Saturday, December 31, 2016

Top Five Posts Of 2016

It's really hard to believe that today is the last day of 2016. The year was filled with ups and downs; happy times and sad times. We purchased a new vehicle for me in the fall, I took a mini road trip with Mr. K and we made some great memories as a family.

These are the top 5 posts (traffic wise) from 2016:

Walt Disney World Fast Pass Worthy Rides
8 Ways To Stay Active In Winter
5 Ways To Keep Kids Busy On Sick Days
Easy To Make Lego Table
The Key To A Happy Marriage

I hope that you had a wonderful year and that 2017 brings good things for you and your families.

Happy New Year.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

December 26th Monday Madness Giveaway Linky





Christmas is over for another year. I hope you had a wonderful visit with family, we certainly did.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Christmas Concert and Mini Life Update

Things have been really quiet over here lately. Life has been busy and lots of stuff going on, so my little space of the internet ended up getting pushed aside for a little while.  I hope to be back more regularly in 2017.

This week was the kids Christmas concert at school. The organizers did a wonderful job, and the kids....wow, they gave it their all.

They offered 2 concerts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.  I opted for the morning show, and it was packed. From friends, I heard the afternoon was packed as well.  It was so nice to see all the kids and they were fantastic.

Mr. K's class did 2 songs (one english and one french). Mr. J played a voyageur, so he actually wasn't out for very long. His role came right before the last song (the Huron Carol). It was so lovely to see them though.

When the kids came home from school, Mr. J was grinning from ear to ear. There was a school board employee at the morning concert, and he donated a 4 pack of Ottawa Senators tickets to be raffled off....well, Mr. J won! So, he got to enjoy his very first NHL game last night.

This last week before Christmas is always a crazy one. Lots of running around (helping my mom get ready) and lots of tiny things to finish up before Saturday.  I try and avoid going out on the 24th, but my mom always needs a couple of items picked up at the store, so I get up super early and hit the stores when they open (between 6 and 7 am) to avoid the crazy crowds and people grumpy with the line ups.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

The Secret Life of Lilykins {giveaway}

Tales of Mommyhood was provided the product in order to facilitate the review. All opinions are honest and belong to ToM. This post may contain affiliate links

"On the surface, Lilykins lives the life of a typical house cat. But Lilykins has another life – a secret life – that transports her to a world of incredible adventures."
The Secret Life of Lilykins is a cute story about a cat with a secret life. We don't have any pets, but my kids often wonder what animals do when we aren't watching them. Mr. K really enjoyed listening to the story and looking out the pictures, so I would say 4-7 years is probably a great age for it. Mr. J (9) is a little too old for it



About the Author:



Max Goodman lives in New York City with his husband and two very important cats. By day, he works as an advertising copywriter. The Secret Life of Lilykins is Max’s first book.
The Secret Life of Lilykins is currently available in paperback via Barnes & Noble and CreateSpace, and in both paperback and Kindle editions via Amazon.
Find The Secret Life of Lilykins on the web at http://lilykinsbook.com.

GIVEAWAY

If you think your kids would enjoy The Secret Life of Lilykins, now is your chance to win a copy. This giveaway is open to Canadian residents that are 18+. This will close on January 2nd, 2017 at 1159pm EST. To enter, leave a comment telling me who you would like to win this book for. Winner will be chosen using Random.org

The lucky number 2 - Nicky is the winner! Congratulations


Monday, December 19, 2016

December 18th Monday Madness Giveaway Linky




Less than ONE week until Christmas....are you ready? If you are looking for gift ideas, make sure to check out the 2016 Gift Guide

Monday, December 12, 2016

December 12th Monday Madness Giveaway Linky





I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Today is a snow day for my kids, quite a bit of snow has fallen and the buses have been cancelled. What is the weather like in your area? If you are looking for gift ideas, make sure to check out the 2016 Gift Guide

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Continuing A December Tradition

Many, many years ago, when hubby and I were only dating, we heard about a street that was completely lit up and decorated for Christmas.  We made the trek out one night and loved driving down Taffy Lane looking at all the festive displays.

That night started a tradition, and every year since we head down at some point in December to see the lights and what not.

Eeyore is my favourite Disney character

The kids love it, and we end up driving through the downtown area to see all the lit up trees and the light show on Parliament Hill.

