Canadian Natural Mama ~ Product Reviews

Natural Christmas Gift Guide ~ Baby and Toddler Edition

2011-11-23T09:56:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorite gifts to give toddlers and babies:

Bamboletta Blanket Baby: Lovingly made in Canada with soft cotton velour and stuffed with natural wool, these sweet dolls are the perfect gift for a new baby. ($28 Canadian at Bamboletta.com)

Earth Lust Birds and Bees Sippy/Bottle: I've reviewed these before on my blog and they are still my favorite sippy; BPA Free, adorable, and fully insulated...whats not to love? I think they would make the perfect gift for a baby or toddler (find them in Canada at Givingifts.ca for 25.95 CAD)

Snug Organic Pajamas: My girls get new PJ's each year for Christmas and a favorite in our house are the ultra warm and cozy Snug Pajamas. They are made in the US from natural undyed cotton, contain absolutely no chemicals, and are just so well made. In fact, my youngest daughter (seen above) has been wearing hers for 2 years and they still fit and are like new. (Find them at SnugOrganics.com for $58.00 US)

Green Toys: We love Green Toys, they are some of the only plastic you will find in our home. I love that they are safe (BPA and phthalate free) and eco made in the US from Recycled Milk Jugs. Best of all, kids love them! We have the Green Toys Tea Set and Dishes Set, but I am really loving the Recycling Truck above. (they are currently on sale at Bumblebee toys for 27.95 CAD).

Finally I love Homemade for the holidays :)
Here are a couple gifts I have made over the years (note the owls eyes should be made with felt if made for a baby or toddler)

If you are crafty at all (or even if your not) try making toys. My girls completely cherish the toys I have made them. Some past things I've made for the babies on my list are name banners, owl softies, quilts, and tag blankies. I get a ton of inspiration for homemade gifts on blogs such as Wee Folk Art, Made, and One Pretty Thing ( a new fave).
I also love shopping for homemade treasures on Etsy. Its so buyer friendly, has an amazing selection, and I love supporting homemade.

Thanks for reading and please post below if you have any great gifts ideas to share :)
xo
Tara

Belated Music Monday ~ Lana Del Rey

2011-11-21T12:57:00.000-08:00

A new favorite music find of mine is Lana Del Ray. Her voice (oh what a voice) just sticks with me and honestly stirs something inside that I haven't quite put my finger on . It's a truly lovely listen.

I have purposely not linked to official videos- I'm not sure about her "look"....after seeing her I actually took a step back from the music, but I keep coming back. So have a listen :)

Remembrance Day

2011-11-11T09:20:00.000-08:00

A day to remember, be proud, and teach our children about the loving sacrifices that our veterans past and present have made. A day for me to remember my sweet grandpa who fought in WW2 (US Navy), and silently thank him for his bravery.

And we always say this poem:

Holiday Gift for the Hard to Shop For Person on Your List

2011-11-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

Do you have someone on your gift list that is impossible to shop for?
For me its my older brother. He has everything and is soooo hard to buy gifts for. So this year I'm thinking about giving him the Gift of Nature.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is a private, non-profit organization working for the direct protection of Canadian Natural Habitats and Wildlife. They offer a variety of different ways to give conservation as a gift, you can even gift an acre of Canadian Wilderness. I love that NCC Gifts of Nature help Canadian Wildlife and are completely Eco Friendly. Its the perfect gift for the person who has everything!

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Music Monday - New Black Keys

2011-10-31T06:55:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!! I have a busy and hectic day, that will hopefully end in a super fun night. Here is a rockin new tune from The Black Keys that will be getting some playtime around here today to keep me motivated.

Fall Craft - Acorn Felting

2011-10-25T09:50:00.000-07:00

I've been falling in love with felt acorns. These cute little symbols of fall are all over Etsy and the blogosphere these days and I am smitten. I've never felted before, but being a pretty crafty mama I gave it a try and it was so easy!! I used this great YouTube tutorial:

First we gathered acorn caps from a local park- my 3 year old did this job and had a complete blast. Then I felted a ball (see video above); first with a felting needle then some more with soap. I used Dr.Bonner's Castile Soap- but dish soap works too. Finally, once the felt balls are dry, you hot-glue them into the acorn caps. I've never felted before, but I completely hooked- its so fun and relaxing.

We've been using them to decorate our fall table and they are so pretty and colorful. My youngest has also been loving them for practicing her counting and for make-believe play. I have plans to make some felted acorn garlands and maybe even some Christmas ornaments too.

Music Monday

2011-10-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

Music Monday - A new weekly post where I share what music I am loving right now.

As the weather here turns cold and grey I often daydream about taking off on a big jet plane, so this song by Angus and Julia Stone has really been resonating. I first heard it last month, but the more I listen to it the more I love it. So haunting and beautiful and the video is perfect!! Enjoy

Bookish and Toasty

2011-10-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

Fall always brings me back to one of my loves- READING. The cooler weather and shorter days call me to a quiet corner (with a toasty blanket) to read a favorite book.

This month I've read two gems:

World War Z : So spooky and perfect for Halloween. This tale of a world post-zombie invasion is beautifully told and really is a story of being human. I loved it, although it did make my moods a little dark and my dreams a little scary.

The Shanghai Girls : A captivating (yet heartbreaking) story about two sister from Shanghai who travel to the US in the 30's after being sold for brides by their father. I love the twists and turns that the girls lives take, and the perfect portrayal of sisterhood. It is a pretty sad story though, and it ends without finishing the story (it has a sequel) which annoyed me.

So what are you reading this fall? Please share :)

A New Direction

2011-10-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

I've been struggling these last few months with feeling unfulfilled and unhappy with my blog. I'm also having trouble juggling a full time review blog and being a mom who isn't too "plugged in". The result of this has been me being absent from this space too much. I do miss being here and sharing, so after much thought I am taking this blog in a new direction. I will post less often (when it feels right for my family), and my posts will be more ME (green crunchy mama, frugal, crafty, foody, and hopefully fun). As a result I wont be posting very many (if any) reviews or giveaways. I do hope my lovely followers and readers will stick around, but I understand if you have to move on too.

photo: me dune jumping at the Oregon Coast this summer

ps. yes I do look pregnant in this picture, but Its just the wind in my top (honesly...and maybe too many roadtrip munchies ;)

Blogger glitch?

2011-10-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hey subscribers,
For some reason Blogger has sent out a giveaway from last April to my subscribers and followers. I'm trying to fix the problem, sorry for any confusion. So if you got a Burts Bees Giveaway from me- please dont enter :)
...more soon

Hilroy Winner

2011-09-06T22:42:00.000-07:00

A huge congrats to Fredamans (comment #243) your name was drawn as the winner of the Hilroy Prize Pack. I will send you a confirmation e-mail in the morning :)

Thanks to Hilroy for sponsoring this giveaway and to everyone who entered.

Going Back to School Green with Hilroy {Review and Giveaway} CLOSED

2011-08-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

A great way to reduce your footprint and teach your children the value of going green is to buy school supplies that are eco-friendly. Hilroy is the leader in recycled school supplies, offering a wide range of eco-chic gear for back to school. This fabulous Canadian company always has the coolest designs and best quality school supplies too.

Both my daughters and myself have been really impressed with Hilroy's 2011 school supply line-up. Here are our thoughts on the items we tried:

The Recycled Fashion Line is my favorite new addition to Hilroy's 2011 School Line-up. These retro inspired designs are so cute and fun, and (best of all) are very earth friendly. We tried a 1.5 inch binder , notebook , Pocket and Prong Portfolio and super cute Recycled Fashion Pencil Case.They are all very well constructed, brightly colored, and are made using recycled materials. The Fashion Pencil case is made with 50% recycled PET and features a large zippered compartment perfect for my girls pens and pencils. We tried the super awesome Owl design, but the Hilroy Fashion line also comes in a bird/daisy design and a butterfly/hearts design and my girls love them all.

We also tried some of the great recycled basics from Hilroy including the Enviro Plus Recycled Notebook, Enviro Plus Recycled Refill Paper, a 5 pack of Enviro Plus Recycled Report Covers, and a Recycled Exercise Book. These Hilroy products are sure to be on your child's school supply lists and I love being able to find them in eco-friendly options.

For older students, the Five Star Binder Filer is a great choice. This Great multi-subject zipper binder is very well made and features a four pocket expandable front cover and lots of interior storage. My older daughter absolutely loves zippered binders, and I love that this one has a separate file pocket perfect for homework. It comes in 4 bright colors.

Hilroy also has a super cool line of customizable products that will really bring out the creativity in your child. My 13 year old loved adding color and flair to her Doodle 1 1/2 zipper binder and two Doodle Portfolios. The doodle line features black and white modern graphics that can be colored with four (included) markers. Both the Rock Guitar design and the retro butterfly design are very teen friendly.

Finally we tried the beautiful Naturalis Recycled Notebook from Hilroy. This 15.4cm X 11.3 cm notebook is made from 100 recycled materials, and has a great design. We will be using this handy notebook to keep track of goals and homework times at home, and I know I will love using it. The paper has a beautiful tone and texture to it, and I love the nature themed cover.

Shop: Locally we have found a great selection of Hilroy products at Zellers and Staples, but they can be found at most stores that sell school supplies across Canada. All Hilroy products are reasonably priced as well- yay!

The Giveaway: Hilroy has very generously offered to give one of my readers a wonderful Back to School Prize Pack- including all the fabulous products reviewed (and pictured) above.

To Enter: Please visit ~~Hilroy~~ ~~and comment below telling me your favorite back to school gear. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)~~

~~Additional Entries:~~
~~~Like~~ ~~Hilroy on Facebook~~ ~~and comment~~
~~~Like~~ ~~Natural Mama Reviews on facebook~~ ~~and comment~~
~~~Follow my blog on GFC (two entries, leave two comments)~~
~~~Follow~~ me ~~on Twitter and tweet " Win School Supplies from Hilroy~~ ~~http://bit.ly/raPMeW~~ ~~@mamareviews #giveaway #backtoschool " (daily tweet) leave a link~~
~~~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment~~
~~~Grab my blog button on the left and comment~~
~~~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link~~
~~~Visit~~ ~~Spread the Word~~ ~~and comment below with something you learned on this great site~~

This Giveaway ends on September 6th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Back to Blogging...and giveaway news

2011-08-24T13:01:00.000-07:00

After a summer filled with adventure and family-time I'm back online and ready for more reviews and giveaways. I've missed being here :)

In our area the kids are heading back to school in a week and a half and I have been busy gathering up supplies and shopping for my older girls. I have also been busy working on my first giveaway of the fall - A fabulous back to school kit from Hilroy!

Hilroy has an amazing selection of creative, well designed, and super eco-friendly school supplies. My girls and I have been having a great time trying out Hilroy's new 2011 fashionable school supplies and I will be posting a great giveaway from Hilroy later this week (that includes all the awesome products pictured above). So stop by and enter!

Summer Blog-Cation

2011-06-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a Summer break from blogging and will be sparse in these parts over the next couple of months. I am taking some time for me and my family~ traveling, laying on the beach, and settling into our new home. I will be checking in from time to time, but will not be posting any giveaways until August. I hope everyone has an truly lovely summer (my very favorite season) and gets to spend some time enjoying the outdoors and family.

See you all soon :)

Essential Swimwear Winner

2011-06-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Amy C (comment 272) you have won a lovely swimsuit from Essential Swimwear. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to all who entered and to Essential Swimwear for sponsoring this awesome giveaway!

Strawesome Winner

2011-05-30T22:45:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Lisa (comment #23) you have won a fabulous glass straw from Strawesome. Please contact me so I can arrange shipping (your profile is set to private).

Thanks to all who entered and to Strawesome for sponsoring this giveaway.

Up Up and Away...

2011-05-24T22:25:00.000-07:00

We fly off for a family vacation tomorrow ~ right across Canada. I'm so excited!!
I will be mostly absent from the blog for the next week, but will be back in early June. Have a lovely week everyone and wish me luck on plane travels with three kids :)

btw- I have developed a major fear of flying in recent years....oye!

Runners Bike Winner

2011-05-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Chels (comment #444) you have won the super cool wooden Runners Bike. I know you will love it!! I will be in touch soon.

Thanks so much to Runners Bike for sponsoring this giveaway and to everyone who entered.

Getting Ready for Summer with Essential Swimwear {Review and Giveaway}

2011-05-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

It can be hard finding a swimsuit that fits and flatters my feminine form. (Is it just me or are almost all swimsuits made for 12 year olds?) Well last year I discovered Essential Swimwear and found that they carry the cutest, figure flattering swimsuits. So when I was searching for a new suit, I knew just where to look. Essential Swimwear offers reasonably priced high quality swimwear, made for real women.

As mentioned, I reviewed Essential Swimwear last spring and loved the suit I tried (and still wear it all the time). However, this year they have made some changes and I was eager to try one of their new and improved 2011 bathing suites. So whats new? Each top now has a more supportive top and the option of adding cup inserts, front twist tops have versatile new straps, halter tops have an additional strap, and they have designed a new high waste swim bottom. Essential Swimwear has also expanded their sizing, now offering sizes X-Small to XX-Large. Keep reading to learn my thoughts on my new 2011 Essential Swimwear suit and to enter to win a fab new swimsuit for yourself.

I am crazy about Navy these days, so chose to review the new Navy Twist Front Top from Essential Swimwear. This ultra flattering swimsuit top features a stylish twist design and beautiful side ruching. The straps are the new halter style that can be worn several ways- giving you different levels of support and different looks. I am really love the new strap design- I have a long torso and a big chest, so I love that I can adjust the straps for added support and the perfect fit. I have been wearing my straps criss-crossed at the back and they look pretty and are super comfortable. The new supportive top (with built in seamless cups and side boning) is also great. It gives a lot of support to my chest and keeps "The Girls" in place and looking good. This suit is very well designed and I cant wait to confidently wear it to the beach this summer.

I also tried the fun Periwinkle Striped High Waist Bottoms from Essential Swimwear. These bottoms flatter every body type and would also work great as maternity swim bottoms. The top can be worn up for added tummy control, or folded down for a hipster bottom look. I have been wearing my folded down, and have found the fold hides my lower tummy pudge perfectly while looking cute and stylish. These bottoms are truly flattering, hug my curves, and don't ride up (which I LOVE).

