7 Stocking Stuffer Essentials - Fun Stuff Your Kids Actually Need

Stockings are a whole lot of fun, but they can really add up fast if you’re filling them with tons of toys. I like to focus on giving our kids stuff that they need throughout the year. These simple items can be a really fun way to give without going overboard. I find that for our kids, the best part is unwrapping what’s inside, and they are genuinely excited to receive these everyday essentials.

Hope these simple ideas help you fill your family’s stockings while staying on budget. Please share with a fellow parent who could use some Christmas help. Check out my Guide To The Best Teacher’s Gifts Under $30. Let me know if you have any questions or comments below. Happy Stuffing!

- Care

The Bump To Baby Show Spring 2018 *Free Family Friendly Event!

I can't believe May is almost here! That means it's time for the 5th annual Bump to Baby Show. This is personally my favourite baby show in the city, and the one that I'm always excited to take part in. The Wychwood Barns is such a beautiful venue, and the organizers do such an amazing job of bringing together the best local vendors for their marketplace (Of course I'm not biased at all). Most vendors offer amazing discounts and specials for the show, so it's worth the visit! Especially since admission for the whole family is FREE!!

In addition to amazing products, enjoy the family fun zone, face painting, music and dancing, swag bags, delicious food, an amazing raffle, and so much more. Plus a portion of the raffle proceeds will be donated to The Stop's Healthy Beginnings Program; a pre- and postnatal program for women and children that need support in our community. So make sure you grab a ticket!

This year I'm very excited to be partnering with The Big Carrot again for a talk and live food demo covering "Healthy Recipes for Starting Solids." Join me from 2-3 pm in the Play & Learn Area for this special event. You must Pre-Register for this talk *Please note that remaining space for this session is limited. So don't wait! 

Learn More & Pre-Register for the rest of the amazing talks and classes here. This year's lineup includes free prenatal yoga, a fun fam jam, a puppet show, a session on pelvic floor health, and talks on family nutrition & natural sunscreens. There's so much for the whole family to enjoy!

Hope to see you at the show on May 6th. Make sure to pop by my table or workshop to say hi!

- Care

Save The Earth One Lunch At A Time - Plus Save 22% on PlanetBox Today Only!

With Earth Day coming up this weekend it feels like the perfect time to share one of my absolute favourite eco-friendly products. One that my family couldn't live without, and that I highly recommend to everyone (big or small) who packs a lunch. It's Planetbox!

I have been obsessed with PlanetBox since I bought a Rover lunch box for Ben almost 2 years ago when he was set to start Junior Kindergarten. I wanted a safe, eco-friendly lunch box that would make packing lunches simple, and be easy for him to handle at school. When I found PlanetBox I was immediately impressed. Ben has loved his Rover, so we knew we would need another one with Lucy set to start school this fall. 

I always tell people that PlanetBox lunch boxes are an initial investment, but so worth the money. Here's why:

• They are so easy to clean! - This has to be a priority when you have a kid...or 3 ;) PlanetBox lunch boxes are dishwasher safe, but we just wipe and rinse it with warm soapy water after school and let it dry in the rack (unless it was a particularly messy meal)
• They are perfect for litter-less lunches - Many schools now request this
• They are easy to open - This is especially important for little hands 
• They last for years - Their high quality stainless steal is actually warranted for 5 years!
• They save so much frustration - Avoid the daily chaotic search through dozens of containers and lids. Simplicity makes life much easier, especially as a parent.
• They are safe - non-toxic, non-leaching, safe from BPA, phthalates, and lead
• They are customizable - This matters less to me, but Lucy had a blast picking out her magnets and bag combo and was so excited to see her choices when they arrived. When her brother saw it he announced that he wanted a pink bag too. After almost 2 years of daily use, his Rover lunch box is still in great shape, but his bag has taken a beating (to be expected with a 4-6 year old who drags it through the halls at school), so I think we will replace it. If pink is what he wants, pink is what he'll get. 

