Decorate an Egg and have $1.00 donated to Breakfast for Learning

Breakfast for Learning and Egg Farmers of Ontario team up for “Eggs-Factor”

Want to know how you can help Breakfast for Learning raise money? And by doing so, help provide nutritious meals and snacks to children that may go without? It is simple – decorate an egg online. Really, it is that easy. You decorate your egg, hit submit, then fill out a small form with your name, address, age and a button that says you agree to the terms and conditions!

Egg Farmers of Ontario is teaming up with Breakfast for Learning with an online contest – the “Eggs-Factor”; to participate in the contest, visit the Eggs Factor and decorate an egg. For every egg that is decorated, Egg Farmers of Ontario is going to donate $1.00 to Breakfast for Learning (to a maximum of $10,000).

Breakfast for Learning is the leading national non-profit organization solely dedicated to child nutrition programs in Canada. They know that when a child is well-nourished, they perform better in school and work to ensure that students receive the healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks they need to succeed.

With Easter coming up in a few weeks, this is a great way to spend time with your children, while helping other children get the quality nutrition they all deserve. They also give some tips on egg coloring at home - you can check those tips out HERE. Oh, and as an added incentive, you have the chance to win a $50.00 gift certificate to Indigo or Toys R us....what are you waiting for, get cracking and enter you egg design!

Contest is open until April 9, and is for residents of Ontario

**I was contracted by a PR firm and asked to post about this contest. While I did receive compensation for this post, the opinions expressed are honest and belong to Tales of Mommyhood**

Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin (bzz agent review)

I am a member of Bzz Agent, and the most recent campaign I was involved with is Burt's Bees. I received the products featured below to try out, share and give my opinion on.

Burt's Bees, a company that makes natural, personal care products, has been around for over 25 years - and they have recently released a new line. It is the Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin. They have used natural ingredients (cotton, rice and aloe) to help make it gentle on the skin.

I have been using the Sensitive Facial cleanser and Sensitive Daily Moisturizer for a few weeks.  I use the cleanser every evening, and the moisturizer every morning. I am happy to say that I have noticed a big difference in my skin - I find it is actually well hydrated now, where as before it was quite dry and often flaky.  It is really easy to use; the moisturizer doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy or heavy; it has a light scent - nothing to powerful.

Burt's Bees products do not use ingredients like phthalates, parabens or sodium lauryl sulfate and are committed to not testing on animals.  They offer 150 natural personal care products in 14 lines, including face, body and baby care.

**I was supplied the products by Bzz Agent to review free of charge; the opinions stated belong to Tales of Mommyhood and your opinion/experience may vary**

spring is in the air

The other morning while I was driving to a play date, I smelt a telltale sign of spring - a skunk. I must say, that while I am glad the nice weather is approaching (and we are already experiencing double digits around here) I really don't like the transition between winter and spring.  The melting snow makes everything all mucky and gross - I am never 100% certain how to dress my kids when we go out (snow pants or not; mittens or not; boots or shoes?)

I will be very happy once the snow has melted and things have dried up.....

Halloween Costumes - Review (Tomoson)

Wholesale Halloween Costumes recently sent me a costume for my kids to try out.  I was able to choose from their website - here is the website picture of the plush giraffe I chose:

website picture

Shipping was really quick, and the quality of the costume seems to be good.  It is super soft, VERY easy to put on (even with a struggling toddler - hah!) I really like that the head piece is seperate, and that it isn't a mask.

I chose the size 2-4, since my boys are 18mths and 4.5. It is pretty true to size - the costume is a bit big on Kyle (but he is 18mths old)

and it is just a tad too small for Julien (who is just starting to outgrow his 4t clothing)

you can see here, that the head piece doesn't do up

The photo on the website is a pretty good depiction of the actual costume - the only difference I noticed was the spots seem more brown than orange (like the photo shows) but that could also be lighting differences.

If your in the market for a costume (and with Halloween happening EVERY year, most of us parents are) then head on over and check out the Baby Costumes that they have. Lots of selection to choose from in terms of styles and sizes, and the prices are pretty decent as well! You can also connect with them on Twitter and Facebook

**I was sent the above product free of charge in exchange for this review. The opinion expressed belongs to Tales of Mommyhood and your experience/opinion may vary**

Sign ups are open for the "It's Raining Cash Giveaway" event

I just signed up to participate in a CASH giveaway happening April 16th - April 29th! If your a blogger and want to join, it is only $4.00/link - head over HERE and sign up! Please tell them Ashley at Tales of Mommyhood sent you!

If your not a blogger, check back here in April for the entry form!

Hazelaid - Soap Nuts Review

Kyle has eczema - while I have found some products that don't aggravate it, I am still always on the lookout for new things to use.

