Real reviews from a real momma.... Enviro Styles

So another random Facebook entry has won me another great prize... and Enviro Styles Stainless Steel water bottle :)
this Canadian company makes everything for your reusable lunch box.. from re-usable sandwich bags to water bottles and lunch kits... they even sell my new favorite Vapur Flexible Bottles

here's the link...
http://www.envirostyles.ca


So my beautiful water bottle arrived today and its fantastic.. it has a beautiful red anemone pattern on it... and two lids, a squirt bottle and a regular full closure lid... it hold 750ml of liquid and With every bottle sold, OtterBottlle Inc. make a contribution will be made to the David Suzuki Foundation...

• Each bottle has a different design motif to suit everyone's tastes
• Bottles are 100% 18/8 grade Stainless Steel inside and out
• No BPA, No Aluminum, No Inside Lining-they are One- Wall Steel
• Lead Free Paint on Bottle Exterior.
• Dishwasher Safe Bottles.
• Lids are #5 PP Plastic and are not recommended for dishwasher as lids will warp over time.

I really like this bottle it fits into my cup holder nicely as well as the bottle pocket in my bag... they cost 19.99 online... we'll see how the image holds up over time.. I've had bottles with screen prints on them that after several washes , the image peals off. so Lets hope this one doesn't do that.. :)

world record attempt

so there's a cloth diapering world record attempt being made on April April 23rd, 2011 at 9AM PST and I think we are going to be a part of it... I did cloth diaper mr K till he was 14 months old and then had to stop due to my pregnancy and lack of stomach strength :) but once mrK is potty trained I plan on having miss L's bum in cloth full time...

here is the info from the face book page...

Cloth diapers have come a long way in past 10 years, and it’s time to stand up and be noticed. Celebrate Earth Day, by joining the North American and International cloth diaper community on April 23rd, 2011 at 9AM PST to set the world record for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously.

The Rules (as set for by Guinness World Records):

At 9am SHARP: Change your baby when we say "GO!" (Or blow the whistle)
...
•Each baby must be changed out of a cloth or disposable diaper into a reusable cloth diaper at exactly 9am.
•The cloth diaper must be a brand that can be purchased by the general public in a retail store or online.
◦Unfortunately, homemade diapers that are not commercially available cannot be used. This is a very strict rule from Guinness World Records. eg - no dishrags and ziploc baggies! As long as it is sold as a diaper, it is acceptable.
•All participating babies and toddlers must be 39 inches or shorter.
•Each child must be paired with exactly one adult participant.

Both photo and video verification is required by Guinness. At 8:58, we will photograph the group "in position" before the change, as you hold up your cloth diaper (into which your little one will be changed), and then at 9:00 we will change babies, and at 9:02 we will photograph you again as a group (babies in cloth diapers). Video will be running this whole time (we will do our best to keep any nudity out - ie, we'll point the camera upwards during the change!)

We are accepting sponsors who would like to donate goodies/samples/coupons for our goodie bags!


Contact: Katie or Kerri at Cozy Bums Diapers
info@cozybums.ca
250-964-2609

Face book link .... https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173168499398590&ref=notif&notif_t=event_wall#wall_posts

Real reviews from a real momma.... Rockin Green Soap Canada

So I recently won a prize from Rockin Green Soap Canada .. and once I get a chance to give it a spin.. I will post a review..
But basically its an amazing soap for all your cloth diapering loads of laundry... I'm excited to try it out :)

http://www.monkeydoodlez.com/

Update !!!!!

so I have now been using the Rockin Green in almost every load of my kids and husbands dirty clothes... I was really hesitant at 1st because we all have sensitive skin, and my son in particular breaks out in a rash every time I switch laundry soaps.. but this time I was so lucky not only did he not get rashy.. but the clothes came out so clean...
My daughter had some yummy banana's one night and my husband just tossed her out fit into the laundry.. now we all have see banana;s after a day or two.. all yucky and black dots that dont wash out of anything .. but I used the Rockin Geen in Lavender mint as a "pre treater " left it on for the day and then washed it up in the morning.. I was socked it all came out... and So happy...
I have been a lazy mum lately and haven't used cloth diapers in a while... but I did do one load with the Rockin Green and I was so freaking happy with the results...
I'm hoping Rockin Green picks me to do more reviews for them.... I think We'd be a great fit together, as I'm a Canadian mommy.. :) and hate doing laundry.. but Rockin Green Makes the job easier for me !!!!

