out of boxes and in a fugue state. We are happy to be out of the grotty rental house, but oh, it will be nice to actually settle in.
Anyway, that might explain the lack of posting lately. It's been extremely busy lately around here and we have a lot to do yet.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Fairhaven Health DreamBelly Butter - Review and Giveaway!
I have worked several times in the past with Fairhaven Health and jumped at the chance to test out and review the new DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter.
You may recall that while I was pregnant, I used DreamBelly Stretch Mark Cream daily on my ginormous belly. I managed to pack on about 50 lbs while I was pregnant - yowza! Yet I made it through without a single stretch mark from pregnancy. You can read my previous review of DreamBelly Stretch Mark Cream if you want the full story.
Just for fun, here's my enormo belly on one of the last days of pregnancy, while I was in labour. You will have to excuse the nasty pyjama pants, I was scraping the bottom of the dresser for anything I could get on at that point:
Not one stretch mark! Hooray! I'm not posting a belly shot now - oh, how I miss the days of flat pre-preg belly that was not squishy in the least - but I assure you, it's still stretch mark free.
So, I can personally attest to the awesomeness of that product, and although I am not pregnant (no, this review is not an announcement!) DreamBelly Butter was something I needed to try. With our recent move to Calgary from Ontario, I have realized just how much the humidity (or lack thereof) affects my skin. Calgary is dry as a desert bone and I'm headed that way, too. I was in desperate need of moisture.
DreamBelly Butter has natural ingredients, safe for pregnancy - and honestly, why would you want to use anything that is not safe for pregnancy, even when you're not pregnant? DreamBelly Butter:
The best thing about it is the feel. It is thick and absorbs well without leaving a greasy feeling on your skin. You can really feel it moisturizing, but you don't feel slippery or oily at all. I can't stand applying lotion and then feeling like it's going to get all over my sheets or clothing. DreamBelly Butter goes on and soaks right in. Lovely. I just checked out the reviews on their site, and it looks like other women love it just as much as I do - all 5 star reviews.
One of the things I respect about Fairhaven Health - and this goes for all their products - is that they provide a complete ingredient list on their website for each product. Everything I have tried from them has been fantastic quality. Although I write a lot of reviews, I don't always gush - but this company has me gushing. It's good stuff.
And now I have some excellent news: Fairhaven Health has generously offered to send out DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter to FIVE of my lucky readers! Get in on this one, you will love this product!
Click "read more" if you don't see the Rafflecopter form to enter!
You may recall that while I was pregnant, I used DreamBelly Stretch Mark Cream daily on my ginormous belly. I managed to pack on about 50 lbs while I was pregnant - yowza! Yet I made it through without a single stretch mark from pregnancy. You can read my previous review of DreamBelly Stretch Mark Cream if you want the full story.
Just for fun, here's my enormo belly on one of the last days of pregnancy, while I was in labour. You will have to excuse the nasty pyjama pants, I was scraping the bottom of the dresser for anything I could get on at that point:
So, I can personally attest to the awesomeness of that product, and although I am not pregnant (no, this review is not an announcement!) DreamBelly Butter was something I needed to try. With our recent move to Calgary from Ontario, I have realized just how much the humidity (or lack thereof) affects my skin. Calgary is dry as a desert bone and I'm headed that way, too. I was in desperate need of moisture.
I love the very light scent - to me it smells sweet like candy, but not in a sticky, fake way, like so many lotions. It's just really nice. Feminine without being girly, flowery or powdery.
Combines the healing power of rosehip oil, aloe vera, honeysuckle and grapefruit, to protect and regenerate skin, and provide soothing relief from itchiness
Provides deep moisturizing from natural butters and oils with no greasy, slippery feeling
Has the mild, pleasant fragrance of milk and honey
Contains no petroleum products, parabens, artificial colors or artificial preservatives
The best thing about it is the feel. It is thick and absorbs well without leaving a greasy feeling on your skin. You can really feel it moisturizing, but you don't feel slippery or oily at all. I can't stand applying lotion and then feeling like it's going to get all over my sheets or clothing. DreamBelly Butter goes on and soaks right in. Lovely. I just checked out the reviews on their site, and it looks like other women love it just as much as I do - all 5 star reviews.