I read something in the fall about SoapNuts - and that they are good for use on people with eczema - I REALLY wanted to give them a try when I found that out. I was in contact with Brian at Hazelaid, and he was kind enough to offer me some samples!

Soap Nuts have many uses including laundry detergent, shampoo, body wash and even dish liquid.

Here is some information about SoapNuts (taken from the Hazelaid Website)

Soap nuts are the fruit of a tree (Sapindus Mukorossi), found primarily in the Himalayas (ours come from Nepal), and they are an EXCELLENT alternative to traditional laundry detergents. How are soap nuts prepared for use in your wash? They are simply harvested, de-seeded, and then dried in the sun. And they work!
There are so many wonderful things about soap nuts!

Here are just a few:
•They are simply a dried fruit — 100% totally natural.
•They are organically grown and are free of harsh chemicals, so they are incredibly gentle. (This makes them especially great for those with sensitive skin — including babies and those that suffer from allergies, eczema, and psoriasis).
•They’re totally biodegradable, so they’re better for the environment than regular detergent.
•They’re antimicrobial, so they’re even good for septic and greywater systems.
•They are low-sudsing — exactly what you need for HE (or high-efficiency) washers.


The main reason I had for wanting to try out the soap nuts, was to use on Kyle's cloth diapers. When the soap nuts arrived - I got everything ready.

I followed my normal routine for washing the diapers :
 - cold rinse
- hot wash (with CD friendly detergent)
- 2nd rinse
-dry (sometimes I hang dry them, others in the dryer)

When they came out - I was really impressed with how soft they were - incredibly soft. However, some of the diapers that were a little heavier soiled still had a hint of urine smell left. I was disappointed, but decided to give them another try.

This time, I  tweaked my routine a little:
- soak the soap nuts (in the cotton wash bag) in a container of warm water
-cold rinse
-add in the bag and water it had been soaking in, hot wash
- 2nd rinse
- dry

This routine worked well. Again, the diapers were so incredibly soft, and I didn't find that they smelled of urine.

I also used the soap nuts on our regularly laundry, and found that the clothes came out super soft (and it even cleaned my husband's work clothes - he works in construction, so that says something about the product!)

I am happy to report that Kyle's skin has improved a little bit since we have been using the soap nuts as a detergent. I have also used it as a body wash for Kyle (I generally use water and then once a week use a body wash on him - so I have been using the soap nut "tea" as a body wash (again, just soaking the bag in a bowl of warm water and then using that solution to wash his body instead of soap)

I am so happy to have found this product and a big thanks to Hazelaid for providing me with the samples to review! Check out their website for all the other great products they offer (teething necklaces, ointments)

**the opinion expressed belongs to Tales of Mommyhood; your opinion/experience may vary and Tales of Mommyhood is not responsible. I was supplied the product free of charge - however the views expressed are honest and not influenced**

The first time they say "I love you"

Do you remember the first time your child told you they loved you? without you saying it first?

Julien was a late talker - he had a few words, but his first word explosion wasn't until he was 2.5.  I don't remember the first time he said it back to me, but I do remember the first time he said it on his own.

picture taken *around* the same time

It was Mother's Day weekend, 2010. I was pregnant with Kyle, and we had taken Julien out to one of our favorite restaurants for an early dinner.  He looked across the table at me, started doing a wierd thing with his hands/arms and then ended with "I love you". The following week, I figured out he had been acting out "skinna marinky dinky dink) and he ended it with I love you....but after that, he said it often.

Being pregnant and hormonal at the time, he had me near tears and I still remember the emotions of the day - *almost* 2 years later.

Do you remember the first time your children said it to you? Leave me a comment and let me know!

11 things you may not have known about me

I was tagged by Chris, over at Canadian Dad. Here are my answers to the questions he has given me


1) What SuperHero would you be if you could choose one? You could make one up if you want!
A) I would be a mom that could "fix" every hurt their child experienced. I wouldn't make them not happen, because I believe that the events we experience help to shape us as humans, but to be able to make it better for them would be great
2) What is your dream job?
A) I don't have a dream job. My biggest dream was to be able to stay home and raise my children. I am fortunate enough to do that. While I do sometimes work part time, for the most part they are with me. I have been around for *almost* all of their firsts, and that is extremely important for me.

3) Who is your favorite Canadian Dad TV Dad?
A) this is tough for me. Heathcliff Huxtable (bill cosby) and Tony Micelli (tony danza) come to mind.

4) Where is your ultimate vacation destination?
A) I have 2 - disneyworld (which I have been to twice, first for our honeymoon and 2nd with our children and my IL's) and Ireland - never been, but it's a place that has always called to me

5) What do you do when you think no one is watching?
A)dance in my kitchen while cooking - although anyone could see me, as we have a big patio door and our backyard has a neighbourhood path right behind.....

