Ilissa's Homemade Pizza Sauce

Since becoming gluten free, ordering from a pizza place (especially since living in a small town) is generally not a great option for us. And especially since being a bit more budget conscious, I've come to the decision that it is way easier and yummier to just make my own. I do buy the crusts from a local independently owned restaurant that is very gluten knowledgeable and their crust is AMAZING: Diana's Gourmet Pizzeria. It has won awards all around the world and is definitely a must try if you live in Winnipeg and are gluten free, vegan, or just LOVE pizza!

And after doing a lot of searching to find a pizza sauce recipe that is was just right, I realized I couldn't find one. So, I decided to make my own using a number of the ideas I had come across.

This recipe is quick and easy to make and is so yummy! I generally make the whole batch (or double), then freeze in 2/3 cup portions (2/3 cup sauce / pizza). Our favourite toppings on this pizza is ground beef, red onions, green peppers, and marble cheese.  After trying this recipe, I'm pretty sure you'll never go back to buying the processed stuff in the stores. This is way healthier and way tastier.

Enjoy!

Stock photo. Photo credit: Abigail Lepp.

Ilissa's Homemade Pizza Sauce

(yields enough for 3 - 12" pizzas - freeze for later)

1 can (15oz. tomato sauce)

1 can (6oz. tomato paste)

1 tsp oregano

2 tsp italian seasoning

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp garlic powder OR 6 cloves of fresh garlic

1 tsp paprika

2 tsp red wine vinegar

pepper to taste

What do you plan to top your pizza with? 

Ilissa's Mexi Chicken Casserole (Recipe)

Are you looking a yummy Mexican recipe that is sure to impress your family? Since becoming gluten free almost 2 months ago, we have been trying out a lot of new recipes in the kitchen! And, this is one of my recent creations. My husband isn't a huge fan of Mexican food and he loved it; he gave it an 'above average' rating and said he'd have it again!

I forgot to shoot a picture of this recipe before gobbling it up! You'll just have to trust me. It's amazing!  And, I also forgot to time the recipe. I'll be adding both parts next time I make this dish.

Ilissa's Mexi Chicken Casserole  

Family sized - Serves 6 large portions. For a complete meal, pair with a fresh salad.

Ingredients 
• 3 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or approximately 4 cloves minced)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional depending on your taste)
• freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1/3 of a large organic green pepper, diced
• 1.5 cups organic white long grain rice (not instant)
• 2.75 cups water

• 3 free range boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into cubes
• 1 cup of organic corn (frozen or canned)
• 1.5 cups of shredded marble cheese (divided in half)
• 2/3 cup crushed organic corn tortilla chips (divided in half)
• 1.5 cups of your favourite organic salsa
• Optional: sour cream, green onions, or guacamole 

Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine water, rice, green pepper, chili powder, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne. Stir well. Cook according to the instructions indicated on the rice package.
3. In the meantime, cut chicken thighs into cubed pieces and fry over medium heat until fully cooked.
4. In a bowl, mix together: all of the ingredients, ensuring to use only 1/2 the total amount of cheese and corn chips (3/4 cup of cheese, and 1/3 cup of crushed corn chips).
5. Spread mixture evenly in a 9x14" casserole dish.
6. Top the mixture with the remaining 3/4 cup of cheese, then 1/3 cup of crushed corn chips.
7. Cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Then, broil for 5 minutes.
8. Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes, then serve.
9. Top with your choice of sour cream, guacamole, and/or freshly sliced green onions.
10. Enjoy!

In our house, we use mostly organic ingredients and like to make things from scratch (next to no processed foods!). I've included 'organic' next to the items that I like to use organic for whenever possible. To make this recipe even more exciting, try homemade corn tortilla chips, or homemade salsa and guacamole!

A Year of Fun Thanks to Fisher-Price! (with reviews)

This past year has been an amazing adventure thanks to Fisher-Price. At the start of the year, our daughter was only 4 months old and getting lots of use out of the Fisher-Price My Little Lamb™ Cradle ‘n Swing, My Little Snugabunny™ Bouncer, and just starting to explore the fun of the Luv U Zoo Jumperoo. Although we received them at the end of last year or the beginning of this year, these are the toys and baby gear that got this year off to a good start!