This time, we ended our drive at The Brookstreet Hotel for a late dinner at Options Lounge. We had dinner there a few times in the summer, and we all really like the food and atmosphere. The bartender that normally worked while we were there was on, as well as a waitress we often saw.  We had a great end to our evening.

What are some of your traditions leading up to Christmas?

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Combine Play, Learning AND Technology With Osmo

This is a sponsored post. Tales of Mommyhood received compensation (either monetary or product) in exchange for this post. All opinions are honest and belong to ToM. This post may contain affiliate links.


Like most kids, mine are pretty into technology. Whether it is a video game, playing on the computer, my phone or a tablet, they love it.  I don't mind them using it, and it certainly seems to be the way everything is going now. 

OSMO is the newest addition to our tech products at home. I love that it combines play, learning and technology into one.  Kids can use the OSMO Genius Kit to have fun while learning their shapes, numbers, letters and words. I was somewhat familiar with OSMO before being sent the kit to review. While visiting Mr. K's kindergarten class last year, I got to see it at work.  

When our kit arrived, I was anxious to get it set up and to play with it myself to check it out.  It was very simple to set up. I needed to place the ipad into the base, and then add the reflector to the top of the ipad.  The OSMO apps can be downloaded from the app store at no charge (you do need the OSMO system to use them though).


"OSMO is an award-winning game system that will change the way your child interacts with the ipad by opening it up to hands on play"
Age recommendation: 5-12
Price Point:  $129.99 (other sets available for purchase separately)
Sold at: Best Buy, Amazon.ca, Indigo and Mastermind Toys

I think my kids would like the masterpiece and coding sets as well. Have you tried any of the OSMO games?

Monday, December 5, 2016

December 5th Monday Madness Giveaway Linky




December is here, and our Christmas tree is up! Have you put yours up yet? If you are looking for gift ideas, make sure to check out the 2016 Gift Guide

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Anointment Natural Skin Care Gift Ideas


This is a sponsored post. Tales of Mommyhood received product and/or compensation
in exchange for our opinion. All opinions are honest and belong to ToM; your 
opinion/experience may vary. This post may contain affiliate links.

Anointment Natural Skin Care is a Canadian based company. By making their products in small batches, by hand, it helps them ensure quality in all their products.   Originally selling their products at the Halixa Farmers market starting in 2002, they expanded to the wholesale market in 2009.

Anointment wants to help you with your Christmas shopping this year.  They have ideas for the special men in your life.

Wet Shave Kit

Our wet shave gift set is sure to bring some happy nostalgia to your shaving routine. This ready-to-use gift set includes a handsome handcrafted pottery shaving pot (made by talented potters in Prince Edward Island), a wooden-handled shave brush and our easy-to-use our old-fashioned shaving soap. Anointment Shave Soap is a down-to-earth, unscented alternative to shaving creams and foams and is even better than your grandfather’s soap! With moisturizing French green clay, skin-soothing ground sandalwood and flaxseed, and castor oil for impressively dense foam, every shave is a time-travelling treat!

Men's Grooming Kit 

The 3 piece set comes with soap, beard oil and hand printed axe handkerchief. The scent is an earthy Woodland Sage.

They have many other products for New Moms, baby, skin care, soaps and lip balm.  These petit fours soaps would make a great hostess gift, or a perfect addition to a guest bathroom!


These products are sold in the gift sets, or they can be purchased separately. You can shop directly from the website or you can find a retailer to purchase from.

NaturaMarket.ca For Wholesome Products At Low Prices



This is a sponsored post. All opinions are honest and belong to Tales of Mommyhood. Your 
opinion/experience may vary. This post may contain affiliate links.

NaturaMarket.ca is a new web marketplace. Whether you are looking for something for yourself, your kids or your home, you are sure to find what you need from their many great brands
including: Primal Kitchen, Weleda, Dr. Bronner’s, Spectrum Naturals, Garden of Eatin’, Bob’s Red Mill, Nature’s Path, Eden Foods, Earth’s Best, Seventh Generation, Garden of Life, Jason Naturals and many more!