6) What reality show would you be on if you could pick one?
A) I wouldn't. I think that amazing race would be a wonderful experience, but they are all WAY out of my comfort zone. I will stick to watching on TV

7) Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near?
A) because I can't stand them, almost as much as I dislike squirells. Birds from afar are fine, but I have a fear of them....I imagine they are going to swarm me and peck at my skin

8 ) What could you do better as a parent?
A) I could have more patience; I could teach more, and get frustrated less by the endless questions and "why"s" out of Julien's mouth...I know he is just curious and wanting to learn - but the answer doesn't change the more times you ask the question...oh, and I suppose my house could be cleaner - but then that would give me less time to play with the kids

9) What/Who’s music inspires you?
A) I am not really inspired by music.....while I love to listen/sing/dance, I am not a musician by nature and don't really find music "speaks" to me like others do.

10) What is your favorite activity to do with your kids?
A) baking. It is one of my hobbies, and being able to share that special time in the kitchen with them is great for me!

11) Tell us something interesting about you that very few people know about?
A) I can ACTUALLY touch my tongue to my nose....apparently I have an abnormal trait there.....

Maternity Swimwear (guest post)

The following is a guest post from Simply Maternity

Get Swimming During Your Pregnancy

The first few months during my twin pregnancy were probably one of the hardest times in my life. As it was my second pregnancy, I found that I was gaining weight a lot quicker than I had the first time around and maternity clothes that I had worn previously at the end of my pregnancy were already getting too tight in my second trimester. I was at an all time low, feeling fat and lethargic and knowing I still had a long way to go.

It was at this time that a friend of mine suggested we go swimming. Though I had always avoided swimming in the past due to image of me in my plus size swimwear doing a fantastic impression of a distressed whale, I was up to giving anything a try and I’m so glad I did.

Stepping into the water for the first time was a complete revelation. As soon as the water covered my tummy, I found that I could experience a weightless feeling that I had only ever been hinted at when I was in the bath.

The warm water lapped over my tummy and muscles that had been tense for weeks could suddenly relax and unwind in a way that I had forgotten my body could even be.

Even the babies realised we were doing something special as they both started to kick making little ripples in the water.

In the weeks following this experience, my entire outlook to my pregnancy changed. I started to be able to replicate the relaxed feeling I felt in the pool in my own bed, making sleep easier and much more beneficial. I became so confident in the water that I started to teach my baby girl to swim and started a life long love with swimming for all three of my children.

It doesn’t cost a lot to go swimming and maternity swimwear is so reasonable, that swimming during pregnancy is accessible to almost anyone, yet so few of us do it.

So whether you want to wallow in the water and wind down, or use the impact absorbing benefits to do a full body workout while you are pregnant, why don’t you pop down to your local pool and see what facilities they provide for pregnant women.

This could be your chance to turn your pregnancy around and create a fabulous experience for and your baby. I know I did and I will never look back.

Debbie
Simply Maternity

I DID IT!!!!

For those of you that read my Perplexus Review - I had not been able to complete it....however, that all changed on Saturday afternoon - I managed to make it to level 100!!!

Super happy about it, and for those of you that have yet to try it - head on out and pick up a perplexus of your own!

Drop My Alexa Blog Hop

Want to lower your Alexa Rating? Join the Drop My Alexa Blog Hop - hosted by Parga's Junkyard


Head on over and enter in your info!

Swagbucks - have you signed up yet?

I just signed up for swagbucks! Have a look and join me over there - here is a link! 

Maternity Clothes

When I was pregnant with my oldest, I had a hard time finding trendy, affordable maternity clothes.  I found a few places that I could buy from, but discovered that you were either paying a lot of money for only OK quality, or you were paying a small amount for very cheap quality, and the styles to choose from were pretty limited. I wasn't overly impressed that I had to sacrifice quality for price.

When I was pregnant with my youngest, I was lucky enough to find that the selection had increased a little, but still not super trendy - and again, the quality wasn't super impressive.

Even though I am not pregnant now, I have come across a website that has some pretty stylish Maternity Tops. They carry it all - lingerie, swimwear, dresses, jeans, tops, pants pj's and more!


**This is a sponsored post, and received compensation for writing it**

Do as I say, not as I do....

I have never been a big fan of this. I know that it was the "old" way of parenting, but it isn't for me. HOWEVER, how do you tell your kids not to do something that you do.....I have a really bad habit of biting my fingers (the skin around my nails etc) it's horrible - I have done it for as long as I can remember; when I am really bored, or nervous - lots of the time I am not even aware that I do it.

Julien does it now too. How do I get him to stop, when it is something I am often not aware I am doing myself? He will pull the skin off and have sore fingers because of it, sometimes even bleeding.

I don't want him to end up 31 years old and still having this nervous habit. I guess it really isn't all that much different than biting your nails, but still - how can I help him to stop?