Here is a list of the toys and accessories that Fisher-Price has spoiled us with this year:
-Deluxe On The Go Diaper Backpack, which is our 'go-to' diaper bag! We love it's easy to locate pockets and all the room it provides! We use it all the time!
-Fisher-Price Stretch’Ems Onesies, which are great for taking your baby from one size to the next (and beyond!)
-My Little Snugabunny Cradle ‘N’ Swing Review
-Laugh & Learn Stride-to-Ride Puppy Review (plus this review)
-Stand-Up Ballcano Review (plus this review)
-Luv U Zoo Jumperoo Review
-Amazing Animals Sing-Along Choo Choo -Laugh & Learn™ Fun With Friends™ Musical Table

Of all these toys, my daughter's favourite has definitely been the Laugh & Learn Stride-to-Puppy. Since day one, she has loved it! She loves pressing the buttons, using it as a walker, and she has just recently started riding forward on it...all by herself! I'm one proud mommy to see all the milestones she is meeting with this toy! One of the cutest things she enjoys doing with it is sitting on puppy's back and continuously pressing puppy's nose. We have a couple of Laugh & Learn Puppy toys, but this one is clearly her favourite. Whenever we ask, "Where is Puppy?", she brings us her Laugh & Learn Stride-to-Ride Puppy. It is clearly a hit and I'd definitely recommend it to family and friends as a great gift for 6-36 months!

Out of this list of toys, I have a few favourites. One item that I really loved was the My Little Snugabunny Cradle 'N' Swing. I love the My Little Snugabunny Cradle 'N' Swing because we got so much use out of it unexpectedly when we were at a loss at how to get Lyla to sleep. We thought she might be getting too old when one day we tried it and within minutes, she was fast asleep. This was a great relief for us. I'd recommend the My Little Snugabunny Cradle 'N' Swing to all parents to be! This would make an excellent gift for any new or expected baby!

Thanks to Fisher-Price, I will be having the opportunity to make an expectant or new family's Christmas a little brighter thanks to the My Little Snugabunny Cradle 'N' Swing that they have offered to donate to the charity of my choice. The charity I chose is called Baby Blessings and is local to the rural area that I live in. Baby Blessings is a religious based group that provides baby items (new or used) to local families who show a need. I am so happy that I'll be able to share the experience I've had with the My Little Snugabunny Cradle 'N' Swing with another local family. The main reason I chose this item is because I think it is a must-have item for new parents. It has been such a great option for us and one that both my daughter, my husband, and I have thoroughly enjoyed.

Another one of my favourites was the Amazing Animals Sing-Along Choo Choo. For those of you who follow my blog, or know me personally, know I LOVE Disney - I even had a wedding featuring several Disney aspects (from colours, to music, to hidden Mickey's!). I love this toy because it features a classic train with cute baby Disney characters and music that brings back memories of watching these movies as a child. This item was one I considered for many children on my list this year. If you love Disney and Fisher-Price, this is a must-have toy! Thanks to Fisher-Price, I'll have the chance to share this toy with one of the babies/toddlers on my list this Christmas!

This year has been filled with lots of fun thanks to Fisher-Price. We have enjoyed sharing all of these toys with Lyla! Some of them she has enjoyed and many she will continue to enjoy for years to come!

Are there any Fisher-Price toys that you will be giving to your son/daughter, or friends and family this Christmas?

Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Ensuring your Toy Shopping is Right On Target!

It's that time of year again! It's time to gather your lists, check them twice, and figure out who has been naughty or nice! ;) Whether you are the type of person who loves Christmas shopping or cringes when it is time to head to the stores to shop for your little ones (the crowds don't' help!), there are some simple things you can do to make your experience fun and stress-free!

When it comes to my Christmas shopping, I'm usually a procrastinator. With a busy year like this one has been, it doesn't make matters any easier. This year I tried to get a bit better and do some early shopping (back in July), but realized once mid-November hit that I hadn't done much more than that. So this past week, I have been scurrying around, making lists, and starting my shopping before I'm too late!

When I start my shopping, I usually have an idea of what I'm looking to buy. I have specific criteria I usually follow, especially for my daughter, to make sure the toys I buy are developmentally appropriate. I do a lot of my shopping online (to avoid the craze in the stores and save a bit of money) but I do some in store to try and to try and keep some purchases local. Either way, I have a general idea of what I'm looking for going in, but figure out the exact item I'm going to buy once I'm online or in-store.  I am an planned impulsive shopper - 1/2 and 1/2!

If you are looking for some toy ideas for your little one's this Christmas that are developmentally appropriate and a whole lot of fun, be sure to check out Fisher-Price's Joy of Learning Playtime Guide. You'll also learn about fun playtime activities, playtips and other helpful information!

If you are using the Joy of Learning Playtime Guide to help you decide what to buy for all the little one's in your life, you'll notice that it is categorized into the 3 Pillars of Development. This makes it even easier for your little ones to expand on different developmental skills and for you to understand the toys you are buying and how they help your children. This will help you feel confident that the you are buying toys that are appropriate for your children and ones that they'll love!

Are there any special things you do when planning your Christmas toy shopping to ensure the toys you buy are age and developmentally appropriate, and a hit with your kids?

Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Cruising with a family is possible, fun, and easy!

Tis the season. And no, not just doing your Christmas shopping! This is probably the time of year you are also busy planning your family vacation for somewhere nice and warm!  Who knows, you might even be planning on surprising your family with a cruise vacation on Christmas morning (I know I sure wouldn't mind that!).

If you have been following me on my blog, Twitter, Facebook, and/or Pinterest, you know that recently my family had the amazing opportunity to cruise the Western Caribbean on the Allure of the Seas thanks to Fisher-Price and Royal Caribbean.

This was our first time on a cruise and it gave us the chance to see that cruising as a family is possible, fun, and easy!  If you are planning your family vacation for next year, you'll definitely want to check out all the fun your whole family can have on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, thanks to great partnerships with companies like Fisher-Price. Stop by to read my article titled, Experiencing the Joy of Learning with Fisher-Price on Royal Caribbean.

In the next little while, I will be posting an article here on Everything Up Close outlining more about our experience. Not to spoil the read, but, it was amazing and I'd definitely do it again!

Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Winners (a delayed draw)

Somehow the winners of this giveaway got lost in the shuffle, so I have to apologize. But, I am finally excited to announce that the winner of the Touch and Feel Books Giveaway courtesy of DK Publishing has been chosen!  Please check the Everything Up Close Winner's List to see if you were the lucky winner!

Remember, the winner must email me within 1 week of this announcement to claim their prize.  Winners who do not contact me within this time frame will no longer be eligible and I will have to choose another winner.

If you didn't win this time, please try again next time - and participate in the bonus entries to earn even more chances to win! 

Thank you for entering and for being a reader of Everything Up Close! If you haven't already, make sure to follow Everything Up Close on Twitter and Everything Up Close on Facebook to make sure you don't miss out on future articles, events, giveaways, and more!

Playtex Diaper Genie Elite Review + Enter for a chance to review one!

Do you have a baby or toddler in diapers? Or do you know someone who will be doing diaper duty in the near future? If you are looking for something to contain all those dirty diapers in between diaper changes, the Playtex Diaper Genie Elite is definitely a system that you'll want to consider.

Review
When I was pregnant and looking for a diaper pail, the Playtex Diaper Genie Elite is the one that caught my eye. Since I was previously a child care provider and had used various diaper disposal systems, I knew what I liked and what I didn't like.

One of the most important features for me in a diaper disposal system was how sanitary it was. The foot pedal on the Playtex Diaper Genie Elite allows for hands-free diaper disposal, which I loved and was a must-have feature! This makes it easier to dispose of diapers (no need to bend down while trying to manage baby on the change table with one hand)! They have clearly thought about the ergonomics of this product when they were at the drawing board.

Also, since the pail has liners, it makes it a bit more sanitary. I don't have to rinse the pail in between uses or worry about residual odors since the diapers never touch the pail, only the rim (occasionally).

I also loved that the Diaper Genie Elite is a bit bigger than some other systems, making it great for holding more diapers in between garbage days. 

One thing we found about the Diaper Genie Elite is that it doesn't always contain the smell of poopy diapers (unfortunately), especially if we have a few of them in there. We usually find ourselves emptying the pail once we add a poopy diaper to the mix. If you have an exclusively breastfeed baby with poops that don't smell nearly as bad as when you add solids into their diet, smell probably won't be a concern for you. I personally don't find an issue if there are only pee filled diapers in the system.

Although we have been using cloth diapers most of the time since Lyla was about 8 months old, we still find the Diaper Genie Elite useful as a garbage in the bathroom, which is where we keep it whether we are using disposables or not. Right now we are back on disposables for awhile and are appreciating some of the functions that the Playtex Diaper Genie Elite offers.

Being a more environmentally conscious mom, I'm always looking at the environmental and health impact of the products that I bring into my home. Although this pail does use plastic bag refills, I figure this is something that you can't really get away from (that easily). If you weren't using this type of system but were using disposable diapers, in all liklihood, you would be throwing the diapers out in a plastic bag anyways. What I love about the Playtex Diaper Genie Elite refills is that the bags are not pre-sized; depending on how much you have in the bag, you can cut the bag to the size you need. I usually squish all the diapers down, then go around the house collecting and emptying other trash to make the most use out of these bags.

Overall, despite the issue with the smell of poopy diapers, I do think the Playtex Diaper Genie Elite is a good choice for parents and parents-to-be of babies and toddlers.

*ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO REVIEW A PLAYTEX DIAPER GENIE ELITE*

How many winners are there be and what can I win?
Five (5) of my readers will win the opportunity to review their own Playtex Diaper Genie Elite (ARV $45.99) in their homes.  If you win, you'll agree to come back to my blog and write a short review of your experience. As a thank you, you will be entered for another opportunity to win a great (2nd) prize from Playtex: a $50 Babies 'R Us gift card (but only if you participate in reviewing the Diaper Genie Elite that you receive)!