If you are looking for products that are Gluten Free, GMO- Free, Vegan, Paleo, or Raw they have you covered. With free shipping in Canada on orders over $49 and great prices (often lower than Amazon) on best selling non-perishable products (eg. Coconut Aminos, Great Lakes Gelatin and Collagen, Liquid Castille Soap, Canned Wiled Planet Tuna and Charlies Soap Detergent) you will want to have a look at the website to see what they offer.

NaturaMarket.ca aims to make wholesome, natural products available to all Canadians at affordable prices. They represent over 100 brands that provide high quality, natural products.  You can even earn money by referring friends to their site.  

Head on over to NaturaMarket.ca and let me know what products they carry that you love! The Earth Mama Angel Baby products were great for me post-partum.

Monday, November 28, 2016

Tekno Newborn Robotic Pets Available Now


My kids want a pet. A dog or a cat. They have been asking us hounding us for a few years. While I would love to have one, and thing we will eventually add a dog to our family, I know that we are not ready just yet. The kids are busy and while they say they will take care of a pet if we get one, I don't believe them. They will want to play with their friends instead of taking the dog for a walk or picking up after it in the yard.


This Christmas, they will, however, be receiving a kitten and a puppy. Just not REAL ones. This is where Tekno Newborns comes into play.  They have robotic pets. Kittens and Puppies that walk, run, sit and will even jump into your hand.

They make noise, are sensitive to touch; they are tiny, and they don't make a mess. There are 6 colours available for purchase, and they can be found at Toys R Us, London Drugs, Loblaws, Canadian Tire and Walmart. MSRP is $24.99.

I am excited to see my kids open these up on Christmas morning.

November 28th Monday Madness Giveaway Linky




The 2016 Gift Guide has launched - new items will be added between now and December 20th - keep checking back!

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Hand In Hand Parenting


I think all parents will agree that raising kids comes with challenges. Some are minor and easy to navigate through and others are much more difficult and can leave us feeling defeated.  We have had our share of issues to work through with the kids from behaviour, sleep and sibling rivalry - just to name a few.

I have read many different books written by different "experts" - all who have different styles and views on parenting and how things should happen. While I have been able to relate to some of what I have read, nothing has had me nodding my head in agreement quite like Listen: Five Simple Tools To Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges.

"Listen" is a great book, and all about Listening.  There are different scenarios outlined in the book, and different ways of achieving the desired outcome.

After reading through the first few chapters, I realized that it was very similar to how I try and parent on my good days, and that I needed to bring that way into my bad days also. It also helped me stop beating myself up about the bad days.

Patty Wipfler is the author, and she has also launched a series of videos to go along with the book. If you are struggling with parenting challenges I urge you to check out the book or the videos; and remember, we all struggle with parenting at certain times - you aren't alone.

To connect with Hand in Hand Parenting, you can find them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Friday, November 25, 2016

Delicious Homemade Tomato Soup



I am really big on homemade soups, and tend to make a pot every week during the winter. I alternate between hamburger, potato, vegetable, minestrone and turkey.  One that I hadn't made before, but was craving, was tomato.

A few weeks ago I looked up some recipes online and found one that seemed to have great reviews. I had all ingredients on hand so decided to make it.

Turns out, I didn't love it. I didn't really even like it that much. It was kind of bland.  So, on the hunt I went.

I asked friends and queried in a Facebook group for favourite recipes.  I had many to choose from, but they all seemed to have cream in them (I sometimes have trouble with dairy, so I wanted to stay away from it). Some of them looked really good, and I would have omitted the cream, but didn't have other ingredients.  I really just wanted a SIMPLE and quick recipe. I ended up taking components from a few of the recipes I read and trying it out to see what would happen.

I have to say, it turned out delicious.

6 tomatoes - quartered (you could remove the seeds, I didn't)
1 large potato, peeled and quartered
3 cloves of garlic (I used a grater, but a garlic press would work well)
1 box of chicken stock
1.5 tbsp dried basil
2 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

Place all ingredients into a large pot and let simmer for 30 minutes, or until the potato is tender.

Let cool and then carefully pour into a blender - (affiliate) I use my ninja for this. You could also use an immersion blender.

Serve warm with croutons and Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

15 Stocking Stuffer Ideas


One of my favourite parts of Christmas has always been opening my stocking. Even as a kid, I loved getting gifts and watching my family open theirs, but my stocking was what I looked forward to most.