One of the things I respect about Fairhaven Health - and this goes for all their products - is that they provide a complete ingredient list on their website for each product. Everything I have tried from them has been fantastic quality. Although I write a lot of reviews, I don't always gush - but this company has me gushing. It's good stuff.
And now I have some excellent news: Fairhaven Health has generously offered to send out DreamBelly Stretch Mark Butter to FIVE of my lucky readers! Get in on this one, you will love this product!
Click "read more" if you don't see the Rafflecopter form to enter!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
A Supreme Green Mess #FinishRevolution
This week I have been trying out a few new recipes from my stash of cookbooks. One of the ones I tried was Supreme Green Spaghetti, from my Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook
. Usually I love the recipes from Vegetarian Times - they can generally be relied upon to transform simple ingredients into delicious dishes. I was eager to test out the Supreme Green Spaghetti, because it looked so healthy and simple.
Well, it was simple and fairly healthy alright, but seriously devoid of flavour and had a disappointingly grainy texture! I usually happily modify recipes after the first by-the-book test - but this one is just not worth it. So I won't bother sharing it (it's not even on the VT site). Suffice to say, it involved blending cooked broccoli and spinach with milk, butter, salt and garlic to create a sauce for whole grain spaghetti. And even though I love all those ingredients, it was a mess. Not particularly tasty, the raw garlic had too much bite (although I'm a garlic lover), the texture was icky.
The only one of us who enjoyed it was my 14 month old. Bland pureed vegetables are okay with her. My husband barely ate five bites - he said he wasn't that hungry, but I know he was sparing my feelings. And I managed half a bowl before giving up. The next day I added some organic tomato sauce to the dish and tried again, it was still not worth eating.
It's not too often that I create an absolute unsalvageable failure in the kitchen, but it does happen!
At any rate, the mess of a dinner came with a mess of a blender as well. The blended bits of broccoli and spinach are exactly the kind of thing that tend to dry on and stick like glue to dishes. The dishwasher in our grotty rental house (we're moving by the end of the month to the new house, hooray!) is an old beast and does not do a great job by any means. So this was a big test for the Finish Quantum dishwasher tabs that I've been trying out. Here's the blender as it went in to the dishwasher:
...and that is how it sat in the dishwasher for four days. We're a small family of three and weekdays, as my husband only eats one meal a day at home, we take a while to fill up the dishwasher. So there it sat until we finally had a full load.
Oh, the suspense. Would I be washing that blender by hand afterwards? I HATE hand washing dishes, so I really was hoping for the best.
Well, you can stop biting your nails with anticipation - here's the result, fresh out of the dishwasher. Sparkling clean!
I am positive the tabs I was using before (store brand green tabs) would have left not only dried-on bits of green goo but also detergent residue on the glass. So I am quite happy with this result. If only we'd gotten a tasty dinner out of it!
Disclosure: I am part of the Finish Blogger Program by Mom Central. I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
. Usually I love the recipes from Vegetarian Times - they can generally be relied upon to transform simple ingredients into delicious dishes. I was eager to test out the Supreme Green Spaghetti, because it looked so healthy and simple.Well, it was simple and fairly healthy alright, but seriously devoid of flavour and had a disappointingly grainy texture! I usually happily modify recipes after the first by-the-book test - but this one is just not worth it. So I won't bother sharing it (it's not even on the VT site). Suffice to say, it involved blending cooked broccoli and spinach with milk, butter, salt and garlic to create a sauce for whole grain spaghetti. And even though I love all those ingredients, it was a mess. Not particularly tasty, the raw garlic had too much bite (although I'm a garlic lover), the texture was icky.
The only one of us who enjoyed it was my 14 month old. Bland pureed vegetables are okay with her. My husband barely ate five bites - he said he wasn't that hungry, but I know he was sparing my feelings. And I managed half a bowl before giving up. The next day I added some organic tomato sauce to the dish and tried again, it was still not worth eating.
It's not too often that I create an absolute unsalvageable failure in the kitchen, but it does happen!