Real reviews from a real momma.... Thomas the tank engine .. trains

While conversing with my 2 1/2 year old about what momma should blog about next he suggested TRAINS MOMMA... so trains it is. since a very small child my son has loved trains.. big ones small ones ones that talk ones that dont..ones that move on their own and ones that require kid power...

So in May of 2010 my mom bought a set of tracks for my son .. the brand is Big Jig rail, and we added a "no name" brand to this set at Christmas time .. we used a lower table and created our own train table... but you can purchase several different kinds of train tables some range from the reasonable to the outrageous price tags...
We also added some of the Thomas the Tank brand trains to the mix and my son is so happy with them.. like most parents with kids addicted to Thomas we have seen a Video or 300... :) so I know the names and "personality's" of most of the trains..
One thing to mention not all trains cars will work with all train train track.. the smaller die caste trains work on a different kind of track..
the one thing that shocks me is the price tag on these trains cars.. some can be as much as $25 bucks for One train car.. CRAZY if you ask me...
I've met hundreds of Thomas Fans...
they are made well and my son knows them all by name...

In 6months I will have a 1year old and a 3year old

So my mommy heart is happy and sad all at once.. Our baby girl will be one and our little man will be 3... its crazy.. how time has flown by... their Birthdays are 9 days apart so we will be doing a combo party this year.. I'm thinking of having a Pirate / Princess Party... I want to make a Princess Pony cake and a Pirate ship cake too.. and have a treasure hunt in the back yard. .and maybe a pinata ... maybe a craft that goes with our theme.. maybe build your own crown or decorate a pirate sword.. :) I'll have to search the net to see what cool things I can make ....

Real reviews from a real momma.... Vapur the anti-bottle

ok So while shopping today I came across the coolest thing.. a water bottle that is... reusable.. foldable...dishwasher safe....freezable... attachable... and you can write you name on it... Seriously cool.. I wanted a bottle for my diaper bag... and this one is perfect once its empty i can roll it up and stick it into my bag... I can see this being perfect for school lunch boxes and bike trips when space is limited.Throw it n your purse or keep it in your car .. its SMART.. thats the best word to describe this bottle... :)

I bought the pink.. of course.. I love love pink but it comes in several colours... I think the fact that I can just hook it to my bag with the carabiner... :)

its also BPA free, and has a "squirt bottle" top ..

its made in the USA

holds 0.5liters of water.. and it looks cool :)

I paid about $15 bucks for mine.. but i think its worth it... :)


link to their site... http://vapur.us/


UPDATE !!!!

So recently my daughter who is now 9months old has been loving the baby "add water" cereals and my Vapur bottle works perfectly to hold water for this purpose ...
I've been using it alot lately too, and I'm loving the fact that it can go into the dishwasher... as a busy mom this is huge time saver for me :)
I do wish that the lid that covers the drinking spout was some how attached... I've lost my lids on bot hmy bottles ... and while you can buy an extra lid on their site it seems like too much of a hassle for me :)

oh the bottle is also a good baby distracter.. my daughter loves to play with it :)

hair clips. bows holder

So I keep seeing these hair bow holders and some sell for as much as $50... now Missy L has only a skiff of hair.. but she can rock a head band and what little girl doesn't need a flower the size of her head... so as I've been accumulating all these little frilly head do dah's I now need a way to store them so they dont get destroyed or lost...So I made one...
I hit Micheals the craft store , bought a wooden wall plaque ($3.73 with my 40% off coupon) , a few letters spelling out her name and some cute pre painted wooden decorations... and with some paint I already had.. painted it a shimmery dark pink, then painted the letters gold.. and brushed a little gold paint over the pre-painted wooden decorations... and once they were dry using my trusty glue gun attached the letters and the decorations to the plaque... then on the flip side attached a ribbon loop to hang the holder.. and then two long ribbons to be used to actually hold the hair Do Dah's... I cut a length of 12 inches... this is too short .. go at leas 20 inches.. then I put a bow at the end of each hanging ribbon... super simple and cost me about $5 bucks to make... no sewing or major skill required.. just a little imagination and some paint... :) try it.. you'll be so proud of your self... I'll post pictures tomorrow...
Supplies and tools needed...
Wooden wall plaque
paint
letters (if you so choose)
coordinating ribbon
decorative pieces (if you so choose)
hot glue gun
scissors

