Preparing Our Home For Baby 4 - Freddy’s Nursery Reveal

Baby 4 is on the way any day now (Edited to note that baby Freddy arrived on Thursday evening, just 5 hours after these photos were taken), and surprisingly this is the first time I’ve actually prepared an official nursery. I guess you could say that I want to soak up all I can with this last baby of ours.

For our little guys room I set out to create a clean and simple space with a calming colour palate and a little farmhouse feel. After weeks of working on it I’m so excited to finally show you the finished room…and in reality it’s not 100% done. I still need something beautiful and safe to accent the wall above the crib eg. won’t kill a baby if it falls on them ;) Please let me know if you have any ideas!

When I started this nursery I knew one of my main priorities was a comfortable place to sit, rock, nurse, and cuddle our babe. For our last 3 kids I have had less than ideal chairs, so getting a custom chair from Off Your Rocker was basically my dream come true. I love that this rocker was made locally in Belleville Ontario and can be totally customized to suit your preference for style, wood stain, and fabric, all at a reasonable price. I decided on the Jamestown Wingback in Battleship Grey Twill with Walnut stain and couldn’t be happier with my choice. Not only is it beautiful, it’s so comfortable! A perfect place to spend a few thousand hours over the early years of this baby’s life ;) If you’re in the market for a chair check out Off Your Rocker, and make sure when you place your order to choose "Store Pickup" & Mention With Care to Receive FREE SHIPPING to the GTA!

I wanted the nursery to have a little bit of a rustic feel so my husband and I did DIY shiplap on one accent wall and painted it white to match the rest of the room. It’s subtle, but I love the way it looks with our spindle style crib.

We were in desperate need of some fresh linens for baby 4. After 7+ years of use, our old ones were all completely done and ready for retirement. Keeping our baby’s space and the air he breathes as safe and clean as possible is very important, so I chose a beautiful organic waterproof crib mattress protector & organic crib sheets from my favourite online source, Organic Lifestyle. They have some absolutely gorgeous, eco-friendly and sustainable products for around the home. Perfect for holiday gift giving! Use code care for 15% Off your order from Organic Lifestyle.

I was set on farmhouse ticking curtains (stripped fabric seen above) but couldn’t find any that worked for our budget and time line, so I set out to make my own. I sewed blackout lined curtains and a matching crib skirt from beautiful classic nickel ticking fabric I found locally at Tonic Living.

I also refinished my childhood nursery dresser by sanding and painting it and adding new porcelain knobs. It was a pretty quick project and gave it a totally fresh look on a small budget.

Instead of going for lots of traditional wall decor I decided to decorate this small space with greenery and beautiful baby stuff, like our favourite treasures and my ring sling collection.

I absolutely love having my slings easily accessible on these gorgeous locally made wooden wall knobs. Perfect to grab and go whenever we need.

I’m so happy with how this space has turned out. I know it will be a calm and soothing space for us to care for baby Freddy. Even with the day-to-day chaos that is our busy home. Check out all the details for products featured in my nursery reveal below, and please comment with any questions.

- Care

In The Post:

Rocking Chair: Off Your Rocker *Choose "Store Pickup" & Mention With Care to Receive FREE Shipping to the GTA | Photos: Anchor Studio *Get 10% off when you mention With Care at Booking | Organic waterproof crib mattress protector & organic crib sheet: Organic Lifestyle *Get 15% off with code care | Care’s Maternity Clothing sponsored by Canadian rental box company The Sprout Collection: *Use Code Care20off for 20% off | Curtain & Crib Skirt Fabric: Tonic Living | Dresser Knobs: Overstock.ca | Rug: Overstock.ca | Dresser Paint Colour: Behr Frozen Pond | Wooden Wall Knobs: JB + DG | Black & Pink Ring Slings: Potter & Pehar *Use Code WITHCARE10 for 10% Off | Sand Ring Sling: Jr Foxes | Umbra Prisma Wall Decorations: Amazon.ca | Wooden Rattles: Bonjour Baby Baskets | Patouche Baby Bonnet: Little Zen One *Use Code WITHCARE for $15 off your purchase of $100 or more | “You Are Loved” Print: ATTN2Detail Designs | White Round Metal Mirror & Heart Marquee Light: HomeSense | White Wood Shelves, Wickers Planters, Hanging Planter & Baskets: Ikea | Herbal Sitz Bath & Lavender Mineral Soak: Tenth Moon

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or products/services for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with companies that I genuinely love and want to recommend.