If you are looking for a new bathing suit that will flatter and fit, no matter what your shape, I definitely recommend Essential Swimwear.

Shop: Essential Swimwear swimsuits and accessories can be found online at Essential Swimwear.com. The Navy Twist Front Top retails for $34.99 and the Periwinkle Striped High Waist Bottoms retail for $18.99. Essential Swimwear has offered my readers a 10% discount - yay! Just enter the code NATURALMAMA10 at checkout.

The Giveaway: Essential Swimwear has generously offered to give one of my readers a fabulous swimsuit- winners choice!

To Enter: Please sign up for Essential Swimwear’s newsletter (Link here at the right) and then leave a comment below. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Essential Swimwear on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Essential Swimwear on twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a fabulous new SwimSuit http://bit.ly/iT7MSY @mamareviews @essentialswim #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Follow the Essential Swimwear Blog and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on June 7th at 9 pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open WORLDWIDE.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review

Win An Outdoor Classroom for Your School

2011-05-19T10:01:00.000-07:00

Kids learn so much from nature and just spending time exploring the outdoors. I know my girls could play in the woods all day happily. So when I heard about this Canadian contest I had to share.

Majesta has just launched its Trees of Knowledge program - A nation-wide contest that gives the opportunity for Canadian schools to win an outdoor classroom valued at 20,000. You get to design a natural outdoor learning area and they will fund it! So if you are a parent or teacher who are interested check out the link below to learn more and apply.

Applications are HERE.

For a chance to win a Trees of Knowledge outdoor classroom, schools must submit:

· A completed application form, available to download at: www.majestatreesofknowledge.ca/apply

· A 500 word essay on why their school is the most worthy candidate for an outdoor classroom

· One to five photos of the school grounds, including the proposed site of the outdoor classroom

· A landscape-site plan

· A letter of commitment for the outdoor classroom project from the School Board

contest ends Aug, 11, 2011

I was not compensated for this post- just thought it was awesome and wanted to share :)

MPG Sport Clothing Winner

2011-05-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

The MPG Giveaway has come to an end and a winner has been drawn. Congratulations to Pauline Milner (comment 196) you have won your choice of clothing from MPG's new Spring/summer line. I will be in touch soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to MPG for sponsoring this fab giveaway.

Silver Bobbin Litter-Less Lunch Winner

2011-05-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to ktgonyea (comment #97) you have won a 2 bag set of re-usable bags from The Silver Bobbin (your choice of fabulous patterns). I will be in touch soon.

Special thanks to The Silver Bobbin for sponsoring this giveaway and all the great readers who entered.

Strawesome (Glass Straws) Review and Giveaway

2011-05-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

I love discovering new ways to avoid plastic, and am very pleased with my latest non-plastic find- Glass Straws from Strawesome. This amazing family owned company makes beautiful, durable, and completely safe glass straws. Strawesome straws are made in the US out of super strong, non-porous, hypoallergenic, and completely BPA free glass. Best of all, Strawesome straws are so fun and creatively designed that your kids will love to use them!

At first I was a little concerned about glass straws- 'wont they break' I wondered? Then I found out that Strawesome uses borosilicate glass- the strongest glass available. Its the same glass used for Pyrex cups and on space shuttles. This glass is so strong that Strawesome actually offers a lifetime anti-breakage guarantee - so cool! My very active two year old has also been hauling our straw everywhere and it hasn't shown any signs of breaking, so my initial concerns have completely vanished.

We tried the beautifully decorated and perfectly fat Extra Long Bent Smoothie Straw. Its smoothie season at our house, and our Strawesome Smoothie straw works fabulous for even the thickest smoothies or shakes. We haven't been using straws for sometime, so my girls were so happy to have a perfect smoothie straw. It works great and is so pretty too (with handmade unique glass work). I also LOVE that Strawesome Straws are easy to wash and dishwasher safe. I completely recommend them and plan to stock up on enough straws for all the kids right away.

The two reasons I am switching to glass straws: 1. Safety: Plastic straws are made from cheap plastic, that can contain BPA or other toxins. This is especially concerning because my kids not only drink from straws, but also suck and chew on them. 2. Eco-friendly: Plastic straws don't decompose, and add to the plastic filling up our landfills and polluting our planet. Glass straws, on the other hand, are made from natural compounds, are recyclable, and will last for years and years.

Shop: Strawesome offers a wonderful range of sizes and designs, so you can order glass straws for all your drinking needs. I especially love the kid straws and smoothie straws. Strawesome Straws can be bought online from Strawesome.com and at these retailers.

The Giveaway: Strawesome has generously offered to give one of my readers a decorative Artist’s Choice straw.

To Enter: Please visit Strawesome and then comment below with your favorite straw. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Srawesome on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Strawesome on twitter
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a Glass Straw from Strawesome http://bit.ly/ifw01t @mamareviews @BeStrawesome #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on May 27th at 9 pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to Us and Canada Only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Happy Mothers Day

2011-05-08T10:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Mothers Day to my mom, the other amazing moms who have mothered me over the years, and to all my mama readers. I hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with love!

My mom and her big sister

Klara Coco Winner

2011-05-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Debbie (comment #53) you have won some lovely natural bath products from Klara Coco. I hope you love them as much as I do. I will be in touch soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Klara Coco for sponsoring this giveaway.

New Runners Police Bike - Balance Bike {Review and Giveaway}

2011-05-03T16:38:00.000-07:00

The weather is warming up and its time to take the kids outside for some fresh air and exercise. My favorite outdoor toy (and my daughter's) is our wooden Runners Balance Bike. We reviewed one of these quality made Canadian Bikes last year and were thrilled when we heard that Runners Bike was coming out with a new Police Bike. The Police Bike features a new deign and super fun police graphics. Keep Reading to learn more and to enter to win one of these fabulous bikes for your little police man or woman.

Runners Bikes Balance Bikes are wonderfully designed, kid powered, and eco-friendly. They feature a perfectly simple and fun design that allows kids to run and glide on their bike without the hassle of pedals. I especially love that Runners Bikes are beautifully made with a solid birch wood frame that is strong yet lightweight. Wooden toys are my favorite to buy- they are non-toxic, beautiful, and a much appreciated departure from all the plastic toddler toys out there. Runners Balance Bikes also feature soft padded adjustable seats, inflatable rubber tires, and a completely adorable bell.

Balance Bikes are a wonderful way to teach 2-5 year olds the skills and balance they need to be skilled bike riders from a surprisingly early age. My (almost) three year old was able to learn how to balance and glide on her Runners Balance Bike after only a few minutes of practice. They are much easier to learn than traditional bikes and are the perfect size for little riders. Runners Bikes also build your children's biking skills, making the transition to a pedal bike easy and stress-free.

Runners Wooden Balance Bikes are safe too, which is great for moms (like me) who worry. They are compact, light, and low to the ground. This design makes them easy to handle and much less likely to cause falling than a traditional bike. They also are thoughtfully made with no sharp parts or spokes/chains that can pinch little hands and feet. Runners Bikes also have a unique front steering column that doesn't allow riders to make sharp turns (the most common reason for bike accidents). Once my little one is wearing a helmet- I know I can let her run and glide all day on her Runners Balance Bike worry-free.

My daughter completely loves her new Runners Police Bike and asks to ride it daily. I really enjoy watching her experience the joys of riding around on her bike and she is so proud that she was able to learn on her own at her own pace. As a frugal mom, I also really appreciate that this bike is so versatile. The rugged rubber tires glide easily over all terrains- from grass, to gravel, to pavement. The bike is also small enough for indoor riding, which is great in the cooler months. Runners Bikes are a toy that pretty much every kid will love and get a ton of use out of- I completely recommend them.

New Runners Baby Walker: Now your little ones wont be left out when it comes to quality wooden toys. Runners now offers Wooden Baby Walkers for children under three. They are a safe and sturdy toy that your pre-walker or early walker will love. The Runners Baby Walkers are a great way to help your baby develop their balance, promote gross motor skills, and help them become skilled walkers. The toy basin and clean simple lines make this toy a huge hit with babies and parents alike.

Runners Bike is owned and operated by a wonderful Canadian Family and is based in Alberta. They were inspired by their own active kids to create wooden toys that are well designed, built strong, and completely fun. Watch the great video below to see their boys in action:

Shop: Runners Bike Wooden balance Bikes can be found online at Runners-Bike.com. They are very reasonably priced - the Police Bike retails for $119 CAD - and comes with a 1 year warranty.

The Giveaway: Runners Bike has generously offered to give a Police Bike Wooden Balance Bike to one of my readers (yippee!!).

To Enter: Please visit Runners Bike and comment below with something that you liked or learned from their site.(this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Runners Bike on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Runners Bike on twitter
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a Runners Wooden Balance Bike http://bit.ly/iJxmrE @mamareviews #giveaway #win #bikes" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on May 22nd at 9 pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to Us and Canada Only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Winner

2011-04-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Jennie Yuen (comment 142) your name was drawn as the winner of the Burt's Bees Baby Bee Gift Pack. I will be in touch soon :)

Thanks so much to Burts Bees and everyone who entered this giveaway.

MPG Sport Review Giveaway {and discount code}

2011-04-26T11:55:00.000-07:00

MPG Sport has a beautiful line of active-wear to help you meet all of your fitness and fashion goals. This Canadian active apparel company offers the perfect blend of fashionable and functional clothing for the sporty gal or guy. Their quality is outstanding and each piece looks and feels great. Whether you are looking for clothing for dance, yoga, sports, or everyday wear MPG Sport has something for you.

I especially love MPG's hot new Spring 2011 Collection. I tried two pieces from the MPG Sport spring line (lifestyle collection) and they are both fabulous. They look great, are incredibly comfortable, and are perfect for all of the outdoor activities that I enjoy. Keep reading to hear my thoughts and to enter to win your choice of clothing from MPG Sport.

I tried the completely adorable and flattering MPG Paragon Hoodie and I love it! This Scuba styled hoodie is so comfortable and has a great simple sporty design. I have been wearing it for runs and hikes with the dogs and its lightweight moisture wicking cotton-poly-spandex fabric keeps me warm while wicking away any sweat. It features four way stretch for comfort and cozy cotton lined hood. I have been wearing mine almost everyday and it is a piece I completely recommend.

I also tried the amazingly comfortable and cute MPG Sport Celeste Capri's. These harem styled capri's feature an adjustable drawstring that ties on the side and snug ribbed leg cuffs. They are wonderfully slimming and I love how the fold-able waistband hides any stomach chub. These capris are ideal for yoga, outdoor sports, or just lounging around.

Mondetta Charity Foundation (MCF): I love when companies give back, so I was thrilled to hear about MPG's Charity Foundation. The founders of Mondetta (the MPG's parent company) were all born in East Africa, and they have not forgotten their roots. They generously give back in huge ways. MFC supports both an orphanage and a school in Africa. Many of the children they help have lost their parents to AIDS or live with the disease themselves. They donate 1% of all MPG sales to the Mondetta Charity Foundation, with this total amount going to help those in need (not admin costs). Learn more about their important work here.

Shop: The great pieces reviewed above, as well as a huge selection of active-wear can be found at MPG. Shop oneline at mpgsport.com or at these retailers across the globe. MPG is offering Natural Mama Readers a 25% Discount at their online store until May 15th, just enter the code cdnnaturalmamalovesmpg at check-out.

The Giveaway: MPG Sport has generously offered to give one lucky reader their choice of ANY piece of active-wear from their new 2011 line (Women's or Men's).

To Enter: Like MPG on facebook and comment below with your facebook name.(this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:

~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Visit MPG Sport and comment below with your favorite item
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow MPG Sport on twitter
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win Sports Clothing from MPG - Mondetta http://bit.ly/ifMTAo @mamareviews @MPGtweet #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Subscribe to the MPG Blog and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on May 13th at 9 pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to Us and Canada Only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Winners {Sacred Rose Tea and Emily Press}

2011-04-23T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone is having a lovely Easter weekend

Just popping in with winner announcements:

Congratulations to Amy C (comment 18) and Annie 1 (comment 106) you have each won a box of Matri Tea for Mothers Day from Sacred Rose Tea.

Congratulations to Tara (comment 175) you have won a set of Emily Press personalized fabric wall stickers.

Our Earth Day

2011-04-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

I really truly believe that everyday should be Earth Day and I try to live my life accordingly. Still, I do enjoy a special day to celebrate the beauty and wonder of our planet. I also value the teaching opportunities this day gives me as a parent.

Today my husband has a rare day off, so I have planned a family hike to get out and enjoy nature. Since its almost Easter, I was also planning to have a "trash- hunt" (instead of an egg hunt) on the hike, where my girls can run around finding any rubbish that may be on the trail. I think they will love it, and its a great way to do a small part to make one of our local natural areas more healthy and happy :)
What are you Earth Day Plans?

Earth Day Challenge - No More Plastic Baggies! {Review and Giveaway}

2011-04-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

This year for Earth Day I have decided to give myself a challenge ~ completely stop using plastic baggies. Do you want to join me? If so keep reading to learn about a wonderful shop full of beautiful and convenient re-usable sandwich and snack bags. Also enter to win a lovely set of re-usable cloth bags.

Why ditch plastic baggies? I have to admit I will have a hard time with this challenge. Although I have rid my house of almost all plastic- for some reason I still cling to my need for plastic snack and sandwich baggies. I'm not sure exactly why, but using them is somehow ingrained in my mind. Well I guess I couldn't really call it a challenge if it was easy right? I've actually been wanting to completely stop using plastic baggies for a while now. They are really awful for the planet, contain a toxic blend of chemicals, and never biodegrade. They can also be found in oceans across the planet harming sea life and causing pollution. One school aged child usually uses 300 bags a year- that's a lot of plastic pollution. So this earth day I have finally said enough is enough and I'm giving up my bad plastic baggie habit!

In my quest to go baggie-less I have recently discovered The Silver Bobbin - a Canadian Etsy shop with a truly beautiful and earth friendly selection of re-usable sandwich and snack bags. These eco-friendly litter-less lunch options are a wonderful alternative to the much used plastic baggies. They can be used for years, are easily washable, and are completely BPA FREE/PHTHALATE FREE. I especially love the unique fabric selection, with over 60 fabulous options!