If you have little one heading off to school this fall don't wait! **Use Code Earth22 for 22% off Rover, Shuttle or Launch lunch boxes Today Only (April 20th *accessories excluded). ORDER HERE

Once your order arrives don't forget to give your little one some opportunities to practice with their lunch box, so they can feel confident at school. We'll be planning some backyard picnics with Lucy's new PlanetBox this summer. I'll be sure to share some of our healthy lunch ideas on instagram too.

Care

p.s. If you want to check out another amazing eco-friendly product see my post from 2 years ago about Abeego Bees Wax Food Wrap

*We purchased our original planet box but were gifted a 2nd one from Planetbox for Lucy in exchange for promotion. In no way does this change my opinions about this product. It is hands down one of my favourites.

Happy Earth Day! Ditch the Plastic Wrap & Try Abeego!

Happy Earth Day! On this very special day I want to introduce you to one of my favourite Canadian made, environmentally friendly products. Abeego! *Special Perk Included!

If you're anything like me you feel guilty about the amount of waste your family produces. I'm always trying to reduce the number of garbage bags going out to the curb, but it's tough with the amount of packaging and plastics used these days.

Moving away from plastic wrap and baggies is something I've been meaning to do for ages, but really didn't seem all that easy. So when I found Abeego, a reusable beeswax food wrap, I knew I needed to try it. I'm so happy I did! I am absolutely loving using Abeego and recommend it to everyone I know. 

Why I Love Abeego

• It's reusable! Lasts up to a year if cared for properly.

• It's made from pure beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin, infused into a cloth made of hemp and certified organic cotton. All of those ingredients sound much better than plastic to me, and they actually help keep your food alive!

• It keeps cut avocados green for days saving us $$! 

• The insulating & breathable qualities make it perfect for covering dough to rise or when fermenting foods. Calling all bakers!

• It comes in 4 sizes (Small, Medium, Large & Giant) to meet all my food storage needs.

• Great price point. A variety pack including 3 Abeegos (Small, Medium & Large) retails for $18+HST.

• Caring for your Abeego is super easy. Simply wash with cold soapy water (eco-friendly soap), rinse, and dry with a dish cloth or place over a dish rack to dry.

• Canadian Made! Created & manufactured in British Columbia

One trick I found is that you need to use the warmth of your hands to mold Abeego into place and then it stays put. You can't think of it as plastic wrap. It's so much better! 

Here's a little video to show you how Abeego works:

Order Abeego Online & use Promo Code Mommies15 for 15% off!

You won't regret it. It even comes with a Money Back Guarantee!

Hope you enjoy Abeego as much as I do.

- Carolyn 

*Full Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Abeego advertises with me at Movies for Mommies Humber Cinema but did not pay for this post. I fell in love with the product so much that I decided to feature it on my blog on Earth Day as a gift back to Abeego. Thanks for helping to make our earth a greener place Abeego!

Is Your Family Ready for Winter? Come Pillage In The Village!

It's that time of year again. Time to start thinking about switching over seasonal gear and going through your closets to see what fits & what needs to be replaced for your family this winter. I don't know about you, but I find it a stressful time of year as the cost of snowsuits, boots, skates & other seasonal gear really adds up. As always our family relies heavily on gently-used clothing & gear to get us through the changing seasons on budget.

If you're looking to save some money this season check out your local Community Parent-to-Parent sales. Our local sale in the Bloor West Village area Pillage In The Village is coming up at the beginning of October and is always a great event with tons of amazing deals. It's an absolute fav of mine and a sale that I try not to miss.

Where: Swansea Community Center, 15 Waller Ave

When: Saturday October 4th from 1pm-3:30pm. *50% off sale runs from 3pm-3:30pm.

*Most sales do not allow children, strollers or bags inside. So leave the kids at home & have fun shopping for some great deals with your laundry hamper!

*I strongly encourage you to make note of your kid’s shoe & clothing sizes & what you need most, so you can go directly to those areas of the sale first. These sales are extremely busy & not for the faint of heart!

If you want to know more about local parent to parent sales and other ways to save money while dressing your family, check out this 3-part blog series from last spring about 3 Ways to Save Money & The Environment While Dressing Your Kids. 

