Milestones, Weaning and Natrel’s Baboo #NatrelBaboo

My son Liam hit 18 months on Sept 29 and since then, I’ve been reminiscing of how much he’s grown since he was born. As my third child, it seems like time moved even quicker as with your first child, it seems like it takes forever for them to reach each milestone:

• Smiling/Laughing
• Rolling
• Sitting
• Crawling/Walking
• Feeding Self
• and so much more

At (now) 19 months, Liam speech is amazing and he runs and climbs. No more slow toddling ahead. At 18 months I decided it was time for us to get started on the weaning journey. After 12 months I had offered him cow’s milk a few times but he really had no interest in it. At 18 months, I was getting ready to go on a trip, gone 24 hours total and I wanted him to be able to get his nourishment from milk since I wouldn’t be there to nurse him. If he had no choice (i.e. I wasn’t there) he would drink it but he still preferred breast milk. I am both sad that breastfeeding is almost done with and happy to have my body back and be able to leave him overnight.

I was offered a chance to try Natrel’s Baboo, a milk drink for ages 12-24 months to help transition from formula or breastmilk to regular milk.

How is Baboo Different?

Easy to digest, because it has a lower protein content than regular milk and provides a whey/casein ratio close to that of breast milk.

4% fat content.

Contains a natural source of Omega-3 DHA.

Excellent source of calcium.

A source of vitamins A, C, D, E and B6.

Made with fresh Natrel milk.

Ready to drink and does not need to be diluted or reconstituted.

Can be stored at room temperature thanks to its packaging, which is 100% impervious to oxygen and light and preserves Baboo’s great taste and nutritional content.

source

I love that it didn’t need to be store in the fridge till opened. This makes it perfect for storing in your diaper bag just in case. Also it comes in one big 1L Tetrapak or a set of 6 little 250 mL ones with straws for your older toddler to just drink herself.  Tetrapak cartons are recyclable so you can save on dishes and be good for the environment.

My son liked the taste and didn’t seem to notice any difference in taste from the cow’s milk he was drinking. This is good because later when you switch to regular milk, your child wont’ even notice a difference so the change should be seamless. It doesn’t have any odor and if you saw it sitting in a glass, you would think it was regular milk.

My Suggestions for Uses:

1. You are weaning off breastmilk or formula (at 12 months+)  but you are worried about losing the extra nutrients your child is getting (Baboo has vitamins and Omega-3s)
2. You are weaning and your child has digestion issues. (Baboo is easily digested)
3. You use regular milk already but you want something you can bring with you easily without worrying about refrigeration (Baboo can be stored at room temp till open.)
4. You breastfeed (12 months+) but want something more than regular milk to leave with her when she is being cared for by others.
5. He’s was a preemie and the doctor said you can stop formula but you are worried about losing the extra nutrition.
6. You are having trouble getting your child off the bottle (Baboo comes in cartons with straws.)

Baboo is sold in the 10 Canadian Provinces in most major chains and grocery and pharmacy chains. The SRP is $3.29/L or $6.99/six-pack.

Baboo’s F.A.Q. has tons of great information if you want to know more, here are a few interesting things I learned:

Why was this product developed?

• Baboo is the first Canadian dairy product especially designed for toddlers aged 12-24 months to ensure a smooth transition from breast milk or infant formula to regular milk.
• Baboo is the culmination of two years of R&D at Natrel.
• This category of toddler dairy product has been available in parts of Europe and other parts of the world for more than 20 years, but nothing like it has existed in Canada until now.

What are the ingredients?

• Baboo only has six ingredients: reconstituted ultrafiltered milk permeate, whole milk enriched with vitamin D3, cream, whey protein concentrate, acerola cherry juice concentrate powder and algal oil (Omega-3 DHA).

Can I use your Natrel Baboo for cooking and baking?

• Yes, you can interchange whole milk with Natrel Baboo in any cooking or baking recipes, it will keep its properties. For recipes go to natrelbaboo.com.

If it has a shelf-life of up to 4 months, how could it possibly be fresh?

• Often chilled milk is referred to as “fresh” but the “freshest” form of milk comes directly from a cow and isn’t cold when it comes out.
• Aseptic technology used by Tetra Pak protects Baboo from light and oxygen, sealing in the fresh nutrients of the dairy product, without preservatives, using Ultra High Temperature during the packaging process, which is why Tetra Pak’s motto is “protect what’s good”.