The Silver Bobbin cloth lunch bags are not only some of the prettiest bags around, but they are also very well made, thoughtfully designed, and super convenient. They are made from cotton and lined with ripstop (wipe-able and water resistant) nylon. They have a fully closable velrco seam, and are machine washable. They are also generously sized, which I love.

I tried the pretty floral set called Poppy Love from The Silver Bobbin and both me and my girls think they are gorgeous. They are truly so easy to use and very well designed. I especially love the full velcro closure, which keeps even the messiest snacks contained. I have been using them for school lunches and toddler snacks on the go, and they work great for both. They are very easy to keep clean too- I just give them a wipe at the end of the day and they are ready for a new snack. Then once a week I toss them in with my laundry and they come out like new. They are definitely helping me to stop using plastic, and hopefully will allow me to succeed in my challenge.

Shop: A wonderful selection of eco-friendly cloth snack and sandwich bags can be bought online at The Silver Bobbin Etsy Shop. They retail for $10 CAD for a set of two bags (so they will pay for themselves in the first few months of not having to buy baggies). The Silver Bobbin also offers custom bags, and will even swap out the nylon liner for a cotton one if you prefer.

Earth Day Sale: Every year The Silver Bobbin celebrates Earth Day by offering a set of 4 snack bags for only $20! Hurry this sale is only on for one day ~ April 22nd.

The Giveaway: The Silver Bobbin has generously offered to give one of my readers a reusable Sandwich/Snack 2 Bag Set (in winners choice of fabric).

To Enter: Please visit The Silver Bobbin and then comment below telling me your favorite pattern.(this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Comment telling me your Earth Day Plans
~Heart The Silver Bobbin on Etsy and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win Cloth Baggies from The Silver Bobbin http://bit.ly/dUv9E4 @mamareviews #giveaway #win #earthday" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on May 9th at 9 pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to Us and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Klara Coco {Review and Giveaway}

2011-04-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

You really can have it all with Klara Coco ~ They offer fabulous bath and body essentials that are Glamorously Natural. This Canadian company makes lovely natural products using the finest organic ingredients and pure essential oils. Their bath and body products are high quality, completely luxurious, and are beautifully made in Alberta.

Klara Coco is committed to making natural and safe products that you can trust to use on yourself and your little ones. Their bath and beauty products are 100% natural and only contain pure and gentle ingredients. Even their preservatives are natural. You can also rest assured that Klara Coco products are free from parabens, synthetic fragrances, petroleum products, and sodium lauryl/sulfates. Klara Coco products are also biodegradable and never tested on animals.

I was sent two fabulous gifts from Klara Coco, one for me and one for my girls. I completely love them both, keep reading to see why and for your chance to win!

Two of my favorite things are chocolate and relaxing baths, so I am completely loving Klara Coco J'aime le chocolat! Bath Truffles. These rich creamy bath truffles turn your bath into a fizzy, luxurious dream. They smell like french chocolates and are made with essential Oils of Cocoa, Vanilla and Bergamot. The Klara and Coco Bath Truffles feature a blend or pure Cocoa and Shea butters, that not only smell good enough to eat, but also left my skin soft and moisturized. These truffles are beautifully packaged as well and would make an absolutely lovely Mothers Day gift.

I was also sent a lovely bottle of Enfant chéri Organic Liquid Soap for Children. This gentle castile soap is made with organic ingredients carefully chosen to clean your little ones delicate skin without irritation or drying. It has the sweetest smell too - a mellow blend of Mandarin and Lavender Oils. My younger girls have been using our Klara Coco Enfant chéri Organic Liquid Soap as a body wash and it also works wonderfully as a shampoo. Like all Klara Coco products, the packaging of this soap is unique and beautiful. I also love that it doesn't contain any chemicals, additives, or colorants.

This is cool too: Klara Coco donates 5% of proceeds from the sales of their Amour-propre line to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Shop: A huge selection of pure and natural bath and beauty products including; natural soaps, body butters, bath salts, oils, pregnancy/baby products, bath truffles, and lotions can be purchased online directly from Klara Coco. They offer great flat rate shipping, with free shipping on all orders over $100.

The Giveaway: Klara Coco has generously offered to give one of my readers the same fabulous products reviewed above. So one lucky reader will win a jar of wonderful Klara Coco Truffles and a bottle of Enfant Cheri Organic Liquid Soap.

To Enter: Please visit Klara Coco and comment below telling me another wonderful product you would like to try. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Klara Coco on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Klara Coco on twitter
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win Organic Bath products from Klara Coco http://bit.ly/hawjzt @mamareviews #giveaway #win #organic" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Sign up for the Klara and Coco Newsletter (bottom of their site)
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on May 6th at 9 pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to Us and Canada Only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Whales, Trails, and Polar Bear Tales contest

2011-04-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

Attention Canadian Families.....
My friends over at The Nature Conservancy just e-mailed me about this awesome contest and I knew I had to share it. (and enter it!)

The Whales, Trails, and Polar Bear Tales contest will award four families of four across Canada the opportunity to travel for a six nights and five days stay at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Manitoba. Families will get the chance to kayak with the beluga whales, explore the Boreal forest, go fossil hunting, take a Tundra Buggy ride.

Bring Back The Wild: Earth rangers, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy of Canada, launched the Bring Back The Wild campaign in April 2010. Bring Back the Wild is a national Campaign designed to educate children about biodiversity and inspire them to become involved in helping restore habitats for some of Canada`s most at risk animals. Very cool!

To Enter: All you have to do is help your child create a campaign at Earth Rangers (its easy and free).

Sacred Rose Tea for Mothers Day {Review and Giveaway}

2011-04-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for a great gift for your mom, wife, or dear friend I think tea makes the perfect Mothers day Gift. As mom, I cherish moments to myself with a great cup of tea. Their is just something relaxing about curling up around a mug of hot herbal tea and enjoying a few moments of peace. An especially beautiful and special gift is quality loose leaf tea from Sacred Rose. Their tea is wonderfully aromatic, organic, and thoughtfully hand blended for its healing properties.

Sacred Rose is a conscious living company that believes in honoring Gaia (Mother Earth) and her sacred plant relations. They blend their teas to be infused with the light vibrations inherent in plants. These specific vibrations are present in Sacred Rose Tea, which has been carefully blended to activate a specific physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual pattern (depending on the blend you choose) for those who drink these healing blends.

Sacred Rose sent me four beautiful gift boxes of loose leaf tea. They are so pretty tied up with satin ribbon and the tea itself is very high quality. Loose Leaf Tea is really a lovely tea to use, and in my opinion it makes more flavorful tea than brewing from bags (which I often do too). It really allows your pot to be infused with aroma and flavor. It is a little more work than bagged tea, but I find the process very calming and enjoyable. Here is a good instructional. I also love that Sacred Rose products are sustainable, organic, and eco-friendly. Keep reading to learn more and to enter to win a box for a special Mother in your life.

Inner Peace

As a mom I often strive for inner peace, and I love this calming and relaxing tea. It offers a tasty blend of chamomile, sage and passion flower that is inherently calming and soothing (both physically and emotionally). This tea also helps sooth an upset stomach and stress.

Mother Earth Zest

This refreshing tea is perfect for morning, since it encourages motivation, happiness, and grounding. It features a blend of ginger, spearmint, fennel, and sage that tastes wonderful too. This tea is also helps aid in digestion.

Soul of the Rose

This tea features a lovely blend of cloves, alfalfa, rose hips, and pink rose buds. This blends properties are said to transform trauma into peace and joy. It also has a sweet mild flavor that I really enjoy.

Matri
This tea is the ultimate tea of mothers. It features a delicate and thoughtful blend of nettles, red raspberry, rose hips, alfalfa, dandelion, lemon and ginger. These are herbs that have traditionally been given to women who are pregnant, and this Sacred Rose blend is designed to prepare a mother for giving life (birth or other) in a most loving way.

Shop: Sacred Rose Teas and acessories can be purchased online at SacredRose.ca. A 3oz box of organic tea retails for $18 CAD.

The Giveaway: Sacred Rose Tea has offered to give TWO winners a lovely box of Matri - tea of the mother.

To Enter: Please visit Sacred Rose Tea and comment below with a tea that you would love to try. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Tell me your favorite kind of tea
~Like Sacred Rose Tea on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win A box of Tea from Sacred Rose http://bit.ly/eyj6vZ @mamareviews #giveaway #win #mothersday" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on April 22nd (in time for Mothers Day Shipping). Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to Us and Canada Only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Amy's Prize Pack Winner

2011-04-09T21:14:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Soozle (comment 263) you have won a great prize pack from Amy's Kitchen. I hope you enjoy their delicious food! Check your inbox soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Amy's for sponsoring this giveaway.

A belated Friday- This Moment

2011-04-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama

A single photo - ~~no words~~ - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

My new dining room- still looking very chaotic after over a week in the new place. Notice the ugly linoleum and lace curtains, those need to go!

.....More soon- I'm having the hardest time posting and have been spending all of my time working on the yard/cleaning the house/ unpacking. But I do promise to post this weekend with a fabulous giveaway :)

Emily Press Labels- Wall Decals {Review and Giveaway}

2011-04-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

We have just bought a house and are busy making it our own. One fun and easy way to personalize a kids room (without too much commitment) are fabric wall decals. Emily Press is a fabulous Canadian source for personalized fabric wall stickers for kids. Emily Press decals are reusable, removable, and really allow you to get creative. I especially love that they are made with fabric (non- vinyl) and that they are free from harmful VOC's and phthalates.

We were sent a whimsical and fun Fabric Wall Sticker Set in Blue Parade Stars and have had a blast decorating my little ones room. They are such a sweet way to personalize a room in moments, and I love that you can order sets with your children's name. This is my two year old's first time having a room of her own, and she felt so proud when she saw her wall decorated with her name.

Emily Press fabric Wall Decals are so easy and fun to use. I loved getting creative and arranging the stickers to suit my tastes. I mistakenly placed the stickers a couple of times and they easily pealed off without marking the wall or damaging the decal. Unlike other Decals I have used, I also really love that Emily Press Wall Stickers are easily re-usable. Although they look adorable above my daughters dresser, I would love to use them on her door once we have had a chance to paint. The Emily Press Decals set comes with 29 themed fabric stickers that can be arranged and rearranged to create just about any scene.

Emily Press is a Canadian owned and operated business that really has something for everyone. Besides the Wall Stickers reviewed above, she makes functional and pretty labels for just about everything. I especially love her beautiful Spice Labels and her amazingly handy Shoe Labels.

Shop: The Fabric Wall Stickers Reviewed above and a stylish and functional array of labels for the whole family can be bought online at EmilyPress.com. The Parade Stars Set retails for 24.95.

The Giveaway: Emily Press has generously offered to give one of my readers a set of personalized Fabric Wall Stickers (winners choice).

To Enter: Please visit Emily Press and comment below telling me another one of her wonderful products you would like to try. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Sign up for the Emily Press Fan Club (lower left) and comment
~Like Emily Press on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Emily Press on Twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a personalized Wall Decal Set http://bit.ly/heoz3s @mamareviews @emilypress #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on April 25th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to US and Canadians.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

We3 Kimono Top Winner

2011-04-02T23:27:00.000-07:00

A huge Congrats to Jess (comment 460) you have won a lovely kimono top from We3. I will be in touch in the morning.

Thanks to We3 for sponsoring this giveaway and to everyone who entered.

Also a quick note about the blog: I will be back early next week with regular reviews and giveaways as soon as I possibly can. Thanks for your patience ladies :)

Skin MD Natural Winner

2011-03-31T22:53:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Robyn (comment #140) you have won a bottle of the Skin MD Natural lotion. This lotion has been saving my hands with all the cleaning and moving I've been doing this week- I hope you enjoy it too. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Skin MD for sponsoring this giveaway.

Moving Again

2011-03-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

We are moving again!!
We bought a funky old house and are excited to start green reno's and make the house our own. So for the next few days I will be incredibly busy packing, moving, tearing up carpets, and cleaning. I will not be posting any reviews or giveaways until early April. See you soon :)

(the above photo is not my house- mine is waaaay more messy)

Lunchskins and Luke & Loolu Aprons {from Raspberry Kids} Review

2011-03-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Raspberry Kids is a fabulous online shop, that is always adding new and exciting product's to their virtual shelves. I especially love the eco-friendly and mom-made selections. So when Sue from Raspberry Kids asked me to review two of her favorite Raspberry Kids products I jumped at the chance. Both products are wonderful, and come from mom-owned and operated businesses.

Luke & Loolu Apron
With three artistic girls, have a lot of wonderfully messy art projects and kid baking adventures in our home. Luke & Loolu has made clean-up a little easier for me thanks to their beautiful aprons. Luke & Loolu aprons are wipe-able and washable, while being completely safe and free from harmful chemicals such as PVC, phthalates, lead and BPA. They are adjustable and feature three big pockets for your little ones paint brushes or cooking utensils. They are also beautifully made in the US.

I tried the lovely Luke & Loolu Dani Apron from Raspberry Kids and completely love it. The fabric is so fun and unique with big flowers and bright pink trim. This apron is a must have and we have been using it daily since it arrived. It is perfect for art, baking, or any messy project (my daughter wore it today to help wash the dog). As mentioned the Luke & Loolu Aprons are also super convenient and easy to clean. Best of all my daughter loves to wear her new apron.

Lunchskins
Lunchskins re-usable bags are just as convenient as plastic bags, but much kinder to the planet. We are trying to cut all plastic from our home and Lunchskins Bags are the perfect alternative to plastic sandwich and snack bags. They are made from a durable and completely safe fabric that is Lead-free, BPA-free and phthalate-free. They come in a variety of cool fabrics and sizes and are hand-sewn in the US. Lunchskins are also so easy to care for and dry very quickly. I usually just wipe mine out, but Lunchskins are also dishwasher safe!

We tried the green Lunchskins Sandwich bag from the Bud Logo Series and have been really happy with its quality and design. It is generously sized and fits even the heartiest of sandwiches. It has a fold over flap that closes very securely with velcro. I also love the bright green color and nature themed print. Both my daughters and I have been using it for sandwiches on the go and it works perfectly.

Shop: Both products reviewed above (and so much more) can be purchased at RaspberryKids.com. The Lunchskins Sandwich Bags retail for 9.99 CAD and the Luke & Loolu Dani Apron retails for 22.99.