Upcoming Toronto Parent to Parent Sales:

• The Parent Bazaar(Sept 13, 2014)
• TPOMBA Fall/Winter Clothing Sale (Sept 20, 2014)
• South Etobicoke Mommy Market (Oct 18, 2014)
• (Oct 18, 2014) Great Kids Stuff Sale (Oct 25, 2014)
• Mom to Mom Sale Markham & Stouffville (Oct 25, 2014)
• Toronto Mom to Mom Fall Sale Event (Nov 1, 2014)

Good luck getting some great deals for your family this fall!

- Care

Back to School AKA Happy Halloween!?!

One day into the school year and Halloween stuff is already lining the shelves at most big stores around the city. Don't panic! The stores like to pretend that Halloween is just around the corner so you stock up on treats (that you inevitably eat in the weeks preceding halloween & then have to replace), but really we still have 8 full weeks to prepare. Totally doable, and yet I know I will blink and it will actually be Halloween. Time flies these days.

I try not to go too overboard with the refined sugary treats with my little ones (3 years & 11 months), but I love to make homemade treats & find great costumes for our whole family to have fun with. This week Benny asked if he could be a Lion for Halloween and it made me realize that I better start thinking about what I need to prepare for this year. We usually have a family costume (DIY) for parties, as well as individual costumes for trick or treating & kid's parties. This year is Benny's first year at nursery school so he's pretty pumped for his own kid's costume party. 

Buying costumes, especially for a whole family, can be down right expensive and when they're only worn once our environment pays the real cost. That's why I'm proud to partner with Eco-Outfitters Online for The 3rd Annual Toronto West Costume Swap! 

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The Details:

1. Drop off your clean, gently-used costumes at Eco Outfitters Office between Sept 2, 2014 & Oct 2, 2014. Be sure to pin your name & email address to your costume so they can confirm your trade in.

2. Return to Eco Outfitters Online on Saturday Oct 4th 10am-6pm and shop for a FREE gently-used costume for your little one. 

*If you don't have a costume to trade in you can still shop the costume swap from 12pm-6pm with a minimum $5 donation to The New Mom Project. 

While looking through our past Halloween pictures I realized that Ben has been a lion several times...maybe time to trade in some lions for a new animal. Can't wait to see what we find!

Trick or Treating 2012 - Roar!

Trick or Treating 2013 - Roar The Sequel!

So grab your gently-used costumes & drop them by Eco Outfitters anytime this month to save money and the environment while still getting your kid an awesome Halloween costume. 

Have any questions? Contact Rebecca at Eco Outfitters Online via email  for more details.

Top 3 Ways to Save Money & The Environment While Dressing Your Kids - Part 3/3

From my last 2 posts you can probably tell that I am a huge fan of buying gently used clothes and gear for myself & my family. You just can’t beat the savings for the environment & your wallet! Having said that, there will always be times when you need to buy something new, an outfit for a special occasion, or something specific to fill a need in your kiddos wardrobe. So let’s discuss how to get the most for your money and the environment when buying new.

1. Support ethical & environmentally conscious companies. Fast fashion has some pretty serious costs, so I try to do my part to reduce our family’s impact as much as I can. It’s not always feasible to buy local fashion, as the cost can be higher, but you can still make mindful choices about your consumption.

2. Buy clothing and gear that is built to last. I don't know about you, but I want pieces that will stand up to being washed hundreds of times while 2, 3 or 4 kids enjoy wearing them, not something that is going to be thrown into a dumpster in just a few weeks or months. 

3. Focus on gender neutral clothing. This goes a long way toward the items longevity, because it makes it easier to be passed along to other kiddies. Which in turn means more bang for your buck. This is especially important for big ticket items like snowsuits & boots.   

Some of My Favourite Companies:

My personal fav for great outdoor gear is Mountain Equipment Co-op. They sell high quality products that are made to last and have a strong commitment to sustainability efforts around the world. They offer many of their kids' products in great primary colours, so you don’t always need to choose pink or blue. Go with red, green or yellow!