Would You Like to Try Some?

Baboo is giving away 50,000 free coupons on the Natrel Baboo Facebook Page.

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

Tic Tac Canada Supports Breast Cancer Awareness

Just like last year when Tic Tac Canada released limited edition Pink Grapefruit Tic Tacs, they are at it again this year with Strawberry Fusion.

Tic Tac Canada creates these pink Tic Tacs in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Tic Tac Canada has donated $25,000 to the Breast Cancer Society of Canada and launched the Strawberry Fusion Tic Tacs as of September 1.

Strawberry fusion is sweet like strawberries but with a tartness mixed in for a sweet-tart flavour punch. I am not a big fan of strawberry flavoured foods and candy but I liked these.

While no donation is made for each purchase of the limited edition Tic Tacs, you can feel confident knowing that Tic Tac Canada has already made such a large donation to help the Breast Cancer Society of Canada research and hopefully eventually cure breast cancer.

Also, for all of September and October, the Tic Tac Canada Facebook Page will be posting pink-related promos.

Have you had Tic Tacs? What is your favourite flavour of Tic Tacs?

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Steak and Eggs for Dinner - We #LoveCDNBeef

Confession: I used to never like steak. I ate ground beef and the occasional beef roast but I never liked steak. Turns out, it matters how it’s cooked.

I’ve taught myself most of my cooking skills beyond the basics. I watch cooking shows and look at cookbooks and just experiment. I prefer to cook without recipes actually, I use them to help me the first time I make something new but I never follow them exactly.

Now I like steak, especially dipped in ranch dressing. Even better if they have fried onions slathered all over them. I always thought eating Steak with Eggs was weird but my husband insisted it was good. I realized my problem with the idea was eating steak for breakfast. So I made it for dinner!

Steak with Scrambled Eggs For My Husband

Steak With Eggs Over-Easy and Bagels For Me

Even My Kids Like Steak and Eggs!

If you want to try something new with beef but aren’t sure where to start, the Canadian Beef webpage has a ton of information (most of which could be used by Non-Canadians too!)

Love making burgers but can never quite get them right? Or perhaps you hear conflicting advice on how to make them and what to put in them and you aren’t sure which is better. Either way, check out this post on their blog about the best homemade burgers.

Want to try a new recipe? The next one I want to try is these yummy looking Beefy Huevos Rancheros! (see below) Also check out Canada Beef.

We used Sirloin Steaks and Burnbrae Eggs (our usual brands.) 

Burnbrae Farms is a big support of Canadian Beef as well. You can connect with Burnrae on Twitter and Facebook. They have a great egg facts section with everything you ever wanted to know about eggs.

Over to you… do you like Steak and Eggs? How do you like them?

*Disclosure: I received compensation for this post but all information and opinions are honest. Please see my full disclosure policy for more information.

REVIEW–G. Marquis Premium Wines from Niagara-on-the-Lake

*This Review is Written By Barb, a Member of my Team.

I am a wine lover, somewhere between a novice and connoisseur.  A friend gave me a two day wine course where I learned more about wine and pairing. The more I drink it the better I like it. I would like to pay more attention to pairing. Right now it’s a matter of expense dryness and taste that determined my choices. I prefer white wine but have found some reds pretty good. So I was very excited to have the opportunity to try the G. Marquis Red Line from the Niagara Peninsula.

The company sent two bottles in a nice bag with a bow and a very cute cork USB stick with product info. When I read their marketing info on the Red Line I was very happy to see that it is unoaked and fruit flavoured as I really don’t care for oaky tasting wine and tend to choose fruity wines.

I started with the 2009 Merlot, a medium bodied wine, which is a red wine I would choose. I haven’t paid too much attention to correct serving temperature in the past so thought I’d start there. I chilled it to the suggested 14-16° C and tried a glass. I tend to find red wine a little too overpowering for me and I find it difficult to taste the underlying flavours. This wine wasn’t too bad for a red. Many people who love red, I’m sure will find it very good. Next I paired it with a beef stew; I love how different a wine will taste with food. I enjoyed it much more with food. I did however find it too cold at the recommended temperature. I would recommend it as a good accompaniment when paired with suggested foods.