Once I started shopping for stocking stuffers, I realized it's not always easy to come up with ideas to fill those things.

I have put together a list of ideas that should help you out if you get stuck.

For Everyone:
  • gum 
  • favourite chocolate bar (hubby gets a chocolate orange, the boys normally each get a kit kat)
  • socks (socks always go missing at our house, it's a great time for me to bring in some new ones)
  • lip Chap (we all end up with dry lips in the winter, the Eco Chic lip chap is great)
  • Christmas ornament (I try and buy a new ornament for each of the boys every year)
For Kids:
  • mini train (most little ones are train obsessed)
  • whistle (always fun for the young ones to make noise)
  • Tonka Tiny's (micro-sized versions of tonka trunks, 22 to choose from and come with their own garage for storing and stacking)
  • crayons/markers (these get used so much throughout the year, it's a great time to replace)
  • minecraft collectibles
For Adults:
  • lottery ticket (who doesn't want a chance to win?)
  • perfume/cologne samples (sometimes it's nice to see what else is out there)
  • mini bottles of liquer (great for adding to a coffee on Christmas morning or night)
  • deodorant or other toiletries
  • deck of cards

What is your favourite item to receive in your stocking?

Monday, November 21, 2016

Hasbro Has You Covered For Christmas Gifts #giveaway


I have made no secret that we are a Hasbro loving household. From board games to toys, they have families covered.  No matter who is on your shopping list, Hasbro will have something they will love.

My boys have been into Nerf products for quite a while, they love water fights in the summer, and playing with their blasters indoors and out.  Now that they are 6 and 9, they are old enough for Nerf battles (sometimes their dad even joins in the fun).

We have a large selection of Nerf blasters that we have acquired over the last couple of years. When I saw that they had some newer ones out, I knew my kids would go nuts for them.

Hasbro sent me the Nerf Mega Mastodon and the Nerf Elite N-Strike Hyperfire to gift the boys this Christmas.

The Nerf Mega Mastodon is the first ever motorized Nerf blaster, and has rapid fire capabilities. (This will come in very handy against opponents during a Nerf war.)
  • Motorized MEGA blasting
  • 24-dart revolving drum
  • Fires darts up to 100 feet (30 meters)
  • Comes with 24 MEGA Whistler Darts
  • SRP: $119.99

The Nerf Elite N-Strike Hyperfire is the fastest firing Nerf Blaster, and is also motorized.  It can send up to 5 darts per second (with fresh batteries)
  • Fires up to 5 darts per second with fresh batteries
  • 25-dart drum
  • Fires darts up to 21 meters
  • Comes with 25 Elite darts
  • SRP $79.99 - on amazon for $49.92 right now!
Both of these can be found where Nerf blasters are sold. They are also available on Amazon. 
GIVEAWAY

A few months ago, Hasbro sent me the Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike, and now they want one of YOU to win one! That's right, they are offering up a Tri-Strike to one of my lucky readers.  This giveaway is open to Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) that are 18+. This will close on December 2nd at 1159pm EST.  To enter the giveaway, complete the form below.

Playmobil Fun This Christmas #2016GG




Playmobil brings imaginative play to life. With many different sets available, they appeal to a wide range of ages and likes.

The hockey lover is sure to enjoy the NHL Rivalry Series, Stanley Cup Presentation and NHL Score clock. They can be played with on their own, or add them to the NHL Arena.

For the animal or nature lover, the Playmobil Pony Farm would probably be a big hit. Mix and match with toys they already own for open ended, creative play.
Playmobil sets can be found at most toy stores and department stores with a toy department. You can also find them on Amazon.



November 21st Monday Madness Giveaway Linky




The 2016 Gift Guide has launched - new items will be added between now and December 20th - keep checking back!

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Christmas Printable Word Search For Kids

My kids love word searches, and a few weeks ago I made a Paw Patrol one.  It seemed to be quite popular with my readers, so I have put together one for Christmas.

to print, right click and save as to your computer

Friday, November 18, 2016

Kellogg's Wants You To Make A Treat and They Will Give A Toy #TreatsForToys #Giveaway



The Kellogg's Treats For Toys program is back again this Christmas.  To participate, make some Rice Krispies Treats and shape them into a toy. Once done, take a photo and upload it to Treatsfortoys.ca, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag # TreatsForToys.