Last Minute Summer Camp Registration for West End Parents *3 Amazing Discounts Included!

With only 3 weeks before school is out and summer vacation officially begins, it's time to lock down your camp registrations. I know there are definitely some parents that are scrambling to find something perfect for their kid, so I thought I would share these 3 awesome West End Camps that are sure to have something that fits every kid's summer camp wish list. Plus enjoy a discount for each camp, which is sure to please mom and dad. 

For The Kid Who Likes A Little Bit Of Everything - Check out Westside FUN Camp

If your little one loves to try everything, this multi-activity camp is perfect! Westside FUN offers day camp programs to kid's ages 4+ and has a great combo of activities, so every kid will have fun! Activities include: Sports, Arts & Crafts, Drama & Puppetry to name a few. Please note that Westside FUN only runs programs in July, so remaining space is Extremely Limited. Don't wait to register! Use code CARE40 for $40 off your 1st week at Westside FUN Camp!

For The Kid Who Loves To Create In The Kitchen - Check out Rooks to Cooks

My kids are obsessed with helping me in the kitchen, but sometimes it creates more chaos than it's worth. That's why I'm so excited for the kids to try Rooks to Cooks Camp this summer. Through Cooking kid's learn math skills, reading skills, organizational skills, team work, kitchen safety, and improve their fine motor skills. Plus they get to try out some new foods and expand their palate with a group of friends in a fun atmosphere, which is always great for picky eaters. Check out Rooks to Cooks and Receive 10% off registration with promo code 10withcare

For The Kid Who Wants to Dance The Day Away - Check out The Pointe Dance Centre

If you've got a little mover and shaker in your house, you should check out The Point Dance Centre. With programs for kids age 3-10 years old, this place has you covered. Camp for little ones age 3-6 years (half & full day program available) includes drama, dance, music and art. Plus big kids (6-10 years) can try out their Full Day Performers Camp that includes Acro, Tumbling, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet & Contemporary dance. Contact The Point Dance Centre at 416.763.1100 to Register & Mention With Care for 10% off Registration. 

Good luck on all the last minute camp registrations!

- Care

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with products and services that I genuinely love and want to recommend

Booster Seat Safety 101: Watch My Video + Get 15% OFF Nuna Products at Love Me Do Baby & Maternity

I get so many questions from parents about when their child is ready to make the move to a booster and when they can ditch the booster all together. So I decided to make a little video with my son Ben’s Nuna AACE booster seat. He's almost 7 years old and moved from his forward facing 5 point harness car seat to this high back booster at 6.5 years old. He will be able to use this for many years to come, as it transitions into a no back booster for bigger kids.

In this video I'll go over proper use, appropriate ages and stages, and a very important safety tip that is often overlooked by parents when a booster seat is in the car. 

If you’re in need of an amazing booster seat, infant seat, toddler seat, or stroller, make sure you check out the selection of beautiful Nuna products at Love Me Do. They will be 15% off until June 4th. This is an incredible savings, so don’t miss out. The best part is, you can get complimentary car seat installation by their amazing certified car seat technician on any seat you purchase in store. That's a huge value. 

If you want to learn more about safe car seat and booster use, check out this great handout from the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada. Since all provinces and territories vary in their regulations you can get full details on current laws from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and a summary of other provinces and territories here.

I hope you enjoy the video. Please feel free to comment below with any questions or topics you would like covered in the future. 