Connect: Raspberry Kids is always having great sales, giveaways, and promotions - so check them out on Facebook and Twitter so you don't miss out. You can also sign up for their newsletter to stay up to date on new products are promotions.

This Moment

2011-03-25T11:34:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama

A single photo - ~~no words~~ - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Playing in the wind on a spring day

Earth Hour - Together we can make a difference!

2011-03-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

Do you participate in Earth Hour?

Over the last couple years my family and I have been taking part and its always a blast. We dig out the candles, choose our favorite board games, and set up camp in our living room. Its a great way to spend an evening with the kids and it is a completely perfect teaching opportunity (we always talk a lot about our planet and how even small actions can make a difference). It also feels great to be part of a larger community (128 countries took part last year)- all doing something for our planet at the same exact moment.

So this Saturday (March 26th) from 8:30 - 9:30 pm join me in going electricity free for an hour.

ps. check out Earth Hour on facebook and twitter

Girl Gotch Winner

2011-03-23T13:45:00.000-07:00

A big congrats to Leanne Mac (comment #12) - The winner of the Girl Gotch Giveaway. I will be in touch soon.

Thanks to Girl Gotch for sponsoring this giveaway and to all who entered.

Amy's Review and Giveaway

2011-03-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

I have been a fan of Amy's products for years. They use wholesome ingredients to create delicious and convenient meals with a homemade taste. Amy's Kitchen uses only the best quality organic ingredients, and never adds artificial additives, preservatives, or GMOs. As a vegetarian I also value that everything they offer is meat free.

Do you adhere to a special diet or have allergies/intolerances? If so Amy's Kitchen has something for you. They offer lots of alternative meal options including meat free, dairy free, soy free, and gluten free meals. Check out their search option on their site where you can search for items that fit your special dietary needs. When I was breastfeeding and had to cut dairy I LIVED on Amy's veggie burgers and vegan burritos.

Amy's Kitchen offers so many wonderful entrees, and honestly I have been happy with every one I have even tried. Here are some of my favorites:

Amy's Cheese Pizza - Amy's frozen pizzas are amazingly tasty and only take 10 minutes to make. The classic cheese pizza is always a hit with my kids and a great quick meal when I have no time to cook. I love that it is made with organic flour and tomato sauce.

Amy's Pesto Pizza: This is a favorite of both me and my husband. It feature's home-made pesto sauce that is deliciously garlicky and packed with basil. It is topped with fresh organic tomatoes and broccoli, as well as lots of yummy mozzarella. The crust is super thin and tasty too- I could eat this everyday!

Amy's California Veggie Burger - My favorite Amy's veggie burger is the California Veggie Burger. This nutty and satisfying burger contains a savory blend of mushrooms, organic bulgur, and tasty veggies. It is also kid friendly, dairy free, and low fat. It is delicious on a bun with all the fixings, crumbled in a taco shell, or on its own dipped in your favorite sauce.

Amy's Indian (Palak Paneer) - I love the palak paneer from Amy's Indian Line. The creamy spinach and cheese paneer is is so delicious and always hits the spot when I have a craving for Indian Food. Amy's uses authentic spices and ingredients from India to create this great meal, which also comes with dal and rice. This is a great lunch on the go and is very quick and easy to make.

Finally I am crazy about Amy`s Vegetable Pot Pie. This warm and tasty comfort food completely hits the spot on a cold day. They taste completely home-made and the crust is flaky perfection! The Vegetable Pot Pie contains organic vegetables, a delicious creamy sauce, and chunks of tofu. They make a very satisfying lunch for mom and are also a hit with the kids.

Shop: Amy's products can be found at health and grocery stores across the US and Canada. Find a store near you here.

The Giveaway: Amy's Kitchen wants you to be able to find your own favorites and have offered to give one of my readers $30 in free vouchers and an Amy's lunch tote.

To Enter: Please visit Amy`s and then comment below with something you would like to try. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Sign up for Amy's Newsletter here and comment
~Like Amy`s on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Amy's on Twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win $30 in Amy's Food and a Lunch Tote http://bit.ly/gDk8ao @mamareviews @amys_kitchen #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on April 9th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to US and Canadians.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

This Moment

2011-03-18T08:31:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama

A single photo - ~~no words~~ - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

The Little one made "tiger stripes" while I was pre-occupied with packing :)

Greener Pup ~ Eco-Friendly Dog Bed Review

2011-03-17T09:43:00.000-07:00

Two of my passions are going green and saving homeless dogs, so I am really excited to tell you about Greener Pup! This amazing business makes eco-friendly dog beds that are beautifully designed, so you can pamper your pet and help save the planet. Best of all, 100% of profits from each bed sold go to saving homeless dogs.

Greener Pup is the creative venture of Kari Whitman, a talented interior designer, dog rescuer, and environmental advocate. She has a huge heart, and after her beloved rescue dog died she founded Ace of Hearts (an organization dedicated to rescuing dogs slated for euthanasia). She has since saved thousands of dogs and found them loving permanent homes. Kari is also known as a designer to the stars and this work led her to create a custom line of stylish eco-dog beds - Greener Pup.

I have two rescued dogs myself, so I was just thrilled to be able to review a Greener Pup Bed. I was sent a medium sized round Earth bed for my dogs and they completely love it. I was actually surprised by how fast they took to it; within moments of its arrival my smaller dog Georgia had claimed the bed as her own and was happily snoozing on it. The Greener Pup bed is incredibly soft and cozy, my dogs sink in blissfully and pretty much live on their bed. The quality is also outstanding, and I love that the fill is hypoallergenic and odor free.

The Greener Pup eco-friendly dog bed is as loved by owners as by dogs. Its so much prettier and easier to care for than other dog beds I have used. The cover is a breeze to take on and off, and is easily machine washable. The 100% cotton cover is also breathable, doesn't attract hair, and is wonderfully durable. I also really love that I can order more covers to match any room in my home.

I completely recommend Greener Pup dog beds to everyone who loves their dogs and loves the planet. As mentioned they are so well designed and comfortable- your dog will LOVE them. They are also a great way to go green- each bed is made in the US and is filled with 100% recycled plastic bottles. Depending on the size of your Greener Pup bed, your purchase will save 70-120 plastic bottles from being dumped in our landfills. The Greener Pup removable covers are also made with reclaimed remnants, further saving our planet.

Shop: Greener Pup Dog Beds (and other fabulous pet gear) can be purchased online directly from GreenerPup.com or at these retailers. Greener Pup Beds are available in four sizes, four styles, and come with a free cover of your choice . The medium round bed I tried retails for 74.99 US. oh and I love this: Rescue dogs receive 25% off purchases at Greener Pup!

Connect: Find Greener Pup on Facebook to learn more and see some amazingly cute happy pup-customers and follow them on twitter too.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Artterro Art Kit Winner

2011-03-16T21:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Mom 2 Girls (comment #14) you have one your choice of creative Artterro art kits from Ekobear.ca. My girls loved these kits and I hope the kids in your life enjoy them too.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Ekobear for sponsoring this giveaway.

We3 Eco- Fashion {Review and Giveaway}

2011-03-14T17:00:00.000-07:00

I am incredibly passionate about eco- fashion. I love fashion in general, but eco-friendly local fashion is especially near and dear to my heart. We3 is my latest Canadian eco-fashion find and I am completely smitten with their lovely pieces. They offer designs with clean lines and interesting cuts, while using quality eco-friendly fabrics. Furthermore, We3 sustainably makes all of their clothing in Vancouver BC.

The Spring/Summer 2011 collection from We3 was very popular at Vancouver's Eco Fashion Week last month and I can definitely see why. It features a variety of wearable, modern, and stylish pieces. The fabrics are light, the cuts are universally figure flattering, and the colors are gorgeous. I really love each piece in this collection, and was thrilled to be able to review their gorgeous Kimono Sleeve Essential top.

As soon as I tried on the beautifully deigned Kimono Sleeve Essential from We3, I knew it would be one my favorite tops this spring. I especially love the interesting and unique cut; the boat neck and wide kimono sleeves offer a really lovely draped silhouette and that is so flattering. This top is also very versatile, looking great paired with almost everything. The bamboo/organic cotton blend is soft, comfortable, and a nice cool fabric. My Kimono Sleeve top is a pretty Vapour Gray color, but it is also available in custom red, mint and black.

Another thing I love about We3 is that their web store features video clips of each design. As a very visual person, I love being able to see the design in a video before I buy. Sometimes it can be hard to visualize clothing in online shops, and I find these clips give me a really good sense of the We3 garments. Check out the video below of the Kimono Sleeves Essential top:

We3 designs is a collaboration between three talented Canadian designers; Glencora Twigg, Jessica Vaira, and Christine Hotton. The three met in design school and are dedicated to designing clothing that is unique and modern, while being gentle on our planet. They established the amazing twigg&hottie Boutique before starting We3 in 2008. Since then, the three have been designing fabulous clothing made exclusively out of sustainable fabrics.

Shop: The Kimono Sleeve Essential reviewed above is available in two different fabric choices: a bamboo rayon/organic cotton blend or a modal blend. It can be purchased online from We3 for $79.00 CAD. We3 designs can also be found at these select retailers. Shop now as production is limited and sizes can sell out fast!

The Giveaway: We3 has very generously offered to give one of my readers a Kimono Sleeve Essential top in Custom Red (size Medium).

To Enter: Please visit We3 and comment below with another piece that you love. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like twigg&hottie Boutique on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow We3 on Twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a bamboo kimono top from We3 http://bit.ly/houx4p @mamareviews @we3 #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on April, 2nd at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open Worldwide!

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Skin MD Natural {Review and Giveaway}

2011-03-11T12:41:00.000-08:00

Winter is never kind to my skin, leaving it dry, itchy, and cracked. And now that winter is drawing to an end, I need to get my skin ready for short and tank weather. So I was thrilled when Skin MD Natural offered to send me some of their popular Skin Shielding Lotion. Read on to hear my thoughts and for your chance to win a bottle to try for yourself.

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion protects your skin and gives lasting relief from dry skin. By using the latest technology, Skin MD Natural has created a lotion that bonds with your skin, providing a protective shield that allows your skin to keep its own moisture. Unlike traditional glycerin lotions (which only add surface moisture), Skin MD Natural actually uses moisture from your body. It is especially effective for use on eczema and psoriasis.

Best of all Skin MD Natural is hypoallergenic, natural, and safe. It contains NO fragrance, parabens, petrochemicals, or dyes. It is also eco-friendly, cruelty free, and vegan. Skin MD Natural is even formulated in the United States in a facility that uses 100% solar power!

I have been using Skin MD Natural for a couple of weeks now and have been really impressed with the results. I get very dry and itchy skin (especially in the winter) and have noticed a huge improvement in my skins moisture levels since I began using Skin MD Naturals. The skin on my hands gets especially dry and cracked, and within days of using this lotion my hands became smooth, moisturized, and incredibly soft.

I also have very sensitive skin, so I also love that Skin MD Natural is so gentle. I have even been using it on my face with no irritation. Skin MD Naturals is also really nice to use; it has almost no smell, goes on non-greasy, and is quickly absorbed into the skin. You only need a very small amount and the moisturizing benefits are immediately noticeable. This is definitely a lotion I will be recommending to my friends.

Shop: Skin MD Natural can be purchased online directly from Skin MD and at these stores across the US and Canada. It cost approx $18 for a 2 month supply. * If your not completely satisfied with their products, Skin MD Natural offers a 100% money back guarantee.

The Giveaway: Skin MD Natural has kindly offered to send one of my readers a bottle of the wonderful lotion reviewed above.

To Enter: Please visit Skin MD Natural and comment below with something you learned on their site. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Sign up for the Skin MD Newsletter here and comment
~Like Skin MD Natural on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Skin MD Natural on Twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win Skin MD Natural Lotion http://bit.ly/gcUYtx @mamareviews @skinmdnatural #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on March 31st at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to US and Canadians.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

{this moment}

2011-03-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

A Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama

A single photo - ~~no words~~ - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

We had one glorious warm day this week - a peak at spring. Me and two of my girls had a picnic in the yard and then soaked up the sun.

Bear Feet Shoes Winner

2011-03-11T09:37:00.000-08:00

I've been off with a bad flu, so I'm a day late announcing. But the winner of the Bear Feet Shoes Giveaway is Mommy Bug (comment 262). Congratulations- you will completely adore these shoes!

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Bear Feet Shoes for sponsoring this giveaway.

Pure HANDKNIT Clothing Review

2011-03-08T09:25:00.000-08:00

Spring has finally sprung and I am ready for some color! Pure & Co is a fabulous Canadian company that offers a great selection of knitwear in bright and fun colors. Pure & Co is the company behind two fabulous shops : Pure HANDKNIT and Neon Buddha. Both offer quality sweaters and knits that are custom made and available in a beautiful array of colors. And as winter draws to an ends I love to spice up my wardrobe with some new bright clothes.

I was sent a lovely sleeved poncho from Pure HANDKNIT and the quality is amazing. This company is truly passionate about knitwear and it shows. Each piece is expertly knit, crotchet, or loomed by fairly paid artisans. The pieces feature eco-friendly dye, have great natural detailing, and come in a variety of unique and stylish designs. I also love the cotton that Pure Handknit uses. Its incredibly soft and plush and just feels great next to your skin.

My new Pure Hand Knit Sweater is wonderfully bright and has a great unique shape. I love the look of a well designed poncho (so cute over skinny jeans) and this one is so perfect. Its very flattering and I love how it features sleeves defined by big coconut buttons. The Poncho we were sent is a pretty coral shade- colorful enough to brighten the rainiest spring day. It is also very cozy and warm.

Pure & Co has made ethical business practices and giving back a priority. In fact they go way beyond fair trade! Their knitters in Thailand not only earn fair wages but they have a co-op program where the knitters actually own 50% of the company. They work western hours, earn fair wages, are supplied full maternity and health benefits. They are also offered educational benefits for themselves and their families. Pure & co donates 1% of global sales to benefit those in need and they have fabulous environmentally minded business practices.

Shop: The piece reviewed above and a wide variety of beautiful Knitwear and comfortable lifestyle pieces can be seen online at Pure HANDKNIT and Neon Buddha. They do not sell direct, but have a variety of great online retailers such as http://www.neimanmarus.com/, http://www.nordstroms.com/ and http://www.anthropologie.com/. You can also check out their facebook page to find a retailer near you.