At any rate, the mess of a dinner came with a mess of a blender as well. The blended bits of broccoli and spinach are exactly the kind of thing that tend to dry on and stick like glue to dishes. The dishwasher in our grotty rental house (we're moving by the end of the month to the new house, hooray!) is an old beast and does not do a great job by any means. So this was a big test for the Finish Quantum dishwasher tabs that I've been trying out. Here's the blender as it went in to the dishwasher:
...and that is how it sat in the dishwasher for four days. We're a small family of three and weekdays, as my husband only eats one meal a day at home, we take a while to fill up the dishwasher. So there it sat until we finally had a full load.
Oh, the suspense. Would I be washing that blender by hand afterwards? I HATE hand washing dishes, so I really was hoping for the best.
Well, you can stop biting your nails with anticipation - here's the result, fresh out of the dishwasher. Sparkling clean!
I am positive the tabs I was using before (store brand green tabs) would have left not only dried-on bits of green goo but also detergent residue on the glass. So I am quite happy with this result. If only we'd gotten a tasty dinner out of it!
Disclosure: I am part of the Finish Blogger Program by Mom Central. I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Free Finish Quantum dishwasher detergent (CDN)!
Here's a little heads up about a very nice freebie! Finish Canada is offering a mail-in rebate for up to $8.49 on any Finish Quantum product. Just "like" Finish Canada on Facebook, head for the "Special Offers" tab and you will find the printable rebate form. You can make your purchase between now and May 4th; just hang on to your receipt so you can send it in.
Great chance to try out Finish if you haven't yet. We have been using it as part of the Finish Revolution. More on that later, but so far, so good!
Great chance to try out Finish if you haven't yet. We have been using it as part of the Finish Revolution. More on that later, but so far, so good!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Hello, Free Shoes!
Let me guess - I had you at hello, right?
I discovered a store policy yesterday that I think you need to know about! At PayLess Shoes, if they don't have your size in stock, you can request a printout that shows locations nearby that have the shoe in your size. And, for the hassle of traveling to another store, you receive a $6 discount on those shoes (take the printout with you to the second store, that's your coupon). And, when the shoes in question are on sale for $6... well, that means FREE SHOES! For an eight minute drive (en route to where I happened to be headed anyway), I didn't even pay tax on these sweet ballet style shoes (regular price $19.99) for Mia.
A girl can't have too many pairs of shoes. And the price was right!
Please note, this was my experience with two PayLess shoe stores in Calgary. I haven't researched their national (or international, for that matter) policy. YMMV!
I discovered a store policy yesterday that I think you need to know about! At PayLess Shoes, if they don't have your size in stock, you can request a printout that shows locations nearby that have the shoe in your size. And, for the hassle of traveling to another store, you receive a $6 discount on those shoes (take the printout with you to the second store, that's your coupon). And, when the shoes in question are on sale for $6... well, that means FREE SHOES! For an eight minute drive (en route to where I happened to be headed anyway), I didn't even pay tax on these sweet ballet style shoes (regular price $19.99) for Mia.
Please note, this was my experience with two PayLess shoe stores in Calgary. I haven't researched their national (or international, for that matter) policy. YMMV!
Friday, March 30, 2012
On being a painter.
I was at a doctor's office the other day for a meet-and-greet appointment - a new family doctor here in Calgary. He seemed a very nice man, patient, apologetic for running late, yet not rushing us through our appointment to catch up. He asks the requisite questions: family history, medical concerns, etcetera - and then we come to profession.
"I'm an artist," I say, "A painter."
"Ah," he says. "Ah. What sort of paints do you use?"
"Oil paints," I reply.
"Yes, but what sort?"
I think fast. What sort of paints? Is he concerned about workplace safety, or chemicals in my system, toxic leads and heavy metals in my breast milk for my nursing toddler? Is he asking me if I work with industrial grade or artist grade paints? Is he leading to questions about my awareness of the hazards of using oils and spirits, or wondering if I've done WHMIS training?
Then I get it. Oh.
"What brands, you mean?" I ask.
He nods and leans in.
"Well," I say, and rattle off a couple of paint brands.
Pregnant pause.
