By Jemma, on August 2011
This is the final installment of my long weekend bbq posts. You can find the first 2 here and here.
Just to recap, the products I’ve featured on the previous posts are the WONDER+ SimplyFree buns. SimplyFree is the first Canadian National Brand of bakery products FREE of artificial preservatives, flavours and colours; it is also free of high fructose corn syrup and made with unbleached wheat flour. Don’t forget to check out all the recipes and bbq tips found through the Canadian Living website.
The summer is passing by so quickly. We have been taking advantage of it as much as we can. Swimming at the patio, bbqs in the beach, picnics at the park and playground.
For BC Day long weekend, we spent the day at the beach (Cultus Lake) with friends. It was the perfect day; the sun was out, but there was a cool breeze. And of course, there were lots of food. The kids were either in the water or playing at the playground, which meant I was either in the water or the playground with A.
One more long weekend before school starts for A. I wonder what we’ll do then?
Disclosure – I am participating in the Wonder+ SimplyFree program by Mom Central Canada on behalf of Weston Bakeries. I received a gift card and free product coupons as a thank you for my participation. The opinions on this blog are my own.
By Jemma, on August 2011
In less than 2 months, the 4th season on BlogMania goes live. I am happy to say that I am participating once again. My 1st theme for this season is “Tu-Tu Cute”.
I am planning the giveaway prize pack around products suitable for girls between the ages of 0-4. I am currently looking for sponsors to work with me for this event. If this description fits your business/product/service, feel free to send me a message, info [at] themommydiariesblog [dot] com.
If it does not fit the description above, feel free to email me as well. I can always build another prize pack based on another theme. The more the merrier!
By Jemma, on August 2011
Based in Southern California, Educational Insights, is the manufacturer of playful products with serious educational value, including subject-specific classroom products, teacher resources, educational toys, and games. Their products are designed by seasoned educators and parents who know that, first and foremost, learning must be fun.
The first product we got to test is the Hot Dots® Jr. Getting Ready for School Set. This is, for now, my daughter’s favorite educational toy. With her possibly starting preschool in the Fall, it helps reinforce what she learns through play.
The set features Ace – the Talking, Teaching Dog™ – an interactive stylus that uses fun sound effects, encouraging phrases, and blinking lights to guide children through 160 different activities, and 80 double sided activity sheets.
What I like about Ace is that it gives immediate feedback when used properly. Correct answers would make his eyes flash green, and he’d say phrases like “Terrific!”, “Woof! Way to go!”. Incorrect answers would make his eyes flash red, and he’d say phrases like “That’s not right”, “Sorry!” It did take awhile to teach my daughter how to use him. She was initially holding Ace like a pen (on an angle), instead of pressing down like a stylus. I also had to teach her that she needs to press on the black dots on the activity sheets or she will always have the incorrect answer.
The Hot Dots® Jr. Getting Ready for School Set has helped her learn her alphabet, colors, shapes, patterns and numbers. The activity sheets are packed in groups, so that depending on your child’s ability, you can keep the one’s that are beyond their knowledge packed safely away. It has made learning fun for her.
Continue reading Hot Dots® Jr. Getting Ready for School Set #Review & #Giveaway (Canada/US)
By Jemma, on August 2011
August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week.
I have been fortunate enough that I was able to breastfeed my 2 daughters. I know some people had difficulties or didn’t have enough supply to exclusively bf.
My first child was breastfed until she was 2. My 3-month old is still exclusively breastfeeding. There are so many advantages to breastfeeding. The biggest advantage is the bond that it created between us. There are also disadvantages. Breastfeeding meant that unless I pumped supply, my daughters would constantly be with me everywhere I went so they can feed. I’ve fed them almost everywhere:
- our house
- family’s house
- friend’s house
- mall
- parking lot (in the car)
- park bench
- airplane
- restaurant
Those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head.
The one and only place I absolutely refuse to breastfeed them is the mother’s room in the mall washroom. Breastfeeding is supposed to be a relaxing event for both baby and mom. There is no way we will be relaxed enough with the constant flushing and the smell in the washrooms.
I have read stories of moms who were harassed because they breastfeed in public. Some places have laws to protect the moms. It’s a shame that they needed to make these laws in the first place. Fortunately, I have not been subject to any harassment when I nurse in public. When did it become taboo that some people think nursing moms need to be moved to a more private corner to feed her baby? Why do some people think it’s gross?
It’s not like we’re exposing ourselves. There are nursing covers that shield both mom and child. Or you can always look away.
Do you have any breastfeeding stories, good/bad? Where have you breastfed?
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World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August in more than 170 countries to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world. It commemorates the Innocenti Declaration made by WHO and UNICEF policy-makers in August 1990 to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is the best way to provide newborns with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.
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