Connect: Pure Handknit is on facebook; like their page for their latest news and to see new pieces. You can also follow Pure Handknit and Neon Buddha on twitter.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Green Beaver (Gluten Free) Winner

2011-03-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Janelle (comment 88) you have won a gift pack of Gluten Free Skin Care Products from Green Beaver. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and Green Beaver for sponsoring this giveaway.

My Mama's Love Acne Attack Kit {Review}

2011-03-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

Looking for a natural treatment option for acne? If so I completely recommend My Mama's Love Acne Attack Kit. You may recall I reviewed some baby skincare products from My Mama's Love a couple months ago and I was completely amazed by how gentle and effective they were. Her adult line is no different; wonderfully natural and gentle, while truly delivering great results. My Mama's Love Acne Attack Kit is a trio of natural and organic remedies, that zap zits fast and leave your skin soft and healthy.

My Mama's Love natural Acne Attack Kit contains 3 wonderful products that work together to bring great results.
1. P.E.A Soap: This is an all natural soap that is designed to clear up acne and creative healthy glowing skin. It contains the same proven ingredients as the P.E.A salve, with the addition of organic oils and natural soap ingredients.
2. Acne Soothing Spritz: This spritz works like a toner, but it is alcohol free and gentle. It contains simple ingredients such as distilled water and distilled vinegar and it feels very refreshing.
3. P.E.A Salve: This powerful salve is great for clearing up a variety of skin ailments including acne, psoriasis, and eczema. It contains only organic herbs and wholesome ingredients, and is completely free of chemicals, preservatives, or allergens.

I hate getting acne, and thankfully only have occasional breakouts. Still when I do get a breakout I usually end up using nasty chemical spot treatment, which always leave my skin dried out and irritated. So when I heard that My Mama's Love had created a natural acne treatment I knew I had to try it and I'm so happy I did. The other day I woke up with a bad acne breakout on my face (thanks to a junk food binge last weekend) and immediately grabbed my new Acne Attack Kit. I did all three steps twice a day and to my amazement by day two my zits were barely noticeable and by day three they were completely gone. My skin was soft and moisturized too!

The Kit was so easy to use too. Simply wash with the P.E.A Soap, wipe the area with a cloth or cotton ball containing the Acne Soothing Spritz, then smooth a small amount of the P.E.A Salve on the affected area. I completely recommend the kit for anyone who suffers with acne. It honestly works way better than the popular drug store treatments I have used in the past, and it is nourishing and gentle for my skin. I also love supporting eco-minded mom-owned businesses such as My Mama's Love.

Don't just take my word for it, check out the Acne Attack Kit page for numerous testimonials and before and after pictures. Also for those who suffer constant outbreaks this kit works great both as a preventative and as a treatment.

Shop: If you are looking for a natural way to treat acne, the kit reviewed above can be purchased online here or at these retailers in Washington State. The Acne Attack Kit retails for $25.

Connect: My Mama's Love has an informative and fun facebook page and you can follow them on twitter.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

{this moment}

2011-03-04T11:32:00.000-08:00

A Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama

A single photo - ~~no words~~ - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

I cut my little ones hair for the first time last night - bangs! She is so proud of her new look. I also love how this picture captures her latest thing: dressing herself. Yes her shirt was one inside out AND backwards :)

Girl Gotch Review and Giveaway

2011-03-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

I have finally found underwear that my little girl will wear! Girl Gotch are cute and cozy underwear, designed by a clever mom who noticed that little girls underwear never fits right. Like my girls, her daughter often complained about her bunching ill fitting underwear. Then after a bathroom accident caused her to borrowed her nephews boy gotch for her daughter she came to a realization: boy underwear are designed for comfort and play. As a mom she knew girls needed comfortable underwear too, and Girl Gotch was born. These fabulous girls underwear have the same tried and true "tighty whitey" design- but made girly!

As soon as I heard about Girl Gotch I knew I wanted to get some for my daughter. She is newly potty trained and the underwear she currently wears are so uncomfortable. They ride up, bunch up, and the thin elastic cuts into her little toddler legs. In fact she often prefers to go "commando", rather than deal with underwear. Well that was before we tried Girl Gotch- these underwear are so comfortable. Keep reading to see why we love them so, and for your chance to win a pair for the little girl in your life.

Girl Gotch Briefs are great for everyday wear. These undies are inspired by the original boys "tightey whitey" design, but are colorful and girly. They feature a wide covered waistband and binding around the legs that keep these underwear in place and comfortable on even the most active girl. My daughter loves these underwear and since they arrived she has never once complained about wedgies (a term she learned from her big sisters- haha) or elastic marks. She is also very independent and likes to dress herself, so she loves the font tag that tells her when she is putting them on properly.

Girl Gotch Boxers are great for under dresses and skirts. My daughter likes to wears a lot of dresses in the summer and I like that these boxer briefs give a little more coverage. Like the briefs, the Girl Gotch Boxers are made with ultra soft cotton, have a comfortable wide waistband, and feature the front tag. They also look so adorable and bright.

Girl Gotch are very well made with quality materials. They are designed in Canada and are made with 95% cotton and 5% spandex. They wash up very nicely, with no shrinking or fading. Girl Gotch comes in packs of three and offers lots of fun colors. I definitely recommend Girl Gotch and plan on buying them for my daughter from now on.

Shop: Girl Gotch are available in bright colors or whites and come in sizes 2-6. They can be purchased online directly from GirlGotch.com or at these retailers across the US and Canada. They retail for 15.99 CAD for a package of 3.

The Giveaway: Girl Gotch has generously offered to give one of my readers a 3 pack of Girl Gotch (boxers or briefs).

To Enter: Please Like Girl Gotch on Facebook and comment below. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Girl Gotch on twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a pack of Girl Gotch Underwear http://bit.ly/dXa62r @mamareviews @girlgotch #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on March 22nd at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to the US and Canada.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Once Upon a Bedtime : Audio Stories {Review}

2011-03-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

Once Upon A Bedtime is a lovely site featuring down-loadable audio stories for young children. The online store offers original nature themed stories written and narrated by Natasha Edney. This Canadian mom has a real a gift for story telling and my girls could listen to her sweet stories for hours. Her narration is so soothing and magical and her audio stories set a gentle and nurturing tone for rest or bedtimes.

I was thrilled to review two Once Upon a Bedtime Stories; Letty the Determined Leaf Lets Go and The Little Munchkin and the Fairy Ring (both can be previewed here). My girls and I immediately fell in love with these stories and I completely recommend them. I have been moving towards creating a Waldorf home and Once Upon A Bedtime stories fit into these philosophies perfectly. They celebrate the wonders of nature, the rhythm of the seasons, and the beauty of our inner feelings and imagination. They are also so fun to listen to and come with lovely illustrations by artist Mahila Gauthier-Dupont.

Letty the Determined Leaf Lets Go is a beautiful story that celebrates individuality and the changing of the seasons. It tells the tale of Letty a little oak leaf, that is very special indeed. Unlike the other oak leaves she does not want to leave her home high up in the oak tree- and doesn't drop in the fall. Instead she stays in the oak tree, and becomes quite wise. She befriends Leonard, the shy leaf next to her, and together they are able to summon the courage they need to fall to the earth and fulfill their leaf destiny.

My toddler especially loves the story of Letty the Determined Leaf Lets Go (or the "Tree Story" as she calls it). Even though she is normally a very active toddler, as soon as I play this she will snuggle down in my lap and listen attentively. The calming narration and the swirling wind heard in the background is very calming for her and really helps her settle down for her nap times.

My 9 year old really loves the fun story of The Little Munchkin and the Fairy Ring. This darling tale tells of the adventures of a rascally munchkin, who loves to get into mischief. When the little munchkin stumbles upon a peaceful Faerie Ring in the forest he comes up with a rascally idea. He spreads sap on the fairies toadstools causing the fairies to later become stuck. The story follows what happens next and the lessons that the munchkin learns. In the end, he puts his mischief right- but he does it with a rascally grin. My middle daughter laughs and laughs at this story, because like the little munchkin in this story she has a good heart, but loves nothing more than getting into mischief.

As a mom, I love that Once Upon a Bedtime stories are so convenient. They allow me to set a restful and calm tone anywhere. I have downloaded them onto my Ipod, and mostly use them for daily naps or in the car. In the summer when we travel a lot, I'm looking forward to being able to bring these favorite stories everywhere we go. They are also easily burned onto a CD, and even come with free down-loadable CD covers.

Shop: Once Upon a Bedtime offers 3 very special stories that can be previewed and purchased online here. The Little Munchkin and The Faerie Ring is a 16 min audio recording, you can purchase it for $4.75. Letty the Determined Leaf Lets Go is a 16 min audio recording that can be purchased for $4.75. Both stories come with down-loadable illustrations/CD covers.
**SALE - for a limited time Letty the Leaf is being offered for $2.99.

Connect: To learn more about these timeless stories Like Once Upon A Bedtime on Facebook.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Upper Canada Lotion Winner

2011-02-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Mom vs The Boys (comment 380) you have won a Hands & Feet Sampler Set from Upper Canada Soap. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to Upper Canada Soap and to everyone who entered.

Artterro Creative Art Kits {Review and Giveaway}

2011-02-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

As the mom of three very creative girls, we spend a lot of time crafting and creating art. A wonderful eco-friendly choice for art kits is Artterro. They make beautiful art kits that feature natural materials and open ended projects to encourage creativity. Artterro has a great selection of natural and fun kit choices that are designed for friends and family to create and learn together.

Artterro Kits have won numerous awards for their creativity inspiring art kits and I can see why. We tried two Artterro art kits ( the Paint with Wool Kit and the Bubble Wand Kit) and we really enjoyed them both. Art projects really bring our family together and are a great way to spend quality time. Both kits were perfect for girls night with my older girls (once the little one was asleep), and would also make lovely gifts for an artistic child. I have been especially impressed with the quality of the art supplies, both kits were free of any plastics and only contained natural high quality materials. They are also very earth-friendly containing natural products and minimal recycled/recyclable eco-packaging.

We have been wanting to start needle felting for sometime now, so we were thrilled to try out the Artterro needle felting kit. The kit contains 4 natural wool canvases, three felting needles, and 13 bright colors of roving wool. The instructions are easy and the tips sheet gave us so many wonderful ideas. The Artterro Paint with Wool Kit is truly a project that all ages can enjoy. All three of my girls had fun with the kit for hours (even my youngest could take part with me doing the needling). Its really easy and fun, and my girls really were able to let their creativity shine through. It was fun for me too, needle felting is so relaxing and it was a great way to spend an evening with my girls.

We also tried the lovely Bubble Wands Kit by Artterro. It features thick quality copper wrapping wire, wand sticks, and marbles. It also offers easy patterns, a recipe for making your own bubbles, and a great ideas sheet. I love that Artterro kits are very free-flow, allowing my girls to decide how they will use the supplies. Since my girls love faerie play, they decided to make faerie wands with the Bubble Wands Kit. For this project they wrapped wire in fun designs making beautiful wands full of magic. We all had a lot of fun with this project, and my girls feel very proud of their creations.

Shop: Artterro Kits can be bought online at Ekobear.ca ( a lovely Canadian online store) or at these fine retailers across Canada and the US. They retail for 22.95 CAD.

Other Wonderful Artterro Kits:

• Art Dolls Kit

• Creativity Kit

• Bookmaking Kit
• Paint With Wool Portrait Kit
• Colllage Decoration Kit
• Collage Jewelry Kit
• Canvas Storybook Kit
• Wire and Bead Art Kit
• Wool Felt Wearables Kit
• Garden Art Kit

The Giveaway: Eko Bear (a fabulous Canadian retailer of Artterro Kits) has generously offered to give one of my readers their choice of any Artterro Art Kit in stock.

To Enter: Please visit Eko Bear and then comment below with another item that you love from this shop. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Artterro Creative Art Kits on Facebook and comment
~Like Ekobear on Facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Arterro on twitter and comment
~Follow Ekobear on Twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win an Artterro Art Kit from @Ekobeartoys http://bit.ly/i9heOL @mamareviews @artterro #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link

This Giveaway ends on March 16th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open to the US and Canada.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

{This Moment}

2011-02-25T10:48:00.000-08:00

A Friday ritual inspired by Soule Mama

A single photo that captures a special moment of the week.

Enjoying the last of winter

Tomat Kids Winner

2011-02-22T22:10:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Andrea (comment 139) you have won an addable organic onesie from Tomat Kids. I will be in touch soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Tomat Kids for sponsoring this giveaway.

Mondor Tights {Review}

2011-02-22T14:57:00.000-08:00

My go-to outfit this year has been tights and dresses. This look is slimming, feminine, comfortable, and is a needed departure from my mom jeans/yoga pants rut. In my search for quality tights that are made with eco-friendly materials I came across Mondor. This Canadian company makes high quality fashion and performance tights that fit beautifully and are available in the most amazing colors.

Mondor has two categories of tights- those designed for life (their Style Line) and those designed for sports (their Performance Line). Both have a great selection and offer eco options like natural merino wool and bamboo. I was sent three pairs of Mondor Style Tights and I have been really happy with their fit, comfort, and quality.

If the weather is cold where you live, natural wool tights are a good choice. They are so cozy, and wool naturally lets your skin breath while keeping you toasty. I tried Mondor's Cable Pattern Merino Wool Tights (5384) and they are wonderful. They are warm enough for even the coldest of days and are incredibly comfortable. The cable-knit design is also classically stylish, pretty, and adds interest to any outfit.

I also tried two pairs of Bamboo Tights from Mondor's Nature Line (5394 and 5390) and completely love them both. They are luxuriously soft and so very comfortable. Mondor tights are really designed with fit in mind, and never bunch up or cut into my waste like other tights I've tried. The Bamboo rayon is not only eco-friendly, but it is also the perfect fabric for tights because it is breathable, soft, and warm. I have especially been loving my Mondor footless tights which allow me to wear thick socks and boots.

Mondor is a company committed to being eco-friendly. They use manufacturing processes that are gentle on the earth, including eco-dying practices. Their tights are also made fair trade in Canada. If you are looking for some stylish tights to break the mom rut or have a little one is dance or skating I completely recommend Mondor.