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter entry form below.
(Note:You must have Javascript enabled to view the entry form) 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. EST. 

This opportunity is open to residents of Canada.

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: I am part of the Playtex Mommyville Mommy Review Panel. I received free products and compensation in exchange for agreeing to write this article. All the opinions shared in this article are 100% my own.

How-to: Successful Shopping for Toys this Holiday Season!

The holiday season is quickly approaching! That means if you haven't already, it is time to start researching the toys you will be buying for the holidays for your children and other friends and family!

Researching toys before you buy them is a great way to avoid disappointment later on! It is so helpful to learn from other moms and dads what toys their children enjoyed, any difficulties they had, and their personal thoughts on them! I have always been one to research nearly everything I buy and around the holidays it is no exception!

When you are planning for the holidays, keep this process in mind:
1) Research the hottest toys this season, keeping in mind your child's wish list. Thorough research and keeping in mind your child's interests will ensure both of you are happy on Christmas morning, and for months to come! Check out sites like Fisher-Price to read toy reviews from real parents!

2) Make a list of your top toy must-haves. Make sure to include a back-up list in case the toys you plan to buy are not available due to demand! If you are a procrastinator like me, this can easily become a reality inching up closer to Christmas. If you provide your child's wish list to other family members and friends, make sure that you have taken off the items you plan to purchase to avoid unnecessary duplicates!

3) Search online and in flyers (and catalogs) to find the best deal. Planning ahead will make holiday shopping faster, easier, less stressful, and can save you money! Websites like webSaver.ca may partner with well-known brands such as Fisher-Price to offer you great coupons to make your buying experience even better!

4) Gather your list of things to buy (and where to buy them), along with coupons, and head to the stores to take on the crowds! Remember to stick to your list and have fun!

Celebrate & Save with Fisher-Price this holiday season!  Make sure to check out webSaver.ca for a complete list of Fisher-Price/Mattel toy coupons. These coupons range from $5-$15 off and expire December 31, 2012, which makes them perfect for this holiday season! Make sure to plan ahead and order your coupons before these offers run out; this promotion is only available until November 30, 2012!

We have a number of the toys offered in the promotion in our house and Lyla loves them! If you are planning your child's wish list, make sure to check out my My Little Snugabunny Cradle ‘N’ Swing Review, Laugh & Learn Stride-to-Ride Puppy Review, Stand-Up Ballcano Review, and the Luv U Zoo Jumperoo Review to see what we thought of these great Fisher-Price toys!

Our personal favourite is the Amazing Animals Sing-Along Choo Choo, which features a fun musical train with three of your favourite Disney Baby characters!  This great train offers musical fun (with hits from the movies) and hours of enjoyment for your little one!

Hopefully this is a great start or chance to re-organize your thoughts for this holiday's toy shopping! What tips do you have leading into the holiday shopping season?

Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

 

Your Holiday To-do List: Photo Cards!

Once November hits it seems that everything is busier - our schedules, the stores, and the list goes on, along with our to-do list, which seems never ending!

One of the items that is on many families' to-do lists are the holiday cards! In the past few years, I have noticed more and more families featuring their beautiful family pictures on their Christmas cards - these are my favourite!

If you are planning on ordering cards for Christmas, now is a perfect time to do it! Now through November 12 @ 11:59pm PST, Zazzle is offering a great discount on many of their items...including 50% off photo cards! Just visit Zazzle and enter the coupon code 50VETDAYSALE during checkout. And make sure to check out my shop, EUC Designs, while you are there for great cards for the holidays, births, birthdays, and beyond!

Wordless Wednesday - Warm Destinations

My view of the other side of the beach in Labadee, Haiti
on our #FisherPriceOnRoyal trip (Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas).
Thank you so much Fisher-Price and Royal Caribbean!

If you aren't already, please make sure to follow my updates on Facebook or Twitter to keep up to date on all the exciting aspects of our family cruise.

Do you participate in Wordless Wednesday on your blog? Link up below! I'd love to hear what has been new and exciting for you this past week!  Or, feel free to add your links to your cruise or sunny destination posts!

Try To Win It Thursday -0

Will travel - with toddler! #FisherPriceMoms

Since our daughter has been born, we have been doing a decent amount of traveling, whether it be by plane, car, or boat (in less than a week's time!). We can already tell that she is going to be quite the little jet-setter! Since my husband and I both love to travel, this is no surprise.