- Care 

In this post:

Love Me Do Baby & Maternity: Nuna AACE Booster Seat     |     Homesense: Basket & Throw Pillows    |     Mur Lifestyle: Black and White Blanket in Basket     |     Ikea: Ektorp Couch & Blanket     |     Bird Apparel: Care's Poncho Shirt (See note in link to special order)     |    Lorena Canals: Rug     |     Bensound: Music, Ukulele Clip

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with products and services that I genuinely love and want to recommend.

*The information in this video is meant to help you learn about booster seats. Please always read your car manual and booster/car seat manual to ensure compatibility and proper secure installation and use. The information provided does not constitute individual advice or consultation and should not be used as such. 

Congrats On Your Move Diaper-eez!

Our good friends at Diaper-eez made a big move this past weekend. We're sad to see them leave the Bloor West strip, but we're so happy that they're staying in the neighbourhood. Their Bloor Street location closed on February 19th and their new boutique location at 501 Runnymede Rd (Runnymede & Annette) opened yesterday. Drop by to check out the new shop and mention With-Care for 10% off*. If you can't make it in to the store, head online and use code withcare for 10% off*

 

Diaper-eez new store hours at 501 Runnymede Rd.

• Tuesday-Friday: 12pm-5pm
• Saturday: 10am-5pm
• Sunday-Monday: Closed

Thanks for shopping small and supporting our local stores. 

- Care 

*Some restrictions apply

Wonderwear Cloth Diaper Service Review & GIVEAWAY!

I love cloth diapers, but I have to admit that the more kids you have the less ideal washing your own cloth diapers becomes. Especially when you're trying to run a home, a few businesses, and perhaps stay sane in the process. So this spring when we faced the diaper dilemma with the pending arrival of our daughter Penny we debated Cloth vs Disposable once again, but this time we added the option of a service into the discussion.

There are so many incredible benefits of cloth diapers for the environment, our finances, and our baby's health (More Info), but the laundry involved can be daunting. I had never been keen on a service because they often bleach the diapers with harsh chemicals and some wash their diapers at facilities that also launder adult diapers for longterm care homes. As a health care provider and mother, this doesn't sit well with me.

So I was just a tad excited to learn about Wonderwear Modern Diaper Service, a weekly cloth diaper delivery service that provides cloth diapers and wipes as well as a host of amazing products for sale to their clients in and around the GTA (Service Areas). Wonderwear asked me to spread the word about their diaper service to my clients, but I needed to try them out myself before being able to review their quality. After 4 months of use I can say that we LOVE Wonderwear! Penny gets all the benefits of cloth diapers, and I don't have to do all the work! 

The Best Parts:

• Super Easy - Remove the wet diaper, wipe baby's bum, and toss the diaper and cloth wipe into the wet diaper bag provided. No rinsing, scraping, soaking etc. Put a fresh diaper and cover on baby and you're ready to go! Weekly delivery times are set by Wonderwear's neighbourhood schedule, but everything can be done from your doorstep without you needing to be there.
• Amazing Diapers - Super soft, fluffy and breathable, but also adsorbent because they are made of a combination of micro fibre & cotton. This means less leaks and rashes!
• Fit Like a Glove - 10 sizes (including nighttime heavy wetters and inserts) means they always fit properly, decreasing the risk of leaks. Simply send a quick email if you need to change your size, request more or less diapers, or pause the service for a vacation. 
• You Save $$ - I will admit that washing your own cloth diapers at home is the most economical you can go, but Wonderwear still ends up being cheaper than disposable diapers and wipes, especially when you consider that most cloth diapered children potty train earlier. 
• All Natural - No Bleach or chlorine is used in laundering Wonderwear diapers, just super hot water. This means the diapers always arrive smelling fresh and clean and don't cause irritation or rashes from built up detergent residue in the fibres. Plus they help reduce the huge impact diapers have on our landfills.

Enter now, by commenting below with your name and email address, for a chance to WIN a $50 Gift Certificate for Wonderwear Modern Diaper Service. *Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more chances to enter! Contest closes Friday Oct 14th 11pm EST and winner will be chosen at random and announced within 24 hours. *Prize must be redeemed for services and products delivered in the GTA (currently: North to Barrie, West to Hamilton, East to Oshawa) 

Good Luck!