Shop: Mondor Tights can be found at clothing and dance stores across the globe. Visit Mondor.com to find a retailer near you.

Connect: Like Mondor on facebook or follow them on twitter.

Bear Feet Shoes {Review and Giveaway}

2011-02-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

We are a family that loves to go shoeless, and many studies show that bare feet are actually best for kids feet as they grow. Bear Feet Shoes are the next best thing to bare feet. These quality made shoes are great because they mold to the unique shape of your child's feet- protecting the feet without forcing the feet to conform. Bear Feet Shoes makes high quality soft baby shoes, flexible kid shoes, and Special occasion shoes - that are all completely hip, unique, and creatively designed.

I have been very impressed with the quality, attention to detail and great design of Bear Feet Shoes. Each shoe is made by hand in the US - using old fashioned shoe making techniques. They use the highest quality materials, sourced from the US and Europe. They strive to be eco-friendly and ethical, producing absolutely no chemical waste, using no formaldehyde, being fair trade, and donating/recycling all scraps and secounds. Best of all, Bear Feet Shoes completely stands by their shoes - offering a lifetime craftsmanship guarantee.

My daughter has a pair of Bear Feet Tie Sandals in gold, and she loves them. In-fact, they are so comfortable that she asks to wear them everyday. In our part of the world it is still much too cold for sandals, but she throws ~~caution~~ fashion the wind and wears them every day with socks! The Tie Sandals are also a favorite because they are quick and easy to get on and off, are play friendly, and are very durable. I found the sizing to be a little big, but the tie design allows them to be easily adjustable by tying the laces tighter (and frugal moms like me can buy a little bigger and get extra wear). Isn't the color and design great too? They remind me of a shoe a little Greek princess would wear.

Another thing that really sets Bear Feet Shoes apart from other shoes is the fact that the soles are made from completely natural rubber. Unlike almost all the other flexible shoes on the market, Bear Feet Shoes doesn't use plastics or petroleum products in their soles. Their soft rubber soles are made using sustainable natural rubber that is tapped from the Hevea Tree, without harming the tree (like maple syrup). The Natural Rubber is not only eco-friendly, but it also is perfectly suited to children's footwear. I have found the soles of our Bear Feet Shoes to be very soft and flexible. In-fact, they have an almost gummy texture that that really grips the ground (allowing my little one to run and play on any surface without slipping).

Shop: Bear Feet Shoes can be purchased online from BearFeet.com. They make shoes for babies, toddlers, kids, and now women. The Tie Sandal reviewed above is available in 25 colors and retails for $39 US. As mentioned all Bear Feet Shoes come with a Lifetime Craftmanship Garantee.

The Giveaway: Bear Feet Shoes has generously offered to give one of my readers any pair of their new tie-on line (Tie Boot, Tie Sandal, Tie Flower Power Boot or Tie Flower Sandal,).

To Enter: Visit Bear Feet Shoes and have a look at all of their lovely hand-made shoes, then comment below with your favorite pair. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:

~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Follow the Bear Feet Shoe's Blog and comment
~Like Bear Feet Shoes on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Bear Feet Shoes on Twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win an pair of handmade shoes from Bear Feet Shoes http://bit.ly/dJ5yIO @mamareviews @bearfeetshoes #giveaway #win #shoes" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on March 10th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Open Worldwide!

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Spring Cleaning with Nature Clean {Review}

2011-02-16T15:39:00.000-08:00

Its that time of year again- spring cleaning time that is. The snow is melting, the days are getting longer, and I am getting those uncharacteristic urges to clean my entire house. Time to load up on natural cleaners. A brand that I have just started using is Nature Clean and I have been really happy with it. This Canadian business has a wonderful line of natural and non-toxic household cleaners that are safe, made with all-natural ingredients, and are gentle on the planet. They are by far the most natural cleaners I have tried, containing 99.5 - 99.9% natural ingredients. Keep reading to learn my thoughts on some of their most popular products.

Glass and Window Cleaner

Did you know that most window cleaners contain ammonia, which is super toxic and a suspected carcinogen? I didn't, but since learning I have switched to natural window cleaners and have never looked back. Nature Clean Glass & Window Cleaner is a great ammonia-free way to get your windows and mirrors beautifully clean. It contains Witch Hazel (a natural astringent and antiseptic) along with other plant based ingredients to get windows and glass clean and streak free. I have been really impressed with how well Nature Clean's Glass and Window Cleaner works. I have been using it to clean all my windows and mirrors, and it removes even the greasiest hand-prints and pet prints easily and quickly. I also love that this cleaner has no scent, making it perfect for those with scent sensitivities.

Air Freshener

Since making the switch to natural cleaners last year, the one thing I have been missing is a good air freshener. Well that was before I tried Nature Clean's Air Freshener. This natural air freshener works as good or better than chemical air fresheners, but its non-toxic and biodegradable. I tried the Lavender & Warm Vanilla scent and it smells delicious (like a lavender butter-cookie- yumm). I have been using it for bathroom odors, pet odors, and kitchen odors. It works great at eliminating any bad odor and it leaves my house smelling fresh. I love that it uses natural essential oils and doesn't leave any chemical residue in my home. It is also completely safe for use around children and pets.

Tub & Tile Cream Cleanser
If you are looking for a natural non-scratch cleanser for your tub and tile work, Nature Clean Tub and Tile Cleaner is good gentle chlorine free choice. I have been using it in my bathroom and it works great at removing grime and soap-scum without damaging our vintage tub or tiles. I didn't find it strong enough to remove mold, mildew, or set in stains, but I was still happy with the results. I value that Nature Clean Tub and Tile Cream Cleanser is gentle enough to use in my tub, where my daughters spend so much time. I also really like that it is scent free and doesn't leave residue on my tile.

Multi-Surface Cleaner & Degreaser
This is a great all-purpose cleaner that I have been using all over my house. I love that like the other cleaners reviewed above it has no smell and does not release irritating fumes. It is also ammonia free and is gentle enough to use around pets and kids. I have found the Nature Clean Multi-Surface Cleaner and Degreaser works especially great in the kitchen; getting counters, walls, and appliances clean and grease free.

As you can see I have been really impressed with how gentle, yet effective, Nature Clean products are. They are non-toxic, biodegradable, not tested on animals, and are proudly made in Canada. I really value that Nature Clean makes truly safe products and ensures that the ingredients used are NOT listed with the National Toxicology Program, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and American Conference of Government Industrial Hygenists (so they contain NO suspected carcinogens). Nature Clean products are definitely cleaners that I trust to use around my children and I completely recommend them. I also really like that they also offer an eco-refill option to further reduce the footprint of their cleaners.

Shop: Nature Clean Products can be found across Canada at Canadian Tire, Health Food Stores, London Drugs, Quality Foods, Toys R Us, and more. They can also be purchased online at NatureCleanLiving.com

Connect With Nature Clean: To learn more about safe and natural products for your home and family, Like Nature Clean on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Beco Baby Carrier WINNER

2011-02-15T21:18:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce the winner of the beco Butterfly 2 Baby Carrier. Congratulations to Jessica (comment # 536) you have won a lovely Lauren beco Butterfly Carrier. I hope this carrier brings you and your loved ones as much joy as I get from mine. I will e-mail you very soon.

Thanks to all the mamas who entered this giveaway and to beco for generously sponsoring.

Green Beaver Gluten Free {Review and Giveaway}

2011-02-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

Do you or someone in your family have gluten intolerance's? If so Green Beaver has just released a line of gluten free personal care products specially designed for those who do not tolerate gluten or who have Celiac Disease. This natural line is the first organic gluten free line and includes lip balm, shampoo/conditioner, body lotion, and body wash. Like all Green Beaver products their new Gluten Free line is natural, eco-friendly, and made in Canada.

Why Gluten Free? In recent years their has been an increased awareness of Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance. In fact it is estimated that 1 in 133 Canadians is affected by celiac disease ( an auto-immune disorder characterized by intolerance to gluten proteins found in grains including wheat). Gluten is often found in personal care products, which can cause problems when accidentally ingested (even in minute amounts). Some people with Celiac Disease also suffer from skin irritations when gluten is applied topically. Green Beaver's Gluten Free line is a great choice for anyone who avoids gluten; it works great and contains only pure and natural ingredients.

I was sent Green Beaver's Gluten Free Body Wash for review and have been really happy with it. This 100% natural wash works great in place of soap to gently and effectively clean you from head to toe. Besides being gluten free, this wash is also organic, biodegradable, vegan, and not tested on animals. It has a great citrus lavender scent that smells wonderful and is refreshing too. I also love how it cleans while moisturising and does not dry out my skin like many soaps. Even though I am not gluten intolerant, this is a great natural body wash that I will definitely be using for sometime.

Like all Green Beaver Products their new Gluten Free line is free from of all of the toxic ingredients so often found in personal care products. This line contains NO parabens, artificial fragrances or dyes, phthalates, SLS, sulfates phenoxyethanol or formaldehyde releaser preservatives (e.g. quaternium, hydantoin), or any other carcinogenic chemicals.

Shop: Green Beaver Gluten Free products can be purchased online from GreenBeaver.com and are available at health stores across Canada (prices range from 5.99 - 9.99 CAD).

The Giveaway: Green Beaver is generously giving one of my readers a gift pack including their entire Gluten Free Line (a $46 value).

To Enter: Please visit Green Beaver and have a look at all of their wonderful natural products. Then comment below with an item that you would like to try. (This first entry is mandatory and must be done before additional entries)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Follow Green Beaver on Twitter and comment

~Follow me on twitter tweet " Win Gluten Free products from Green Beaver http://bit.ly/edcvYQ @mamareviews @thegreenbeaver #giveaway #win #celiac" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Like Green Beaver on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Subscribe to Green Beaver's Newsletter and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends March, 6th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. This Giveaway is open to Canadian Residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

A Free Family Valentines

2011-02-14T09:25:00.000-08:00

I've always thought of Valentines Day as a day for couples, to be celebrated with Sweethearts. But something changed in me this year- some kind of switch went on and I realized its really a day to celebrate LOVE. Although I know it can be very commercialized (big business selling candy and made in China junk etc) it is also a wonderful opportunity to remember the people we truly love.

So this year, I have been celebrating in simple ways. Showing my girls that they are loved and special...best of all I didn't spend a cent!

First I made a LOVE banner to hang in our home and make it look festive. I just cut hearts out of a re-usable bag, cut simple letters out of felt and glued them on and sewed the hearts on some old ribbon I had lying around. I also made all three girls Valentine pillows (re-purposed from a velvet skirt that I never wore). Then last night I made some cheese biscuits for their lunches today- heart shaped and pink of course.
So far its been the best valentines ever! I was so happy seeing my girls completely filled with joy and feeling loved this morning. It reminded me that its the little things that build family traditions and great memories...and a silly holiday like valentines day is a perfect excuse.

PS. My husband and I are also celebrating tonight with a special date-night out.

Brooks Glycerin 8 {Eco-Friendly Running Shoes} Review

2011-02-11T09:37:00.000-08:00

I'm trying to get back into running and have been doing a lot of research into eco-friendly running shoes. A name that keeps coming up again and again is Brooks. This amazing company has become a leader in eco-friendly footwear- using the latest technology to design shoes that truly reduce our footprint. Their eco running and athletic shoes are also well loved in the running community for quality and performance, so I knew Brooks was a name I could trust to go green without sacrificing the run.

Brooks has been working hard to create a green and ethical company. In efforts to create an eco-friendly running shoe, Brooks has designed the very first biodegradable mid-sole. By adding a natural additive to the sole Brooks shoes biodegrade within 20 years (vs 1000 years that it takes a traditional running shoe sole). This small and innovative change allows Brooks to save 29.9 million pounds of landfill waste over 20 years- wow! Brooks is planet friendly in many other ways too, including; designing eco-friendly natural out-soles, practicing green manufacturing processes, using boxes made from 100% recycled materials, and having all around green business practices. For more information about ways in which Brooks is going green check out their super informative Green Room.

I was sent a pair of lovely Glycerin 8 running shoes, and they are fabulous. These neutral running shoes are lightweight, breathable, and are supportive yet flexible. Comfort is number one with me, so I am also impressed with how cushy and comfy the Glycerin 8 feel. They are multi-functional too, and I have found they work great for trail running, jogging, going to the gym, or power walks with my dog. Best of all, the Brooks Glycerin are earth friendly and contain the above-mentioned BioMoGo biodegradable sole and laces made from 100% recycled materials. Did I also mention these shoes are really pretty. The Glycerin 8's I tried are a nice shade of lavender and silver and feature Maori tribal design accents that I love.

My new Brooks Glycerin 8 shoes have definitely been helping me to get moving and reach my fitness goals. They are much lighter and have more bounce than my old runners, which really helps with my motivation. The Brooks Glycerin 8 also contain Brooks DNA - which is a custom cushioning system that allows the soles to adapt to your unique needs as a runner. I have found the DNA really gives them a lot of cushioning, which is great for someone like me who suffers knee pain while running. Right from the start my Glycerin 8's have felt great and so far I have been free from any knee or joint pain. I completely recommend the Brooks Glycerin 8 Shoes for anyone searching for an earth friendly shoe that also performs wonderfully.

Brooks Glycerin 8 at a glance:
-Neutral Shoe
- Brooks DNA customized cushioning
- BioMoGo biodegradable mid-sole
- Runner's World "Editor's Choice"
- Men's and Women's
- Weight: 10.3 oz.
- Moisture-managing Element Linings/Mesh

Shop: Brooks Glycerin 8 are available across the globe anywhere quality athletic shoes are sold. In Canada they can be found at these retailers. The Brooks Glycerin 8 retails for approx $130.

Connect with Brooks: To learn more about their great eco-friendly athlectic shoes "like" Brooks Sports on facebook and follow them on twitter.

Maman Bidule Jacket Winner

2011-02-10T23:04:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Annie 1 (comment 129) you have won a lovely hand-made jacket from Maman Bidule. Her clothing is so beautiful and unique - you will love it! I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Maman Bidule for sponsoring this giveaway.

Kristin Noel Jewelry Winner

2011-02-08T21:17:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Lisa (comment 368) you have won a lovely pair of handmade pearl earrings from Kristin Noel Designs. I will be in touch soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Kristin Noel Designs for sponsoring this giveaway.