Over the past few weeks, we have been busy getting ready for a very exciting family first travel experience - A Royal Carribbean Allure of the Seas 7-day Cruise - thanks to Fisher-Price! 

Needless to say, we are excited...and I won't lie, a bit nervous too! This will not only be my daughter's first cruise (at only 14-months old, I'm a bit jealous I didn't get the opportunity sooner), but my husband's and my first cruise as well!

When traveling with a toddler, there are a few more things to consider than when it was just my husband and I traveling as a couple. Luckily, Fisher-Price has come up with a great resource to help make traveling with your children a bit easier on everyone!

Since our daughter is only 14-months old, not all of these points apply, but a number of them are very helpful for now, and in the future!  During our adventures with Lyla so far, we always focus on #5 - Bring a bit of home along, whether we are traveling near or far. Bringing familiar items along for the trip makes the new destination a bit less scary and A LOT more fun! It helps to remind your children of home and makes them feel more comfortable in their new surroundings. Items like your child's 'lovies' or 'stuffies' can even help make routines like bedtime a bit easier in your new space.

On this trip, we'll be making sure to pack a variety of Lyla's favourite toys to join us on our adventure! One Fisher-Price favourite that we'll be bringing along is the Laugh & Learn™ My Pretty Learning Purse™. This has been a toy that Lyla has really enjoyed playing with since we received it. She loves pushing the heart-shaped button on the front, opening and closing the bag, putting things in it and taking them out again, and playing with all the fun accessories.  Recently, this toy has allowed her to dabble in make-belief play, and I am sure it will be very fitting for this trip!


We are so thankful to our friends at Fisher-Price and we are looking forward to this experience of a lifetime!

Did you ever travel with your toddler? Where did you go? What tips do you have for parents traveling with young children?


Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Learning through play, thanks to Fisher-Price! (Reviews)

What is the one thing you loved to do most as a child? I'm sure most of you would answer 'play'! Play is such an important part of being a child and for a good reason - play is a fundamental part of learning! I love that companies like Fisher-Price make it possible to have fun and learn developmental skills at the same time.

This month, Lyla had the opportunity to try three new toys!  Here are her experiences...

Laugh & Learn - Stride-to-Ride Puppy
This toys fits right in with the other Laugh & Learn items by Fisher-Price that we have...and it features Puppy, whom Lyla has enjoyed having fun with many times before.  When I first saw this toy, I noticed that it was rather large and I wasn't sure how Lyla would react to Puppy's big head, but when I first introduced her, it was clear she loved it!

We love that this toy helps her meet so many of the 12 elements of enrichment, which help her to develop and grow!  In the Physical domain, we find that her using all 4 elements, sensory (experiencing sights & sounds of the toy), fine motor (putting the shapes into the shape sorter on the side of puppy), gross motor (getting on puppy's back for a ride or walking and pushing puppy when the toy is turned into a walker), and balance and coordination (learning how to get on and off of puppy and stay on while he is moving, with our help).  In the cognitive domain, Lyla is enhancing her curiosity and discovery (learning by pressing the different buttons, and seeing how different aspects of the toy work), thinking and problem solving (learning how and where different parts of the toy go - for example, finding that the shapes that she puts in the shape sorter end up in the puppy's belly), and academics (learning things such as colours, shapes, counting and more).

This toy has proven to be a lot of fun and something that she will enjoy for some time to come!

Stand-Up Ballcano
Before I had kids, I loved buying toys for other children in my life toys that had balls. What child doesn't have a ball with balls?! Yes, pun intended!  This toy is an interesting variation of similar toys with balls that are on the market. And, it is one that my husband will out-rightly say that he enjoys - he loves the music especially, in comparison to most other children's toys.

Lyla is still learning and discovering with this toy. She seems to enjoy the sensory opportunities in the Physical enrichment activities that this toy offers, for example, listening to the music as the balls bounce over the sides of the centre area or watching the flashing lights. This toy also allows her to use fine motor skills, such as catching the balls and putting them back in the containment area, as well as spinning the rattle.

As Lyla gets older, I imagine that this is a toy that she will continue to enjoy playing with.

Amazing Animals Sing-Along Choo Choo  
Given that I am a huge fan of Disney, this toy was a great surprise and a very welcomed addition to our toy collection for Lyla!  This toy is absolutely adorable and the baby Disney characters are too cute!

I love that this toy allows Lyla to work on developing many of her developmental milestones. Even though this toy has sounds, which is great for sensory development, we often forget to turn on the sounds and Lyla has just as much fun (although I do love the Disney tunes). Some of the cognitive skills that I've noticed Lyla discovering with this toy include curiosity and discovery through just playing with the toy and learning what different parts do (for example, the arms and legs of each of the characters move and that the train moves because it has wheels.). Or, thinking and problem solving; she is discovering that the train has different pieces and to make the train move all together, they have to be latched a certain way. She is also discovering that some of the animals are bigger than the others and fit in some train cars better than the others; this is also an academic skill.