The other bottle was a 2010 Riesling. I have had Riesling before but one of my favourites is Pinot Grigio. I think it’s because it’s a light bodied wine while Riesling is medium bodied. The Riesling was crisp and dry and I could detect the fruit flavours in it. I found that I liked it at a colder temperature, between 16-17°C. I tried a new recipe using the Riesling. I did a search for cooking with Riesling and found Pork Chops with a Riesling Peach Sauce at allrecipes.com. It was delicious and the wine itself was even better with the dish. I think it was the peach in the food and the peach in the wine that made it so good. While I thought it was okay on its own it was totally awesome with the peach chops. I would defiantly purchase it to make that dish again. Even my husband who doesn’t like wine loved the dish.



I had never tried G. Marquis before but I sure would like to try their ice wine next.

Interested in The 5 Steps to Being a True Oenophile aka Wine Lover? Check out South Western Ontario Parent for more.

About G. Marquis:

G. Marquis is new wine brand produced in the Niagara-on-the-Lake region at the Niagara Stone Road vineyard. It comes in two lines: Silver and Red.

Where to Buy:

You can find the wine’s I tried at your local LCBO and some of the other G. Marquis wines at LCBO and Duty Free shops. The Red Line ranges from $11.95-$12.95 while the Silver line ranges from $14.95-$39.95

*The reviewer received product from a company or PR agency for evaluation purposes. All review are honest.

Creative Cooking: Cooking Without Recipes – Lasagna

I am a self taught cook mostly. I learned some basics from my mother and some more from my in laws when they were alive. The rest I taught myself. I’ve gotten better and better over the years, mostly from practicing, reading cookbooks and cooking how-to’s, watching videos online and the food network.

Even when I look up a recipe in a book or online, I NEVER follow it exactly. I make substitutions, just estimate ingredients and do whatever sounds right.

Too many people are scared to be creative with their cooking. Learn some basic techniques and what foods tend to go together and start there. The rest is trial and error. I’m going to start sharing some ideas of how to cook creatively, starting with… Lasagna.

Ingredients:

• Lasagna Noodles (Pre Cooked is easier, but whatever works)
• Protein (I used ground beef, but any other ground meat or small chunks of meat works fine, try a mixture or use some beans, vegan ‘meat’ for a vegetarian variety)
• Veggies (use what you like. I used onions and yellow pepper, other great choices are other peppers, mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, garlic…)
• Tomato Sauce (Use canned or homemade, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce works too.)
• Cheese (take your pick of one or a few: mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey jack, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, or anything else really.)

So where are the measurements you ask? This isn’t a recipe, it’s a guide! I ended up making too many noodles so I put the rest in the fridge to eat with a sauce later (cut up.)  Here are some suggestions:

I made a lasagna with 6 large pieces which fed two adults and two children with a few pieces left over for the next day. I used approx. 1lb ground beef, 1 medium onion, 1/2 pepper (so kids wouldn’t complain as much), 9 or so noodles, 1 can of spaghetti sauce, 900mg marble cheddar cheese (we love cheese) and 1lb Ricotta cheese (ended up being too much, 1/2 lb would have been fine.)

Step One: Cook Veggies

Chop Them how you want, fry in your choice of oil

Step Two: Noodles

Boil if not already cooked, if they are, still soak in hot water to make cooking time less – use a big pot so they don’t stick together. Salt the water for more flavor.

Step Three: Protein

Cook your meat/beans the way you want. Add in whatever spices/seasonings you like (Suggestions: Seasoned Salt, Ms. Dash, Club House Seasonings of Your Choice, Garlic Powder…) Don’t forget to drain the meat.

Step Four: Layers

Shred the cheese and mix meat and veggies. Layer in a dish. I would suggest a little sauce on the bottom and then noodles (that’s so noodles don’t burn to bottom). Layer cheese, meat, noodles and sauce. You want sauce to basically cover noodles and meat mixtures especially. Here’s what I did starting at the bottom:

Little Sauce – Noodles – Little Cheese – Meat Mixture – Sauce – Noodles – Sauce – Cheddar Cheese – Noodles – Sauce - Ricotta Cheese – Cheddar Cheese – Sauce – Noodles – Sauce – Cheddar Cheese (I like a lot of layers, most were small.)

That’s the Ricotta cheese above if you are wondering.

Step Five: Bake It

Cover it with aluminum foil and bake at 425-450 F till sauce is heated through and cheese is melted. 45 minutes-1 hour.

Step Six: Eat It!

Let it cool a bit so it will stay in square shape when you serve (or if you are like me, scoop it out and eat it anyways,  blobs still taste amazing!