Green Valentine - All About Feet by Upper Canada Soap {Review and Giveaway}

2011-02-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for a fabulously pampering Valentines gift, that is good for you and the planet- look no further. Upper Canada Soap offers an extensive line of skincare and beauty products, completely crush worthy. I especially love their All About Feet natural treats for your feet. This ultra pampering line of foot-care products uses the power of peppermint oil and moisturizing natural butters, to sooth and nurture overworked feet.

All About Feet products are made in Canada and are designed to pamper tired over-worked feet. We spend most of the day on our feet, but somehow our tootsies seem to be our most ignored body part. So ignore no more, and check out All About Feet from Upper Canada Soap. They have developed an extensive line of foot care products including massage butters and bars, foot soaks, foot sprays, and foot scrubs just to name a few. I think the Foot Massage Butter would make an especially wonderful gift for any man or women on your list this Valentines Day- nothing says love like a good foot rub. I also love that All About Feet products are safe and don't contain any harsh chemicals, parabens, synthetic dyes, mineral oils, SLS and Phthalates.

I tried the Peppermint Massaging Foot Butter- and oh my goodness it is wonderful. It is so rich and thick: like minty whipped butter. It contains natural Mango, Cocoa and Shea Butters, blended into a creamy moisturizing butter that is perfect for soothing and nourishing dry feet. The Massaging Foot Butter works wonderfully as a daily moisturizing lotion or for massages- either way it will make your feet feel soft, smooth, and loved. I am also crazy about the peppermint scent, which is simultaneously soothing and invigorating, like a cup of mint tea for tired and sore feet.

Shop: Upper Canada Products can be found in stores across Canada or purchased online here. The Fabulous Peppermint Massaging Foot Butter retails for $13.99 CAD.

The Giveaway: Upper Canada Soap has generously offered to give one of my readers their Hands & Feet Sampler Set ( pictured above- containing luxurious lotion for your hands and feet).

To Enter: Please visit Upper Canada Soap and comment below telling me which one of their amazing products you would like to give or receive this Valentines Day. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:

~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)

~Like Upper Canada Soap on facebook and comment

~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment

~Follow Upper Canada Soap on twitter and comment

~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a Hands and Feet Gift Set from Upper Canada Soap http://bit.ly/enN33E @mamareviews @uppercanadasoap #giveaway " (daily tweet) leave a link

~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on February 28th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Soopsori Wooden Toys Review

2011-02-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

I love natural wooden toys, and Soopsori toys are some of the most beautiful wooden toys I have seen. Soopsori has created a fun and imaginative line of eco-friendly wooden toys that capture the natural beauty of wood. They use 20 different varieties of wood to create wooden toys that are truly pieces of art. Soopsori toys are also designed with fun and imaginative play in mind; they offer a wide variety of wooden treasures including animal playgrounds, cooking sets, blocks, and musical instruments just to name a few.

Soopsori is a Korean word meaning 'Sounds of the Forest', which reflects the companies dedication to creating eco-friendly toys that celebrate nature. Their toys are made of natural wood (you wont find wood glued with paper or plastic like many "wooden" sets on the market). Each toy is thoughtfully designed with perfectly shaped and sanded wood, artfully inlaid to create a truly wooden toy. They are then finished with natural linseed oil, no plants or dyes. Soopsori believes that the natural grain of the wood is beautiful and I cant agree more. I also love how safe they are; completely non-toxic and free of sharp edges or metal bits.

We were sent a lovely Soopsori Birthday Cake Set for Review and both my girls and myself completely love it. I was immediately impressed with the beautiful craftsmanship, high quality and attention to detail of the Soopsori Birthday set. It features inlaid internal magnets (under the wood) that keep the pieces of cake together and the candles upright. Its made from a variety of different types of naturally beautiful wood that are pressed together to form smooth pieces. It would make the perfect addition to any Waldorf inspired kitchen, and is also so much fun on its own.

Most importantly, my kids are crazy about Soopsori Toys too. My youngest daughter, who loves food play, is especially taken with the wooden Birthday Cake Set. From the moment it arrived she has spent hours having fun imaginative play- giving birthday parties to everyone in the family and all of her dolls and softies. I love that she is learning about the joy of celebrations and nurturing others through her pretend play birthday parties- they are so sweet.

Shop: Soopsori has a wonderful selection of natural wooden toys which can be purchased here from Soopsori.com. The Birthday Cake Set reviewed above comes with 6 pieces of cake, 6 candles, 3 plates, 2 forks and a knife, and a wooden storage box. The set retails for $88.

Learn More/ Connect: To learn more about Soopsori or to be the first to hear about new promotions and sales, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Green Works Winner!

2011-02-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the winner of the Green Works Giveaway - 3 Lilacs (comment #55). You will love these natural cleaners. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered this giveaway and to Green Works for the review and giveaway opportunity.

Tomat Kids ~ Organic Clothing {Review and Giveaway}

2011-02-02T12:32:00.000-08:00

I love discovering unique eco-friendly clothing for my kids, and I am crazy about Tomat Kids. This hip clothing line features organic baby and toddler clothing that is oh so stylish and eco-friendly too. Their thoughtfully designed baby and toddler clothes capture the fun and individuality of childhood, with bright colors and funky graphics.

Tomat clothing is eco-friendly, ethical, and gentle for your little ones. Their clothing is made with certified organic cotton and they use low-impact dyes and silkscreen inks that are water based. Tomat Kids clothing is sweatshop free and handmade in California. The company is also committed to business practices that are environmentally friendly and safe.

My daughter was sent the retro inspired Cassette Tank for review, and it is completely funky and fun. The tank looks so cute on her and I love the original graphics, which feature a cassette and a cascade of green dogwood flowers. This long ribbed tank is made from organic cotton and is very comfortable and soft. It is beautifully made, generously sized, and it washes up nicely. I cant wait for the warm weather so she can start wearing it out.

Tomat is a name that comes from the founders roots in Indonesia. It is the Indonesian word for tomato - fresh and healthy like this fabulous clothing. The founder is a graphic designer and mom, who was inspired after the birth of her daughter to create organic natural clothing with flair. She takes inspiration from the bright colors and unique designs to create a truly original and beautiful clothing for infants and toddlers.

Shop: A great selection of clothing for babies and toddlers can be purchased online at tomatkids.com or at these retailers. The organic Cassette Tank reviewed above retails for just $24 US.

The Giveaway: Tomat Kids has generously offered to give one of my readers a Cassette Organic Baby Onesie (winners choice of infants size 3, 6, or 12mo).

To Enter: Please visit Tomat Kids and then comment below with your favorite item.(this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Tomat Kids on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow Tomat Kids on Twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win an Organic Onesie from Tomat Kids http://bit.ly/gIEAgz @mamareviews @tomatkids #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on February 22nd at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Bugalug Cinch Belt Winner

2011-02-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Dianne (comment 62) you have won a cool cinch belt from Bugalug. I will email you soon.

Thanks to Bugalug for sponsoring this giveaway and to everyone who entered.

**Also thanks so much for your well wishes. I'm a little better today, so hopefully on the mend.

Sick Days

2011-01-30T13:26:00.000-08:00

Its official I am completely sick with the flu. I will be back in a couple of days with more reviews and giveaways- as soon as I'm well enough.
Thanks!

Masala Muslin Blanket Winner

2011-01-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Elly (comment #349) you have won a lovely muslin swaddle blanket from Masala Baby. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Masala Baby for sponsoring this giveaway.

beco Butterfly 2 {Baby Carrier} Review and Giveaway - CLOSED

2011-01-26T11:50:00.000-08:00

My friends and family all know that my most loved carrier is my beco Butterfly. I bought one when my youngest was a wee baby, and pretty much lived in it for her first two years. I did a lot of research into the best carrier for my needs and beco was a clear choice. It has honestly been my most essential piece of baby gear- ideal for traveling, fussy babies, house cleaning, walking and hiking, and shopping. Since I am obviously a huge fan of beco, I was over-the-moon when they offered to send me an organic beco Butterfly 2 for review.

As much as I loved my old beco, I am loving the beco Butterfly 2 even more. The beco Butterfly 2 is made with luxuriously soft organic cotton, comes in a variety of beautiful prints, and is amazingly well designed. It features a soft inside panel that keeps your baby or toddler secure and attached within the carrier. This makes it easy to adjust the carrier for comfort, switch between front and back carry, or pass your baby off to your partner without removing them from the carrier. I am also really loving the new features of the beco Butterfly 2 such as a removable baby insert, improved headrest, and the easier to adjust straps.

The beco Butterfly 2 is also versatile and easy to use. Once all the straps are adjusted it only takes moments to get your baby in and it works equally wonderful for small babies and toddlers. The infant insert allows smaller babies to sit high in the carrier, while being held safely close to mama. Then once baby is a few months old, the insert can be removed and the carrier can be used for older babies and toddlers (up to 45lbs). My toddler still loves her beco- and I love that it can easily be folded into my purse and used when her little legs get tired. Beco has a great collection of detailed videos to answer just about any beco wearing question you could have.

The beco Butterfly 2 is ergonomically designed for health and comfort. The beco has a padded waist belt for lumbar support, ergonomically curved cushioned shoulder straps, and is designed to allow babies weight to be perfectly distributed (mostly on the hips). It is honestly the most comfortably carrier I have worn; both for me and my daughter. Even though I have chronic back pain, I can comfortably wear my 30lb toddler in the beco Butterfly 2 for hours.

Another thing that really sets beco's apart from other carriers is how pretty and stylish they are. They have prints to suit just about every taste and are always coming up with new designs. I tried the gorgeous Lauren print and I completely love it. The back panel print looks like a unique and beautiful painting; in shades of orange and turquoise. The colors are so rich and match beautifully with the soft brushed espresso brown straps. I get so many compliments on this carrier and I really enjoy wearing my daughter in something so beautiful.

My beco Butterfly 2 also came with beco's new drooling pads. Although my little one is too old for these now- they are a complete must have for younger babies. In my experience teething babies love to suck on their beco straps- they are easy to reach and feel great on ouchy gums. The new ultra soft organic terry drool pads velcro onto your beco Carrier straps and provides an easily washable and soothing place for baby to suck and teeth.

beco Butterfly 2 at a glance:

•Newborn to toddler (7-45 lbs/3.5 - 20 kg)

•Removable head rest

•Removable infant insert

•Front and back carry

•Easy On and OFF features

•High quality tested materials

•Machine washable

•100% Organic Cotton Shell

•Carrier Weight: 1.8 lbs

•Removable infant insert

• Recycled Packaging (with soy inks)

I am completely passionate about baby-wearing and have been an baby-wearing mama for years. For me it is an essential part of parenting. It allows me to be close and loving to baby while being hands free. It feels so natural and has many benefits for both mother and baby. If you are new to baby wearing or are just looking for a truly wonderful carrier I wholeheartedly recommend a beco.

Shop: The beco Butterfly 2 as well as other great carriers and accessories can be purchase online though becobabycarrier.com and at these fabulous retailers. The Butterfly 2 reviewed above comes with a Head Rest/ Sun Hood, an Infant Insert, DVD Instructions, and an Owners Manual. It retails for $140 US.

The Giveaway: Beco has generously offered to give one of my readers an organic ~~beco Butterfly 2~~ ~~Lauren, just like the one I tried (yippee).~~

To Enter: Please Like ~~beco on Facebook~~ ~~and let me know in a comment below. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)~~