Trains are classic and one that can be fun for years and years to come. We are so happy to have the Amazing Animals Sing-Along Choo Choo as part of our toy collection!

Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

First Cheerios

Do you remember your child's journey to eating solid foods? As a parent, we treasure all those special moments, especially the firsts! Whether it is the first crawl, the first steps, or the first time your little one fed him/herself! Each moment is so special!

Did you know that Cheerios is recommended by 4 out of 5 pediatricians as a first finger food for your baby? Cheerios is delighted that so many families across Canada are choosing Cheerios to start their little one's journey to independent eating!

If you love Cheerios for your baby, or you can't wait to introduce them, you'll want to check out the First Cheerios Campaign, a year-long campaign by General Mills. This campaign is celebrating First Cheerios for your little one. Join General Mills on their Life Made Delicious Facebook page ( http://www.facebook.com/LifeMadeDelicious ) to join in the fun!

Make sure to head on over and share a picture of your happy baby's first experience with Cheerios on the Life Made Delicioius wall. Throughout the year,  you'll see pictures popping up from all over the country, from proud Mom's and Dad's who love sharing Cheerios with their little ones.

If you are one of the first 1,000 participants, you will receive a coupon for FREE box of yummy Cheerios - perfect for your baby and the rest of your family!  After the 1,000 participants, don't worry - the fun isn't over; you'll still receive a coupon for $1 off your next Cheerios purchase.

And, if that isn't exciting enough, your baby could be unveiled on Cheerios boxes in the Spring of 2013! So, watch your grocer shelves for limited-edition family sized (400g) Cheerios boxes, featuring a completed mosaic of happy babies enjoying their first moment with Cheerios. 

Legal details: Limit of one (1) Free Box of Cheerios coupon per household, and one (1) $1.00 Off Coupon per household per calendar year.

Disclosure – I am participating in the First Cheerios Blog Tour by Mom Central Canada on behalf of General Mills. I received compensation as a thank you for participating and for sharing my honest opinion. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Lovesac Sactionals Sectional Furniture Giveaway

Welcome to the Sactionals Sectional Furniture Giveaway!

Sponsored by LoveSac.com

The Lovesac sactionals are only 2 pieces. You can combine any quantity of Sactionals "Bases" and "Sides" to arrange (and rearrange) any chair, sofa, sectional, loveseat, or bed you can imagine - no tools necessary (so easy!). Sactionals Covers are removable and can be changed at any time, so you’ll never be stuck with furniture that doesn't match if you decide to change your home décor. Sactionals Covers are also machine washable, so when the kids spill their food and drink all over the furniture or the dog uses your Sactionals to wipe his feet off, just take the covers off and throw them in the washing machine; for any family with kids or pets, this feature is amazing!

 

Sactionals Four Cushion Chaise Sectional with Chocolate Rhinoplush Covers ($3,260 Value) includes,

• 4 Sactionals Base Pieces, 5 Sactionals Side Pieces
• Machine Washable, Changeable Chocolate Rhinoplush Covers
• Easy to Change Covers Anytime!
• Easy to Rearrange Into Dozens of Positions
• Most Versatile Number of Pieces
• Fast and 100% Free Shipping
• Lifetime Guarantee!

Four Sactionals Bases and five Sactionals Sides make a Four Cushion Chaise Sectional. A Four Cushion Chaise Sectional is not only the world’s most popular sectional furniture setup, but one of the smartest ways to buy your first Sactionals as well. Just nine pieces offer you eight everyday furniture solutions to real life dilemmas. In minutes and with no tools, you can turn this TV-room sectional into a Movie Lounger for a cozy family movie night, a bed for unexpected house guests, a Long Sofa with Ottoman for more formal entertaining, an L-shaped sofa for maximum seating capacity, four individual chairs for game night or two loveseats for couples entertaining.

One lucky winner will receive a Sactionals Four Cushion Chaise Sectional {$3,260 Value}!  Your choice of Chocolate Rhinoplush, Taupe or Seawater Covers.

This giveaway ends on October 1st at 11:59pm. It is open to US and Canadian residents, ages 18+.

To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below.

Good luck!

Hosted by Mom to Bed by 8, My Vegan Gluten Free Life, Mom Blog Society, Zoes Printable Coupons and Its Not Just Another Bag.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: In the event of a winner outside of the lower 48 US states is selected {Alaska, Hawaii or Canada}, the winner is subject to paying the shipping and handling fees associated with this prize by the sponsor. I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Everything Up Close is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

Touch and Feel Books by DK Publishing Review

Are you looking for some fun new books for your baby, toddler, or preschooler? DK Publishing has some great new Touch and Feel Books for your children.  Introducing, Touch and Feel Dinosaurs and Touch and Feel Jungle Animals.