- Care

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Holiday Gift Guide for Babies, Toddlers & Preschoolers

When the holiday sales start to roll out it can be tempting to buy everything you see, but do you really need it? We try very hard to remind our children how fortunate we are, and focus on keeping gift giving small and on things that we truly need.

I love to make DIY gifts for the kids and our friends and family, but also always pick a few special gifts to buy for our little ones. We stick to the rule of “Something you Want, Something you Need, Something to Wear & Something to Read”. This year we added a new category “Something to Give”, and are making sure that we think of little ways we can help our community locally or globally every day.

Here are a few of my favourite gifts to give for little ones. Most items included are locally made or sourced from small local stores so that we can reduce our impact this holiday season, and support our local community. Hope you enjoy!  

*Use Promo Code: Withcare for 10% off purchases at Diaper-eez this holiday season

Something You Want: 

There are so many amazing toys available around the holidays, but I love to focus on buying presents that will be enjoyed over the winter months. A Sled is a perfect gift for kiddos of any age. Canadian Tire and many local hardware stores have excellent selections of beautiful Canadian made wooden sleds. From basic to fancy, single to triple occupancy, you can choose what’s right for your family and your budget.

Something You Need: 

With our frigid Canadian winters kid’s need quality winter gear. Here are a few ideas for necessary items that can double as Christmas gifts. 

My absolute favourite snow suit for little ones are the Mountain Equipment Co-op Toaster Suit. Toasty warm as the name implies, these snow suits are made to last through a few kids and never disappoint. Purchase online or locally at Mountain Equipment Co-op. 

For keeping those little hands warm my new favourite is locally made Mimitens. These brilliant mitts have fabric that extends up your little ones forearm to keep them warm and more importantly to keep them ON! If you have a constant mitt taker offer, you know how frustrating it is. Invest in a pair of these and ditch the daily fight. Purchase online or locally at Diaper-eez.  

A warm toque is always needed and my favourite this year is the Je T’aime toque by Whistle & Flute. Made on the West Coast these adorable hats are available locally from Amelie & Max and come in kid and adult sizes. Perfect for twinning! Purchase online from Amelie & Max and choose shipping or local Toronto pickup. 

Something To Wear: 

Little ones need warm feet whether they are lounging at home, out in the car, in the stroller or while babywearing. Padraig Cottage are by far my favourite Canadian made booties. They are soft, cozy, warm and don’t fall off like most other booties. Great for little ones of all ages and the perfect gift. Purchase online or locally at Diaper-eez. 

Something To Read:

Books are one of my all time favourite things to give as gifts. Reading and interacting with babies from a young age has been shown to be very beneficial for brain development.

For little ones who love to put stuff in their mouths and tear at paper, board books are ideal.  One of my absolute favourites is “On the Night You Were Born” by Nancy Tillman. An instant tear jerker for most parents. 

As your kiddos get older and want longer stories I love anything and everything by the super talented Oliver Jeffers. 

For this category also consider thinking outside of the box. Baby Sign Language Flash Cards and board games can be a great way to practice language development.

 
Something To Give:

If you haven’t heard of Cuddle + Kind yet, you need to check them out. These beautiful dolls are part of an incredible campaign to help decrease child hunger worldwide, as each doll purchased provides 10 meals to children in need. It’s too late to order them to arrive in time for this holiday season. Sorry! You’re probably wondering why I included them if their holiday orders were done a few months ago. The truth is I wanted to share them because I think they’re a great gift year round and knew I would have your attention. So get ordering for your 2016 birthday gift list!

Some other great ways to give back include purchasing a food hamper for a family in need in your community, supporting The Stop Community Food Centre which does amazing work in our city, and supporting local Syrian refugee aid groups like the Lakeshore Syrian Connection.

Hope you got some great ideas for your little ones and stay tuned for Part 2 of our Holiday Gift Guide tomorrow with great gift ideas for Expectant & New Moms! 

Don’t forget to use Promo Code: Withcare for 10% off purchases at Diaper-eez this holiday season

- Care