I also love to find small local businesses like Ollie Jones, a Toronto based company that makes swoon worthy leggings & accessories for kids that are ethical, environmental & feature awesome gender neutral designs. Not to mention being budget friendly. Check them out, but be warned, you may become addicted! They're currently having a model search on Instagram, so if you have an adorable little one aged 6 months - 6 years send along a pic for a chance to win!

One of my new favorite clothing companies is a local start-up from Toronto called Jill & Jack Kids. They totally fit the bill for me. All of their clothes are designed, woven & sewn locally in Canada. They focus on awesome gender neutral play clothes for kids and feature great graphic prints on bold fun colours that go beyond pink and blue. My little guy Benny modelled some shirts for them, so we got to see the product first hand. I can tell you they are beautiful! The material was super soft and the shirt had a great slim cut. No more terrible square t-shirts!

What I love most about Jill & Jack Kids is that they’re not just trying to make cute clothes. They’re trying to change the way that we gender stereotype children at such a young age with the clothes we dress them in.

Offering gender neutral clothing with no boys or girls department means that kids can feel free to be who they want to be. I absolutely love their message, which is why I was happy to support their Kickstarter Campaign and help spread the word.

Please go online and check it out. They only have 3 more days, until June 5th, to reach their goal of $15,000 and they're already over $11,000. They need your support! If they don't reach their goal Jill & Jack Kids won't become a reality :( ...and I wont get my awesome "Half of all T.rexes were girls" shirt. Which would suck!

If you want to learn more about "How Gender Stereotypes Affect Kids" join Jill & Jack Kids for an online discussion with a panel of experts on Tuesday June 3rd at 8pm (EST). Should be an interesting discussion, so don't miss out!

I hope that you've found this 3 part series helpful in saving money and the environment while dressing your kids. 

- Care

Top 3 Ways to Save Money & The Environment While Dressing Your Kids - Part 2/3

Last week on the blog I told you about one of my top 3 ways to save money and the environment while shopping for our kids - Local Parent to Parent Sales. These sales are such a great resource for families, but since most are held only once or twice a year it can be difficult to get to them. Plus sometimes it's nice to be able to shop on your own schedule in a less chaotic environment. Not that I ever shy away from a good sale ;) 

As a regular go-to for gently used clothing and gear I rely on kids consignment stores. These are an excellent way to get name brand items that still have lots of life left in them. Sometimes you'll even score brand new items with the tags on! The only draw back is that consignment shopping can be time consuming, and as a busy parent and business owner I don't have a ton of time to go out and browse the stores for deals. That's why I was so excited to find a new local online kids consignment store called Eco Outfitters Online. 

Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down to chat with Rebecca Saha the Owner of Eco Outfitters Online, who specializes in high-end, gently used, baby & kids clothing & accessories. In addition to owning her own new business Rebecca is a wife, a mom of 3 kids, and a kindergarten teacher. What a woman! She is also a proud environmentalist and loves to help families learn how to make more green decisions in their daily lives, including purchasing clothing.

Eco Outfitters Online provides families with 2 great options for purchasing their hand-curated line of high-end gently used clothing.

1. Buy online via their easy to use website

Low flat fee shipping, or even the option of free pick up if you live locally.

2. Book a Personal Shopping Appointment online

Meet with Rebecca & check out the goods in person at the Eco Outfitters Boutique located in her West Toronto home. It's a great space with lots of beautiful stuff to browse & choose from. 

I couldn't help myself and ended up buying a few items for our little Lucy :)

Luckily our toddler Ben is still living off of massive piles of hand-me-downs thanks to our extremely generous friends and family, so no need to buy him anything. (Huge shout out to Auntie Meagan, Auntie AnaBela & Auntie Margaret for clothing him for the last 3 years!)

Check out Eco Outfitters Online website for full details and to view some of their adorable clothes currently available www.ecooutfittersonline.ca. Enjoy shopping from the comfort of your own home or book an appointment to visit the boutique in person to find some great stuff for your little ones.

*Eco Outfitters Online offers Full Refund Or Exchange on all purchases (tags still attached). Plus a great Referral Rewards Program & Trade In Trade Up Program. 

Stay tuned for the final instalment in this 3 part series next week to learn how to save money and the environment when choosing to buy New. 

- Care