Here is what DK Publishing has to say about these new titles, "With a sparkling new look, these bestselling DK classic preschool board books are sure to become favorites for a whole new generation of young readers. Babies and toddlers will be drawn to the captivating, tactile pages, and will want to touch, feel, and explore every spread."

Each book measures 159x159mm, is 12 pages long, and is suitable for children ages 0-5.  If you have more than one child under the age of 5, the Touch and Feel books are a perfect choice for your library!

Review
I have seen books that allow you to touch and feel different textures in the past, and I have always been a fan of them.  I sometimes wonder, do I or do the babies I'm reading with enjoy them more?! These books allow you and your children to interact, have fun with, and learn from the Touch and Feel books.  As a child, I remember loving books that did something - and these books fill that desire for children to experience new and exciting elements within the pages.

Touch And Feel Dinosaurs
I loved the basic images that were contained within the pages of this book! The simplicity makes it easy for young minds to focus on the variety of sensations that this book offers. This book helps your child interact with it by inviting them to explore the fun textures of various dinosaur parts (e.g. skin, horns, tongue and more). In addition to various sensations, this book will introduce your children to different dinosaur species. This book is a perfect length for young children.

One thing that could be improved in this book - one of the pages in this book has a 'sticky tongue' sensation. If you a parent of a young child, you know that things get dirty...fast. To me, a sticky sensation in a Touch and Feel book is asking for trouble; this aspect will likely limit the lifespan of the book.  After using this book for a couple of weeks, the sticky sensation has already started to get dirty.

Touch And Feel Jungle Animals
Out of these two books, the Touch and Feel Jungle Animals book is my favourite. I love the variety of textures in this book. Lyla also seemed to enjoy the feelings in this book quite a bit.

This book like the other, has basic images and simple directions that make it easy for young children to interact with and learn from this book. This book included a variety of jungle animals and fun textures. This book is the same length as the Touch and Feel Dinosaurs book, making it short enough for young children to stay entertained.

There is nothing in this book that I would change. My daughter and I enjoyed it from front to back.

My daughter enjoyed reading these books with me. She had fun exploring the different dinosaurs and jungle animals and learning about new tactile sensations. I think these books are a great choice for both boys and girls!  These are the first books that we have in her book collection that allow her to learn through touch. Since receiving these books for review, we have already purchased another Touch and Feel Book by DK Publishing for her.

Overall, I think these books are great for teaching your children through imagery and touch. Your children will learn about different sensations, animals, and more with Touch and Feel Dinosaurs and Touch and Feel Jungle Animals.

In the future I would love to see DK Publishing publish some Touch and Feel story books; the current Touch and Feel series is very action orientated and does not tell a story.

*GIVEAWAY*

How many winners are there? One (1).

What can you win? One winner will receive a copy of Touch and Feel Dinosaurs and Touch and Feel Jungle Animals from DK Publishing.

To enter, please use the Rafflecopter entry form below.
(Note:You must have Javascript enabled to view the entry form) 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end on Sunday, September 16, 2012 at 12:01 a.m. EST. 

This giveaway is open to residents of Canada.

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of each of these books to review. Receiving these items did not in anyway affect the information that I shared in this article. All the opinions in this article are my own.

Choosing Toys for Your Children

Choosing toys for your children isn't always easy. There are many things that you probably take into account when purchasing new toys. This article will cover some of the things I consider and my routine when shopping for new toys for my daughter. I encourage you to take part and answer these questions too!

1. How do you determine what toys to purchase for your child? 
The first question I ask myself when choosing a new toy for my daughter is, 'how will this toy help her learn and grow?'. In other words, 'Which aspects of this toy will help her achieve social, cognitive, and physical developmental milestones for her age?'

Other things that I consider when making my final decision on whether to purchase a toy often involve things such as, 'will my daughter enjoy playing with this toy?', 'is the toy safe?' (e.g. no choking hazards, etc.), 'will this toy stand up to the test of time?', 'where was this toy made?', 'what materials was this toy made from?', and 'is the toy easy to clean and maintain?'. I find myself using a mental scale to determine how important each aspect is to me - those mental scales determine whether or not the toy makes it into my shopping cart.

2. What resources do you use to help in your decisions?
Most of the knowledge that I use when choosing toys comes from my university education, where I learned a lot about early childhood development. I also use my intuition and draw from my past experiences, whether it be from working as a childcare worker or my daughter's experience with previous toys.