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So.. do you ever cook without recipe? Have you made Lasagna with or without a recipe?

July 15th is National Ice Cream Day–Cold Stone Creamery Provincial Creations

To celebrate, Cold Stone Creamery has launched a special ice cream creation for all 10 provinces.

All 10 creations will be available at all Cold Stone Creamery locations so you can taste a piece of another province, not just your own.

These creations are available for a limited time only so be sure to try them out!

According to data from the NPD Group, Canadians ate more than 121 million servings of ice cream at quick-service restaurants in 2011.

Cold Stone Creamery’s Provincial Signature Creations:

• Newfoundland “Cod”ton Candy Dandy - Loaded with sprinkles and gummy bears and topped with a dollop of whipped topping in a bright blue cotton candy ice cream base, this cold concoction is as colourful as a good old-fashioned kitchen party on a St. John's Saturday night.
• Nova Scotia Blueberry “Scone’er”- Sweet Cream ice cream loaded with blueberries the colour of the North Atlantic, with graham cracker pie crust and almonds like the rocky coast line that Nova Scotians call home.
• PEI Rocky Road to “Heaven-lea” - Chock full of crunchy almonds, chocolate chips, and smothered in fudge sauce, this chocolate ice cream creation is as rocky as the tiny island's red sandstone cliffs.
• New Brunswick Ploye Perfection -  Pieces of yellow cake mixed into Cake Batter ice cream and decked out with whipped topping and strawberries, this take on a traditional Acadian pancake is anything but flat.
• Quebec La Poutine Gourmand - A sweet take on Quebecois cuisine, this creamy creation features French Vanilla ice cream mixed with pecans, chocolate shavings all smothered in caramel sauce.
• Ontario's Berry Best - Inspired by the strawberry fields of southwestern Ontario, this creation is loaded with brownies, Ontario strawberries and fudge sauce mixed into strawberry ice cream.
• Manitoba Red River Flare -  A taste of fruity goodness with strawberries, bananas and whipped topping on top of delicious strawberry ice cream. This cold creation’s soft texture is as rich as Manitoba valleys and as plush as the humid air.
• Saskatchewan Wheat King Coronation - Golden yellow cake chunks mixed into Cake Batter ice cream, topped with pieces of SKOR® bar and swirled with caramel sauce, to represent the fertile terrain and golden yellow wheat fields of Canada's breadbasket.
• Alberta Black Gold - Tim Hortons Double Double Coffee ice cream mixed with dark gooey fudge to capture the fast paced, hardworking oilmen of Canada’s cowboy province, mixed with a mountainous terrain layer of graham cracker pie crust and almonds.  
• B.C. Rocky Mountain Landslide - Whipped topping on top of chocolate ice cream to signify the snowy peaks of the Rockies; mix in Oreo® cookie pieces and chocolate chips to capture the craggy cliffs of Canada’s West.

Whether you have a Cold Stone Creamery in your area or not, tell me which province you would most like to try!

Pineapple Chicken Kabobs #Recipe (and a coupon by 7/15/12)

It’s Summer!

I don’t normally post about coupons but I wanted to let you know that U.S. and Canadian residents can get a $0.50 off coupon on Del Monte Gold® Extra Sweet Pineapple from Del Monte on Facebook if you complete a short form by July 15th!

What can you do with your pineapple? Try it grilled!

Pineapple Chicken Kabobs Recipe from Del Monte

(Makes 6 (2 kabob) appetizer servings)
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons lime juice, divided
3 tablespoons lite soy sauce, divided
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into (24) 1-inch pieces
Ground pepper to taste
2 cups DEL MONTE GOLD® EXTRA SWEET PINEAPPLE Chunks
1 medium Del Monte® red bell pepper, cut into (24) 1-inch squares
½ large Del Monte® sweet onion, cut into (24) 1-inch pieces
Peanut oil
To make basting sauce, in a small bowl whisk together honey, 2 tbsp. lime juice, and 2 tbsp. soy sauce until smooth.
Sprinkle chicken pieces with remaining 1 tbsp. of lime juice and soy sauce. Sprinkle with pepper to taste. Marinate 15 to 30 minutes.
Directions:
Preheat grill to medium-high. Thread chicken, pineapple, red pepper, and onion alternately on 12 (6-7-inch) skewers. Discard and leftover marinade. Brush lightly with peanut oil.
Grill for 10 to 15 minutes, turning to cook all sides. Brush with basting sauce the last 5 to 10 minutes. Serve any remaining sauce over kabobs.
Note:
For a spicy variation, omit ground pepper and sprinkle chicken with Jamaican Jerk seasoning to taste.