He looks at me, eyebrows slightly raised, expectant. Waiting.
Here we go, I think. I give in. I sigh. I ask what he is waiting for me to ask - "Are you a painter, too, then? These are painterly questions." Drily. Resignedly. In a voice that perhaps should indicate my lack of enthusiasm. He can't possibly know, but I have asked this question and had this conversation many, many times before.
"Yes!" he exclaims, and pulls out his phone to show me a picture of a brightly coloured painting of boats. A copy of a Monet. "It's big!" he says, proudly.
"Lovely," I reply - what else can I say? - waiting to move on, back to the reason we are there in his office.
"You'll have to bring in a picture of your paintings next time you're in," he declares.
I briefly consider handing him a business card, or providing my website address. Dismiss it, realizing he's not really that interested. "Yes," I say, in my most non-committal voice.
I think about the years I spent studying at university to earn my Fine Arts degree, and the day that I ditched the office job, shortly after graduation, to make a go of a full-time art career. I think about the 14 years I have spent working as a successful professional artist, developing relationships with national and international galleries, teaching classes on painting and drawing. I think about how the average income of a Canadian professional artist is $15,000 - well below the poverty line - and how I have been able to surpass that substantially and make a decent living at my work.
I am a painter. I feel I've earned the right to call myself that. I've worked hard for it. It's my profession. I've put in the hard hours, I've relied on that skill alone to keep me afloat.
I wonder what the response would have been if I had said to him, "Oh, I'm a doctor too! Here, look, I've got a picture of the sliver I pulled out last week!"
"I'm an artist," I say, "A painter."
"Ah," he says. "Ah. What sort of paints do you use?"
"Oil paints," I reply.
"Yes, but what sort?"
I think fast. What sort of paints? Is he concerned about workplace safety, or chemicals in my system, toxic leads and heavy metals in my breast milk for my nursing toddler? Is he asking me if I work with industrial grade or artist grade paints? Is he leading to questions about my awareness of the hazards of using oils and spirits, or wondering if I've done WHMIS training?
Then I get it. Oh.
"What brands, you mean?" I ask.
He nods and leans in.
"Well," I say, and rattle off a couple of paint brands.
Pregnant pause.
He looks at me, eyebrows slightly raised, expectant. Waiting.
Here we go, I think. I give in. I sigh. I ask what he is waiting for me to ask - "Are you a painter, too, then? These are painterly questions." Drily. Resignedly. In a voice that perhaps should indicate my lack of enthusiasm. He can't possibly know, but I have asked this question and had this conversation many, many times before.
"Yes!" he exclaims, and pulls out his phone to show me a picture of a brightly coloured painting of boats. A copy of a Monet. "It's big!" he says, proudly.
"Lovely," I reply - what else can I say? - waiting to move on, back to the reason we are there in his office.
"You'll have to bring in a picture of your paintings next time you're in," he declares.
I briefly consider handing him a business card, or providing my website address. Dismiss it, realizing he's not really that interested. "Yes," I say, in my most non-committal voice.
I think about the years I spent studying at university to earn my Fine Arts degree, and the day that I ditched the office job, shortly after graduation, to make a go of a full-time art career. I think about the 14 years I have spent working as a successful professional artist, developing relationships with national and international galleries, teaching classes on painting and drawing. I think about how the average income of a Canadian professional artist is $15,000 - well below the poverty line - and how I have been able to surpass that substantially and make a decent living at my work.
I am a painter. I feel I've earned the right to call myself that. I've worked hard for it. It's my profession. I've put in the hard hours, I've relied on that skill alone to keep me afloat.
I wonder what the response would have been if I had said to him, "Oh, I'm a doctor too! Here, look, I've got a picture of the sliver I pulled out last week!"
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Sibu Beauty Promotion
You may recall my review of Sibu Beauty products - oh, it seems like ages ago (I was pregnant at the time!). I have just heard from Sibu that they have a promotion on now:
Take advantage of our "March Blowout"-20% off all products and get free shipping (excluding Raw) through Saturday, March 31st. Use coupon code: SIBUDEAL20 at checkout.One to get in on quickly, as it ends soon!
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