Since I spend a fair amount of time online, I learn a lot about new and suitable toys through social media and other blogs. Occasionally, I turn to sites like Fisher-Price.ca to help me discover toys that are age appropriate or meet various developmental milestones.

The 12 Elements of Enrichment from the Fisher-Price Joy of Learning Playtime Guide.

When I'm not quite sure which toys are most appropriate, I pay attention to the manufacturer's suggested age range.

3. Do you usually plan ahead of time or do you go to the store and look through the shelves?
I love to browse! But, when I'm shopping with the plan of purchasing new toys, I often have something in mind. Before heading to the store, I often do research online to determine the types of toys I'm looking for, the brands I'm going to be considering, and where I can get the best deal. My impulse buys for my daughter are usually books or clothing.


What are your answers to these questions? 
What tips do you have for purchasing new toys?

Disclosure: I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Lovesac Chaise Sectional Giveaway: Giveaway Lovers and Bloggers needed!

Do you love giveaways? If so, make sure to mark this one in your calendars! If you are redecorating or refinishing a new space, this Lovesac sectional is perfect (and beautiful!).

Are you a blogger who loves participating in giveaway events? If so, bloggers are needed! You can find more information at the link below...

Sponsored by LoveSac & hosted by Mom to Bed by 8

Prize: Four Cushion Chaise Sectional with Chocolate Rhinoplush Covers {RV$3,260}

The event dates: 9/10 - 10/1

Free Event ~ Sign-Up Here - LoveSac Event Bloggers Wanted

Funky Fluff Stash'n'Cash Giveaway

Welcome to the Funky Fluff Stash & Cash Giveaway! DiaperDeals.ca and ClothDiaperTrader.com have teamed up with Funky Fluff to give away a full stash of cloth diapers for one lucky family - PLUS some extra cash to pay off some of those bills that start to pile up when a new baby blesses our lives!

The prize: A complete Funky Fluff cloth diaper stash, worth over $500, plus some cool cash!

12 Funky Fluff Bamboo Diapers 12 Funky Fluff Stay Dry Diapers 1 Pail Liner 1 Wet Bag 2 Packs of Boosters

PLUS an awesome cash prize of $300!

  This stash has 24 diapers! That is all you need to cloth diaper full-time! Plus, an awesome wet bag with two zippered compartments – DiaperDeals.ca’s favourite wet bag, a very generous easy fit pail liner, and 2 of the softest bamboo booster packs.

This Funky Fluff diaper stash is an awesome prize for different cloth diapering preferences: Funky Fluff Fusion 3 in 1 cloth diapers are as flexible and versatile as it gets in the world of cloth diapering. This interchangeable design proves that modern cloth diapers are easy to use, convinient and can work for anyone, no matter which system they prefer to use. With Funky Fluff, the same diaper can be used whether you are a dad who likes an AIO system, a mom who prefers the convenience of an AI2 or a daycare provider who feels comfortable with the Pocket System concept. Funky Fluff also offers both natural bamboo blend and stay-dry diapers, and the winner of this super package will get to try both!

 

To learn more about Funky Fluff's awesome 3-in-one diapers, visit www.funkyfluff.ca and check out reviews on DiaperDeals.ca and NorthernBaby.com.

About Funky Fluff: Funky Fluff was started by 2 moms who were on the quest for the perfect diaper – and when they didn’t find it, they decided to design it. Learn more on the Funky Fluff web site.

About co-host Diaper Deals: Anyone can post a deal on DiaperDeals.ca to share giveaways, sales, and promotions with parents (it's free). Post or find deals at DiaperDeals.ca.

About co-host Cloth Diaper Trader: ClothDiaperTrader.com is a classifieds site JUST for cloth diapers - organized the way fluff addicts think! Buy and sell your fluff at ClothDiaperTrader.com

All of the bloggers involved in this giveaway have contributed to the cash portion of the prize, and a special thank-you goes out to these Funky Fluff retailers who have sponsored an even bigger portion of the cash prize:
 The Ninety Ninth Monkey
 From the Stash
 Change Matt
 Kradles Baby Boutique
 Babyrama Total Baby Store

This giveaway starts at 12:01AM August 24th EST and is open through 11:59PM August 31 EST, and is open to residents of Canada and the U.S. Must be 18 or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Entering means you agree to the terms and conditions stated in the form. To enter this massive giveaway, use the Rafflecopter form below!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Disclaimer: We have not been compensated in any way for this promotion. All blogger fees collected go directly to the cash prize. Funky Fluff is responsible for fulfillment of the cloth diaper stash portion of the prize and DiaperDeals.ca is responsible for the cash portion of the prize. Cash will be awarded in the currency of the winner's country of residency and no conversion will be made (i.e. if the prize is $160 the winner will receive $160 regardless of country of residence).