*I may receive compensation for this post, or I may not. It hasn’t been decided yet. Either way, saving money on food is always a good thing.

REVIEW: Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables DVD

How do your kids feel about eating fruits and vegetables? Considering the amount of picky eater questions I get in my Ask Callista submission form, it’s obvious most of us struggle with getting our kids to eat their vegetables.

Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables was created because of the recognition that children do what they see other children doing. This DVD is first in a series designed to encourage healthy habits in young children. The series is for children 6 months to 5 years.

The video is divided into chapters and covers the following fruits and veggies: Bell Peppers, Cucumbers, Avocado, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Oranges, Bananas, Raspberries, Strawberries, Apples & Blueberries.  Each chapter shows children of various ages enjoying the featured food. They are happy and clearly enjoying every bite.

When I first heard about this, I was sceptical. How could seeing other children eat make someone else want to eat it. I should’ve know better. My kids are 5 and 6 so a little too old for the videos and they liked seeing the kids and reading their names and ages but it didn’t make them want to try the veggies anymore. However I am proud to say I have started eating Bell Peppers since watching the video with my girls. I am not kidding. I never liked them and now I eat them raw and cooked. The girl eating the red pepper whole, just eating it like an apple made it look SO good.

Running Time: 115 mins
Price: $19.95
Buy Now: at Copy Kids

You can check out the trailer here.

Also check out Copy Kids on Facebook

Father’s Day Frosty Weekend at Wendy’s Jun 16-17

Hot Father’s Day Weekend

I don’t know about the rest of Canada but it’s going to be a hot Father’s Day weekend this year. Take your father (or the father of your kids, your father-in-law or even a friend who is a father,) to Wendy’s and treat him to a Frosty.

Not only will you be giving him a nice, yummy, refreshing gift but you will be helping children in foster care find permanent loving homes.  Continuing the tradition for the sixth time, Wendy’s is looking for customers to help raise money for Wendy’s Wonderful Kids.

Refreshing Gift and Helping Kids In Need

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is a signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and is dedicated to finding permanent adoptive families for children in foster care. They hope to beat last year’s $1.4 million donation!

Three Way to Help (Some are Free)

1. Purchase ANY Frosty product (original, parfaits, shakes and floats) on Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17 at participating Wendy’s and they will donate 50-cents to Wendy’s Wonderful Kids for each one purchased.
   
2. Check in at a Wendy’s using their special mobile-friendly website at http://www.wendys.com/treatitforward during Father’s Day Weekend (June 16-17) and Wendy’s will donate 50-cents for each customer that checks in.
   
   
3. Now through Father’s Day, re-tweet one of @Wendys special tweets with the hashtag #TreatItFwd and Wendy’s will make a 50-cent donation.

GIVEAWAY

I have a $7 Wendy’s Giftcard for one winner from the US/CAN so you can have a frosty too! (or whatever you want from Wendys!) It’s a small gift but hey, it’s $7 you didn’t have before right? Plus it’s in the name of charity.

I’ll make it easy for you to enter, just a few entries!

You Only Need to Do One to Enter, any one you want. Do more for more chances.

Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted and Kinder Canada–Win Cineplex Tickets #KinderMom

Kinder Canada, maker of Kinder Eggs has partnered with DreamWorks® for the recent release of Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted which came out in theatres June 8th.

If you have visited the Kinder Canada Facebook Page since June 6 you may have noticed that it was taken over by the Madagascar crew. Fans have the chance to instantly win 1 of 120 Cineplex® Family Passes to go see the movie as well as 1 of 4 Grand Prize passes.

You only have until June 17 to enter though so hurry up! You can enter Daily!

A Family Pass (RV: $76) includes two adult general admission tickets with two soft drinks and one popcorn PLUS two children’s admissions (ages 13 & under) with two kids’ tray combos (drink, popcorn, treat).

Also watch for specially-marked boxes of KINDER® SURPRISE® Eggs: 2 of the 3 eggs inside is guaranteed to have a Madagascar 3 toy inside!  Collect 5 gadgets and 9 original Madagascar 3 toys assembling a fun circus-themed Train.

This is one of the ones we were lucky enough to get:

What a great partnership. Make sure you enter daily (Canadians only) until June 17!