~~Additional Entries:~~
~~~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)~~
~~~Subscribe to beco's e-mails at the (bottom right) and comment~~
~~~Like~~ ~~Natural Mama Reviews on facebook~~ ~~and comment~~
~~~Follow~~ ~~beco~~ ~~on Twitter and comment~~
~~~Follow~~ me ~~on Twitter and tweet " Win a beco Baby Carrier~~ ~~http://bit.ly/hV1t2K~~ ~~@mamareviews @becobaby #giveaway #win #babywearing" (daily tweet) leave a link~~
~~~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment~~
~~~Grab my blog button on the left and comment~~
~~~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link~~
~~~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment~~

This Giveaway ends on February 15th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

My Mama's Love Winner

2011-01-26T10:06:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Janelle (comment 189) you have won the My Mama's Love giveaway. I am crazy about these products, hope you like them too. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to My Mama's Love for sponsoring this giveaway.

Burt's Bees Winner

2011-01-22T21:50:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Trish (comment 509) you have won a fabulous gift pack of Burt's Bees Goodies. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and Burt's Bees for sponsoring this giveaway.

Maman Bidule {Review and Giveaway}

2011-01-22T18:18:00.000-08:00

I am so please to introduce you to Maman Bidule - an amazingly creative, eco-friendly, and fun source for kids clothing and accessories. Maman Bidule uses clean recycled materials to make her beautiful and wearable couture clothes for little ones. Maman Bidule is Canadian and sells her unique creations on facebook and Etsy, as well as local (Vancouver Island) venues. Maman Bidule's prices are great, her attention to detail is amazing, and each piece is truly one of a kind.

Maman Bidule sent me a completely adorable and oh so stylish striped tunic for review. The hip and pretty tunic dress features a cozy cowl neck design and a large ruffle pocket. It also has the sweetest details such as an adorable applique black bird and a lace and button bib design. I love how completely unique this dress is- just like my little one.

The Striped Tunic Dress by Maman Bidule not only looks fabulous, but it is also completely comfortable and play friendly. The striped fabric has some stretch to make it easy to move around in, and the cowl neck is warm and cozy. My daughter especially loves the big pocket that she happly fills with her nature finds (rocks and pine cones mostly). The design is great too; I love Tunic dresses because they grow with your child- evolving from a dress to a long top as your little one grows. My daughter has been wearing this dress all winter with a long tee and leggings, but it will be adorable on its own in the summer.

Maman Bidule is the creative venture of Valerie, an incredibly talented designer and mom. Her facebook page is great and I am always looking forward to pictures of her latest fun eco-fashions. She is amazing to work with too, and just about the sweetest person. I complete recommend checking out her facebook page if you are looking for clothing guaranteed to be one of a kind and fabulous!

Maman Bidule has just started offering all natural play dough and it looks wonderful. This non-toxic and gluten free play dough is hand-made and available on her facebook page. It comes is yummy scents too: lavender, chocolate, orange and peppermint. Maman Bidule even makes the colors herself and each order comes in an eco-friendly glass vase.

Shop: Maman Bidule items can be purchased on her Facebook Page, which is such a fun way to shop. She posts pictures, and if you see something you like you just comment and she will get back to you. You can also comment on her wall, send her a message through her contact tab, or purhase items listed on her Shop Tab. Maman Bidule is constantly adding new items to her page and she takes custom orders!

The Giveaway: Maman Bidule has offered to give one of my readers one of her lovely eco-couture creations: a fleece jacket (size 3/4). It features a blackbird applique on the back and the collar can be worn up or folded down. Wouldn't it be perfect for spring!

To Enter: Please Like Maman Bidule on facebook and comment below with your facebook name. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Become a follower of Maman Bidule's Blog and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a Unique Eco-friendly Girls Jacket from Maman Bidule http://bit.ly/gKm550 @mamareviews #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on February 10th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Kristin Noel Handmade Jewelry Designs {Review and Giveaway}

2011-01-20T06:58:00.000-08:00

If you love shopping for jewelry on Esty as much as me, you have to have a look at one of my new favorite shops. Kristin Noel Designs is a fabulous shop full of stylish and unique pieces hand-made in her home workshop. She uses recycled/reclaimed metals and high quality gemstones to create jewelry that is both beautiful and eco-friendly.

Kristin Noel Designs sent me lovely pair of hand hammered shell pearl earrings in green for review. These original designs are lemon shaped and feature an opaque pearl shaped shell bead. I think they are really classic and romantic, while also being hip and unique. They are so versatile too and look great for day-wear or a date-night out. I have been wearing mine since they arrived, and have been getting lots of compliments on them.

Kristin Noel's Hand Hammered Gold Filled Green Pearl Earrings are quality made and well designed. The gold wire is bent to a unique shape that holds the pearl afloat and gives the illusion of a hoop when worn. I love this design and have found the shape to be much more comfortable and easy to put in than a hoop. I tried the small size, but the Shell pearl earrings come in a variety of colors and sizes, I especially love the copper. Wouldn't they be so perfect for a bridal party? (especially with all of the color choices).

Shop: Buy the lovely pearl earrings above and an ever growing selection of quality hand-made jewelry online at Kristin Noel Designs on Etsy. Want a different color or size? Kristin Noel does custom work too, just convo her on Esty.

The Giveaway: Kristin Noel Designs has generously offered to give one of my readers a pair of Hand Hammered Gold Filled Pearl Earrings, just like the ones reviewed above.

To Enter: Please visit Kristin Noel Designs on Etsy and comment below with your favorite item. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:

~Add Kristin Noel Designs as a favorite on Etsy and comment below with your Etsy name

~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a pair of Pearl Shell Gold Earrings from Kristin Noel Designs http://bit.ly/i1RBqO @mamareviews #giveaway #etsy" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on February 8th at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Upper Canada Soap Winner

2011-01-19T22:35:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to the winner of the Upper Canada Eva and Ella Gift Pack: missbobloblaw (comment #564). You will love this stuff! I will be in touch soon.

Thanks to Upper Canada Soap for sponsoring this giveaway and to everyone who entered.

Tassimo T45 Home Brewing System Review

2011-01-17T10:57:00.000-08:00

As a busy mom who loves her coffee, I have been really enjoying my Tassimo T45 Home Brewing System. This single cup coffee maker uses the latest bar-code technology to produce a perfectly delicious cup of coffee (or tea) every time. The Tassimo System reads each disk individually and adjusts temperature, water volume, and brew time to product a perfect cup of coffee, tea, latte or cappuccino.

What I loved:
I found the Tassimo T45 Home Brewing System to be fast, easy, and convenient. It took me a bit of manual reading to get the Tassimo started, but after the first cup I felt like a Tassimo-pro. I love that even my blurry-eyed morning self can make a perfect cup in seconds (no measuring, pouring, or rinsing involved). The Tassimo consists of a tank in the back that is filled every couple of days, so all you need to do is pop in a disk and push a button to get a great cup of coffee or tea.

Our water quality isn't great, so I also love that the Tassimo T45 has an advanced Mavea® MAXTRA water filtration system on the back. The beverages that I make with my Tassimo feature clean filtered water, which makes for a healthier and tastier drink.

I tried two Tassimo beverages: NABOB Espresso and STARBUCKS House Blend. The NABOB Espresso was my favorite- it consisted of a T disk of dark rich espresso and a T disk of concentrated milk. It was really delicious and for me comparable to a coffee house cappuccino. Its also really easy to make, simply load in the disks one at a time and push a button. The STARBUCKS House Blend was also great, and tasted similar to home brewed Starbucks that we often make.

What I didn't love:

As someone who tries to be green and reduce my footprint on the earth, I did not like that the Tassimo is not very eco-friendly. Although the outer plastic and cardboard inner dispenser portions of the cartridges are recyclable, it is a complete pain to separate these parts. You need to pry off the cover, peal away every scrap of foil, and rinse out the grounds. It took me 5 minutes per cartridge (cup) which, as a busy mom, just isn't going to happen. So into the trash they go. Between me and my husband we drink 6 cups a day which means a lot more trash.

The other thing that makes me think twice about the Tassimo, is that the disks are pricey. I'm a frugal shopper, and if I used Tassimo for my morning coffee it would cost me considerably more than buying a bag of coffee. The Starbucks T-disks retail for 10.99 CAD for a 12 pack, while if I use my standard coffee pot I can make at least 12 pots for the same price. For me the price isn't worth the convenience. For the Latte and other specialty coffees however, the Tassimo is quiet economical. A trip to my favorite coffee shop would set me back at least $5 for a latte- while I can make my own for less than $1 (7.49 for 8 small Nabob cappuccino).

More features of the Tassimo T45 Home Brewing System:
•Available in Glamour Red and Silk Silver
•Removable 1.8 litre water tank
•Innovative lift cup stand
•Noise reduction system
•Immediately ready to brew drinks
•No taste transfer between drinks
•Low energy consumption
•Fully automatic one-button operation
•Automatic cleaning and descaling program

Where to buy: The Tassimo T45 Home Brewing System can be purchased at these select retailers. Tassimo beverages can be purchased online through Tassimo.ca and at these retailers.

Lavena Naturals Winner

2011-01-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

Congratulations jdjmcc comment #130 you have won the Lavena Naturals Giveaway. I hope you enjoy Lavena Naturals as much as I do, their clothing is so nice. I will e-mail you soon.

Thanks to everyone who entered and to Levana Naturals for this great giveaway.

Dyson Groom Review

2011-01-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

My favorite household appliance (hand down) is my Dyson (DC 25 Animal) Vacuum, so when I heard that Dyson had come out with a dog grooming tool I knew I had to try one. We have two dogs at home, which can mean lots of dog hair and dander (yuck). The Dyson Groom is a grooming attachment that fits on the end of your Dyson Vacuum and sucks aways loose hair and dander before it gets shed all over your home. Its a great mess free solution to dog grooming and is especially great for families with allergies.

The Dyson Groom removes loose hair and dander mess free and easily. It took me about two minutes to get acquainted with the Groom and start using it. It features slicker style bristles (which are the best at removing loose hair) and is designed for medium to long haired dogs. As mentioned, the Dyson Groom is also completely mess free. It has a self cleaning cover that allows you to have a clean brush by simply releasing the groom button. Check out the great video's on the Dyson site to see the Dyson Groom in action.

We have been using our Dyson Groom often on both of our dogs and have found it be easy and effective. Although my dogs were nervous of the vacuum sound and feel at first, after a bit of practice they are starting to enjoy it. The brush works especially great for sucking away their loose winter undercoats, which end up all over our house and clothes. When I brush them with a traditional brush, I always notice a lot of hair flying into the air and around the house. The Dyson Groom has powerful suction, so all of the pet hair and dander is sucked away and trapped in the Dyson's canister.

Another thing I really like about the Dyson Groom is that is sucks dust and dirt out my dogs coats as it grooms. My big fluffy dog (Lucy) loves to roll in the garden beds and then come in the house and deposit dust everywhere. I can often find a layer of fine dust on and next to her bed. The Dyson Groom sucks away all that dust, making our home noticeably less dusty and dirty.

I completely recommend the Dyson Groom for anyone who wants to reduce the amount of dog hair and dander around their home. Although the price is considerably more than the brushes we usually purchase, if you are really bothered by dog hair or have allergies, the extra cost is definitely worth it. I also really love how mess free the Dyson Groom is and how much of a time saver it is.

Buy It: The Dyson Groom comes with a 1 year warranty and can be bought from DysonCanada.ca for 83.99 CAD.

Green Works Giveaway

2011-01-14T09:34:00.000-08:00

I have reviewed several Green Works Natural Cleaning Products, and they always work wonderfully while being safe to use in my home. Now many Green Works products have earned the National Products Association (NPA) certification, which recognizes them for their using natural, safe, responsible, and sustainable ingredients. To celebrate this achievement, Green Works Canada has offered to give one of my readers two of their most popular products: Green Works Naturally Derived All Purpose Cleaner and Green Works Naturally Derived Dishwashing Liquid.

I use several Green Works products regularly in my home. They are easy to find, reasonably priced, and I love that they are made with plant based biodegradable ingredients (derived from corn, coconut, and other renewable resources). Two of my favorite (previously reviewed) Green Works Products are their Green Works Naturally Derived All Purpose Cleaner and Green Works Naturally Derived Dishwashing Liquid. Now both of these products have been certified by NPA; which means they contain at least 95% natural ingredients and they only contain ingredients that are safe, responsible, and sustainable.

Naturally Derived Dishwashing Liquid: New-improved Green Works Naturally Derived Dishwashing Liquid works great. Its dermatologist-tested and is really gentle on my hands (which are sensitive). It smells so fresh and cleans my dishes beautifully without leaving any nasty chemicals behind. I'm really impressed at how well its cuts grease and washes away even the toughest grime. I also love that it is dermatologically tested and cruelty free.

Green Works Naturally Derived All-Purpose Cleaner: With all the cleaning I do as a mom, using an all-purpose cleaner is a huge time saver. I have mostly been using this cleaner for my bathroom and kitchen, but it also works great for cleaning the highchair, floors, and walls. I also used it recently to do a thorough cleaning of my oven and range and I was happily surprised how well it took off burnt on grime and grease. Green Works All-Purpose Cleaner is so convenient and has amazing cleaning power without harsh chemicals.

Buy: Green Works cleaning products can be found in most drug, grocery, and departments stores across the US and Canada. For a store locator and online directory check out the Where to buy page.

The Giveaway: To Celebrate their new NPA certification Green Works is generously giving one of you a bottle of Naturally Derived Dishwashing Liquid and a bottle of All-Purpose Cleaner.

To Enter: Please visit Green Works and then comment below with something else that you like to try. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Green Works on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Follow GreenWorks on Twitter an comment
~Follow Natural Mama on Twitter and tweet " Win Green Works Natural Cleaners http://bit.ly/h0tz3d @mamareviews @greenworks #giveaway #win " (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link
~Enter another giveaway on my Blog and comment

This Giveaway ends on February 2nd at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.

Bugalug Acesssories Review and Giveaway

2011-01-12T08:21:00.000-08:00

I used to buy all of my hair accessories at the dollar store (cute things for a $1- yes please). But as my awareness of toxins and the dangers of 'made in China' has grown, I have become much more selective about what I buy for my girls. In my search for Canadian made non-toxic hair accessories I came across Bugalug. This fabulous Canadian business offers the most darling hand-made accessories for little girls and boys. Everything is quality made and they are always coming up with new and innovative products. Best of all, unlike most hair accessories you will find on store shelves, Bugalug accessories are non-toxic and lead free.

Bugalug sent me a set of adorable and well designed Pretty In Pink Widestripe non-slip clips. These sweet ribbon covered, (clip style) barrettes are so sparkly and cute. They feature silicon gel non-slip grip on the inside of the barrette, allowing them to stay put all day. My daughter has fine hair, and I was really impressed that the clips didn't move an inch. They are also really comfortable and are one of the only barrettes that my daughter will actually leave in her hair.

We also had the chance to try the Oh So Cute! Pony Loops (3 Pack), and we completely love them too. These fun hair accessories feature an ouchless elastic topped with a unique button. I love putting pony-tails and pig-tails in my little ones hair and these Pony Loops work great. They are easy to use, comfortable, and completely adorable. Like all Bugalug products, they are hand-made beautifully and no two buttons are the same.

Bugalug has grown leaps and bounds since its humble beginnings in craft fairs in Alberta, but their dedication to quality and safety remains the same. As mentioned each item is non-toxic and hand-made by Canadian Parents and Grandparents in their homes. Although I reviewed their hair accessories, Bugalug also has a fun selection of other unique accessories and necessities for little ones including; wrist cuffs, cinch belts, soother savers, and cinch clips.

Shop: Bugalug has a fabulous collection of hip and unique accessories for boys and girls. Their selection is huge, with nearly 100 styles of ribbon barrettes alone. The non-slip clips reviewed above retail for $4 for a 2 pack and the Pony Loops are $10 for a three pack. Both can be found online at BugalugBaby.com. Become a VIP and save 15% on all purchases, learn how here.

The Giveaway: Bugalug has generously offered to give away one of their new revers able Caution Cinch Belts (these are so clever).

To Enter: Please visit Bugalug and comment below with your favorite item. (this first entry is mandatory and must be completed before addition entries will count)

Additional Entries:
~Follow my blog (two entries, leave two comments)
~Like Bugalug on facebook and comment
~Like Natural Mama Reviews on facebook and comment
~Subscribe to Bugalug's newsletter and comment
~Follow Bugalug on Twitter and comment
~Follow me on Twitter and tweet " Win a Kids Cinch Belt from @bugalug http://bit.ly/idQchs @mamareviews #giveaway #win" (daily tweet) leave a link
~Subscribe to my blog on left and comment
~Grab my blog button on the left and comment
~Blog about this giveaway and comment with a link

This Giveaway ends on January 31st at 9pm. Winner will be chosen using Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to my e-mail before a new name is drawn. One entry (plus mentioned additional entries) per household. US and Canadian residents only.

The opinions expressed in the above review are my honest experiences, and thoughts. I did not receive any money for writing this review.