Kellogg's will then donate $20.00 to the Salvation Army, who will ensure gifts are purchased to help make Christmas bright for families in need.

We do this every year, and it is such a great time to spend together as a family. The kids love being involved in the kitchen, and the fact their creations helps to ensure a child has a gift at Christmas is a bonus.

3 steps to help put a smile on the face of a child: Make.Share.Give.

Kellogg's is offering up a #TreatsForToys prize pack to one of my lucky Canadian readers.  To enter, fill out the form below. Must be 18+.

prize may not be exactly as shown

We will be busy in the kitchen this weekend, stay tuned to the Tales of Mommyhood social media channels to see our creations!



Thursday, November 17, 2016

Squinkies Clubhouse and Squinkies 'do Drops #2016GG



Are you on the hunt for a cool little toy for someone special this Christmas? Why not check out Squinkies.



The Squinkieville Clubhouse features:

- 3 Squinkies, 1 dress up ‘Do
- 1 café table, 2 café chairs
- 1 flipping game & snack table
- 1 beanbag chair and 1 salon chair

Squinkies 'do Drops features:

- 12 Squinkies (2 hidden)
- 4 'Do Drops
- Bonus Villa.

Squinkies are small, soft and collectible. They come with interchange the 'dos to make them unique, and provide your child with some imaginative play.  Due to the size, they would be best for 3+.

Have a squinkies fan in your life? You can even watch them on youtube




World Prematurity Day - No Baby Unhugged

November 17th is World Prematurity Day. It helps to bring awareness to the high rate of premature births.  .

Mr. J - approximately 36 hours old
Ten years ago, when  I was pregnant with Mr. J, I never expected that I would be separated from him immediately after his birth.  I dreamt of holding him in my arms, nursing him and just being mesmerized by the little life that had grown inside me.  Unfortunately, my dream was not the reality. He was born early and had difficulty breathing, so he was whisked away to the special care nursery. I could visit him, but I couldn't hold him as he needed to kept in the oxygenated incubator.

At 20 hours old, the doctor told me he was not getting better, and they needed to transfer him to a hospital with a higher level of care nursery.  That hospital ended up being the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).

He spent most of the next 10 days drugged and hooked up to all sorts of monitors.  All I wanted most of all was to be able to hold my son.  I held him once when he was a few days old (it was a big production to get him transferred to my arms - he had a chest tube they didn't want to disturb - and then another big production to transfer him back to his isolette . Because of the chest tube, most of the nurses wouldn't even attempt moving him out of the isolette) and I wasn't able to hold him again until he was 8 days old.


We made sure to touch his hand, his face, his arms so that he knew we were there. I would talk to him and sing to him, but he didn't get to be held.  Now, at 9 years old, he STILL craves physical contact, and I often wonder if it's because he didn't have it when he was brand new.


We were lucky to live only 25 minutes from CHEO and were able to spend quite a bit of time with him while he was there.  He was our first child, so we had no other kids at home to worry about.  That is not the case with everyone though, and not all babies in NICU's can have their parents with them so often.

Huggies knows how important human touch is for babies and has started the No Baby Unhugged program.  This helps to ensure that ALL babies in the NICU get hugs, even when their mom or dad cannot be with them. They have provided more than $50,000 in funding to 2 Canadian hospitals to get this program up and running, with more locations planned.

There have been studies done that show the many health benefits of skin to skin contact for babies - brain development, oxygen levels and more.  You can be a No Baby Unhugged Mom, and Huggies will send you a free package of diapers for your little one!  Hugs may not make everything better, but they certainly help to reassure us - and all babies deserve to have that.


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Yummy Nummies S'More Maker Playset #2016GG



If you have a little chef-in-training that likes to create in the kitchen, then the Yummy Nummies S'More Playset is sure to be a hit this Christmas.


Summer can live on with S'mores all year round! The S'more Maker Playset includes the campfire (battery operated, batteries sold separately), and all ingredients needed to make 10 s'mores in the kitchen - any time!


You use the tray to make the graham crackers, chocolate squares and marshmallow fluff, then you put it all together, use the yellow spatula to place it inside the campfire and soon after a delicious s'more is ready!

You can also purchase refill kits to make more when you are finished

No flame required for this, so the kids can do it themselves.