Disclosure: I’m part of the Kinder® Mom program and I receive compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.f

REVIEW: Fun Bites Bite Sized Fun Shapes

Do you cut your child’s food into little bite size pieces? Maybe it’s to make it easier to pick up, easier to chew, or maybe just for fun. Or perhaps you send your older child to school with a Bento lunch so you are making the food into fun shapes for that.

What do you use? A knife? That takes time. Cookie cutter? Can’t get the pieces small enough.

That’s where Fun Bites comes in.

Fun Bites makes meal time prep easier. Cut that sandwich into a bunch of small pieces in 5 seconds (that’s how long it took me!)

Just lay out the food item on a cutting board or plate. Put the cutter part (the one with handles) on the food and rock it back and forth. Then put the other part inside and pick the whole thing up off the cutting board and push the middle  through to get all the pieces out.

Use it on fruit, sandwiches, pancakes/waffles, pizza, hamburgers, lunch meat, cheese and more.

As you can see in the picture above, there are two kinds. One makes all squares and the other makes a bunch of half circles and triangles which merge together to make a big heart.

I got the heart one to try out. I brought it to playgroup and we tried it out on the cheese slices.

Rocking the Cutter Back and Forth Over the Cheese
(wasn’t hard for cheese slices, would need to rock more for something thicker)

Pushing the middle part through and the cheese pieces drop onto the plate.

Suggestions For Use:

• Slice melons and use square fun bites to make cubes of melon. Serve as is, add to fruit salad or make fruit kebabs with grapes and banana slices.
• Make quesadillas and cut them into fun bite sized shapes that you can dip into sour cream.
• Cut bread into pieces, then spread with a little topping of your choice and add another piece of bread for mini sandwiches.
• When you make pancakes, instead of adding syrup and then cutting it up for your child, cut it up with fun bites and then add syrup on top.

I was sent the heart shaped one to use but I must say I would have preferred the squares. While the small pieces in mine make up a heart and could be used to create pictures on your plate by moving them around, personally I would have preferred to have all the same shape.

One thing that is very cool is that it’s NOT sharp. Your child could help you cut the foods without worrying about getting cut. It’s the rocking motion that helps cut it, there is no blade. The product is also BPA free and is top shelf dishwasher safe. Also because it helps you pop the food right you, you don’t have to touch the food, keeping germs to a minimum. It’s great for picky eaters, adding a little fun encourages kids to eat up!

Buy It! Fun Bites can be ordered online at Funbites.com If you are in Canada, you can also order from Tiny Wiggles which is located in Canada to help you save on shipping!

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Oogaa (Silicone Baby Feeding Sets + More) – Sponsor Spotlight for #ShakeRattleWin

Oogaa has safe, silicone feeding products for babies. They are starting to carry more products such as clothing too. I will be doing a full review in June.

Benefits:

• Silicone will not grow mould or bacteria.
• Odorless, tasteless
• Microwave Safe
• Dishwasher Safe
• Heat resistant
• Freezer Safe
• BPA free
• Soft on gums
• fun colours and shapes

Where to Buy:

In the USA – At the Oogaa online shop or other online and offline retailers

In Canada – Sold Exclusively at Raspberry Kids

Also available in UK, Hong Kong and Australia

Find Oogaa on Facebook and Twitter

*Disclosure: I will be receiving the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Beanitos and Wholly Guacamole–A Good Combination #CANsnack

I just recently started eating Avocado. I love it now in salads and on burgers and tacos. I never really liked guacamole though. Every kind I tried just wasn’t for me. I tried at least 3 different kinds, some homemade, some store bought. They were too overpowering.

Wholly Guacamole - The Test

So when I was able to try out Wholly Guacamole, I jumped at the chance because I wanted to see if there product was as good as everyone said it was. I figured if a non-guacamole eater loved it, it MUST be good.

Well guess what, I DO love it. It’s creamy, NOT overpowering with garlic or onion and is a nice cool snack (that’s healthy too!)

Oh and I think I know WHY I love it so much. It’s FRESH. It doesn’t have any preservatives or hard to pronounce ingredients and it is even found in the produce section.

Ingredients: Hass Avocados, Jalapeno Puree (white vinegar, jalapeno peppers, salt), Dehydrated Onion, Salt, Granulated Garlic.