Real reviews from a real momma.... Cloud Be Twilight turtle / Lady Bug

So Oma bought the kids a Twilight Turtle for mr K and Lady bug for Missy L... and the verdict.. LOVE LOVE this toy/ learning tool.. MrK is 2 1/2 years old and he loves to find the moon, he uses it as a night light, he snuggles with it and he shows all his friends how the stars change colour with he press of a button... Missy L is only 6months old and she too loves it.. Its the perfect amount of light for middle of the night feedings . I love watching her try to grab the stars on the wall or on her clothing.. she gets very excited when I change the colours...
I'm looking forward to the days when we can star gaze in the kids bed rooms.. I also like that the turtle has a different star constellations than the lady bug... these are the perfect gift for any baby or toddler...
the only thing I'm not thrilled with is you can only spot clean them.. not machine washable...

http://www.cloudb.com/

my new obsession with JuJuBe bags.....

So I'm usually not a name brand person but I like good quality, well thought out and designed products and JuJuBe bags have converted me to the posh momma...

my heart was stolen with my 1st BQuick.. this little wristlet bag holds a wipes case, 4 -6 disposable diapers some hand sanitizer and a little toy or two.. I also use my BeQuick when popping out to the grocery store as a little diaper bag :) I have 3 beQicks and they are shown here in "Blue Bouquet" (floral) , "pretty Tweet"(gray with yellow birdies) , and "Shadow Waltz" (black and white print) (TOP PHOTO)

then I broke down and bought the mother of all JuJuBe's ... the Packabe... this bag is PERFECT for me.. Im a chronic over packer and this solves my issues.. there's pockets and webbing and pouches for EVERYTHING... there is a front mommy pocket , a memory foam change pad, crumb hols so left over snacks can escape, a big "pit" style interior... and the best thing this bag can be worn over the shoulder... messenger style or as a back pack.. you can purchase stroller clips to attach it easily to any stroller... and if the strap that came with the bag isnt supportive enough in the back pack style you can purchase better padded back pack straps...

they come in several patterns and colours.( and are GOrgeous something for everyone).. they are machine washable... they have teflon in the fabrics so they dont stain and look new for a long time...
In my packabe I can fit my 3 BeQuicks , baby toys.. a light change of clothing for both kids , my big wallet, 1st aid kit, lotions and potions snacks.. ohh and I can squish my Ergo in there too ...
But it doesn't feel huge.. I love that it can be a back pack , this makes my "chasing after two kids" job much easier ...
they have thought of everything even to the tiniest detail of little rhinestones on the zipper pulls.

One thing that this bag disappoints me in is the fact that my iphone can NOT go into the mommy pocket due to the big heavy duty magnets, these can effect the phone.. and Im not willing to risk my iphone... But I do prefer the magnets to Velcro.... much quieter to use if baby is sleeping and I need something....

Ju-Ju-Be has hooked me.. just watch their video's on their site and you'll be hooked too :)

the only think holding me back from snapping up every jujube bag made is the price they start around $100 for diaper bags... the Packabe is $130 on line.. and the bequick's start at $16 on line

http://www.ju-ju-be.com/

Real reviews from a real momma....Bumbo chair

Ahh the Bumbo chair...this snappy little invention is so smart... it helped develop baby's core ... basically once baby can hold their hear up.. they can sit in the bumbo... I love it and so does my daughter .. and my son did too.. it comes in several colours... and has to option of a snack tray too..
easy to clean, light weight... and cute... great for early "sitting up" photo's .. I think this chair really helped develop my kids core muscles as both could sit up unassisted by 5 1/2 6 months old...

Con's.. short use .. only about 6months-12 months of use... Kinda expensive for what it is.. not overly portable... ( doesn't collapse for ease of storage)

Real reviews from a real momma.... Exersaucer review

Evenflow Exersaucer
I bought the Little Farm version as I figured it would be great for a boy or a girl.. both of my children love it.. my son was very bouncy and my daughter isnt so much.. but both still have fun..
Pro's ..
seat spins to have a 360* play time...
the toys are interchangeable and you can purchase different individual toys if you want to change things up for loner play entertainment
easy to clean
height adjustable for longer use
fun themes and bright entertaining colours
folds flat for storage or transportation
snack tray for when baby needs to snack and play.. the little barn that plays music is cute I wish it had a volume but is not to overly loud and plays several "farm" songs , ad the batteries last a long time in this little light up and noise maker :)

Con's....
large not great if you have a small space...
less than a year of play out of it....

if your planing on having more than one child this toy is a great investment... and It allowed me to get things done.. like have a shower and do the dishes.. while my child sat and played and was safe and not able to get into anything if my back was tuned for 3 seconds... :)