All natural ingredients - Preservative and Additive Free - Gluten Free & Non-GMO - Kosher Certified

I tried the SPICY one too and whew is it spicy! My mouth was on fire and I had to run for water but it was GOOD! (this coming from the person who didn’t like anything spicy or hot ever before baby #3)

To find Wholly Guacamole in the US, check out here. In Canada find it at Freshmart, Loblaw's, Safeway, Real Canadian Superstores, Fortinos, Valu-Mart, Zehrs, IGA's in British Columbia Overwaitea, Metro, Sobey's (Atlantic stores only) (A friend saw it in a Walmart too!)

Wholly Guacamole is not currently available in Quebec.

Follow @eatwholly and Like on Facebook.

Try Beanitos For a Different Pairing

Instead of eating it with regular corn chips though, may I suggest you try Beanitos? Beanitos are chips made from beans instead of corn or potatoes.

Beanitos are now available in single serve bags and are new to Canada.

New Single-Serve Size 1.25 oz, - 175 Calories - 6 g Protein & 6 g Fiber – GLUTEN-FREE, CORN-FREE, WHEAT-FREE, SOY-FREE, NON-GMO and LOW ON THE GLYCEMIC SCALE

Other companies have “bean” chips too but they all have corn in them too and can’t claim all the health benefits the other ones can either.

The four flavours I was able to try were Black Bean, Pinto Bean and Flax, Black Bean BBQ Chipotle and Pinto Bean and Flax Cheddar Cheese. Eaten alone, I really only liked the Cheddar Cheese but eaten with the guacamole I preferred the plain Black Bean and plain Pinto Bean and Flax. I was not a fan of the BBQ Chipotle.

Sharing With Other Moms

However I took the Beanitos and Wholly Guacamole to playgroup and shared it with all the moms there for our Mother’s Day feast and they were POPULAR! The kids were eating them, the moms were eating them, it was great. Everyone had their own favourite. Many moms were asking what stores they could get the products at! 

Beanitos are in 12,000 stores across the US, including Whole Foods, Krogers & Safeway. You can see a list here. Beanitos have just recently come to Canada –– find at select Horizon, Sobeys and Longo's.

Follow @beanitos and Like on Facebook.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Funky Monkey Snacks Twitter Party 5/1 with @funkymonkeysnck #funkychat

Funky Monkey Snacks will be hosting a twitter chat on May 1 at 11am ET and you are invited!

If you are saying to yourself, “What’s a Twitter Party?” then read this.

Questions can be directed to @funkymonkeysnck and you just need to follow hashtag #funkychat to participate (HINT: Tweetchat makes it easy!)

What are Funky Monkey Snacks?

Funky Monkey Snacks are all-natural real fruit made using a proprietary freeze-drying process that creates Fruit That Crunches!® while retaining fruit's natural goodness. Funky Monkey uses full slices and pieces of real fruits, not the small dices found in other freeze-dried fruit products. Each ounce of Funky Monkey contains three servings of fruit, providing a snack that is delicious, healthy and convenient. – source

Funky Monkey Snacks are available in Canada at Tiny Wiggles. You can see how to order online elsewhere or where in the US they are available here.

Funky Monkey Snacks are good for children (and adults) who like the sweet or tangy taste of fruits but don’t like the texture (soft and often cold.) There are multiple flavours with fun names:

• Applemon (Apple/Cinnamon)
• Bananamon (Banana/Cinnamon)
• Carnaval Mix (Banana, Pineapple, Apple and Papaya)
• JiveALime (Pineapple/Lime)
• MangOJ (Mango/Orange Juice)
• Pink Pineapple (Pineapple/Guava)
• Purple Funk (Banana/Acai)

Try Them Out!

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.  

Ask Callista–4/27– E-store, Hockey, Go To Dinner

Ask Callista is my weekly feature where I answer reader questions.

I’d love for you to join the conversation in the comment by adding your thoughts on the questions and/or my answers.

Find out more and how to submit your questions here.

The Questions

Clarinda @ A Jewel in the Making asks… What is the best way to integrate a store on your blog? What plug-ins would work for that? Any other information on setting up a store front on a blog would be great

You stumped me with this one. I wasn’t able to find a person who could recommend a certain way of doing it but here are some resources I found on my own.

The easiest way seems to be using Paypal where you display products however you want and put “add to cart” buttons underneath and it will take care of the rest. More Info on Paypal.

You mentioned plugins so I assume you have wordpress. I found the following plugins for stores which seem to be rated as the top two.

- Get Shopped
- Shopp

I also came across Mal’s Ecommerce which isn’t a WP plugin but can also create a store front.

More Resources:
How To: Adding a Store to Your Wordpress Blog
How to Add a Store To Your Blog

Hope that Helps!

Greta @ Greta’s Day asks… I know you're from Canada. Do you like hockey? And if so, what's your favorite team?

I am not a sport fan in general. I don’t dislike Hockey but I don’t really watch it either. I have played it on PS3 before with my husband and his cousin but I wasn’t really good. The only part I don’t like is if it gets physical, I don’t think that’s funny or right in any sport.

Since I don’t really follow Hockey, I don’t know much about the teams but the one I played on the video game was always Edmonton Oilers. I suppose I should root for a team closer to home but I like their name and the colour of their jerseys.

Now you are probably asking this because you know Hockey is one of Canada’s Official Sports, but do you (or anyone else) know what the OTHER official sport is (without googling it!)???

Emily @ Nap Time is My Time asks… What is your "go to" meal for busy nights?

On busy nights, I almost always make Spaghetti. I try to always have pasta sauce, some kind of pasta (usually penne, rigatoni, rotini or cavatelli) and ground beef on hand. It often becomes our Tuesday night dinner every week as Tuesday is our Girl Guide night and is always rushed.

Another one is eggs and toast as we always have both on hand. Breakfast for dinner is fun!

Okay that’s it for today. If you submitted a question and I didn’t answer it, check back next week! If you want to submit a question, go here.

Cold Stone Creamery Introduces the Blast

Cold Stone Creamery has introduced it’s newest ice cream product, the Blast.
The Blast is yummy ice cream mixed with some blend ins.
The Cold Stone Blast flavours are:

• OREO^® Indulgence: Sweet Cream ice cream blended with OREO^® cookies and fudge sauce and topped with more Oreo^® cookie pieces
• Peanut Butter Chocolate: Chocolate ice cream blended with Reese^® Peanut Butter Cup  pieces and fudge sauce and topped with more Reese^® Peanut Butter Cup pieces
• Cookie Cookie Dough Dough:  French Vanilla ice cream, chocolate chip cookie dough pieces and fudge sauce and topped with more cookie dough pieces

I was lucky enough to try the Peanut Butter Chocolate one and Oh My Gosh! It was so yummy. Like eating a bunch of Reese’s cups mixed with creamy peanut butter and melted chocolate. I think I melted.

The Blast comes in two sizes; Love it $2.99 and Gotta Have It $3.99. I loved the ice cream but I must admit I find the prices a bit steep. The Gotta Have It isn’t that much bigger. I would suggest you get the Love It size if you have some, it was a good treat and would taste even better on a hot summer’s day!

Find your local Cold Stone Creamery location here.

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.  

Ask Callista–4/20–Picky Eating, Product Reviews & Blogging

Ask Callista is my weekly feature where I answer reader questions.

I’d love for you to join the conversation in the comment by adding your thoughts on the questions and/or my answers.

Find out more and how to submit your questions here.

The Questions

Multi-Testing Mommy asks… Do you have any suggestions for how to deal with a super picky eater?

For some kids, picky eating is more to do with control in a similar way to how potty training is. They don’t want to be told what to eat or how to eat it.  Sometimes picky eating comes from not being offered enough diverse foods when they are younger or from watching other children and adults around them, make funny faces or say yuck to foods. It’s said it takes 21 times of tasting a food before we will develop a fondness for it. Occasionally there is a severe underlying issue such as Extreme Picky Eating or Selective Eating Disorder.

Toddler and young children have certain quirks that we must remember are a normal part of growing up and learning to eat foods. Do not be concerned if your young child:

• does not want his or her food touching on the plate
• holds food in his or her mouth for a while
• wants only one food for several days or weeks only to refuse that same food for the next few weeks/months.
• wants things a certain way and is upset if you do it differently (such as cutting the toast differently or using the “wrong” plate.

So what can you do about picky eating?

• Continue to offer healthy foods. Explain that it is on the plate so he can try it when he wants to. If he doesn’t, he can leave it on the plate. Just offer a tiny bit.
• Role model eating a wide variety of foods. Refrain from saying eww or yuck or making faces at food you don’t like. Just say no thank you or pass it.
• Offer a multivitamin recommended from your doctor.
• Bring your child in for regular check ups with your doctor to ensure he is gaining weight as he should and there are no worrying health problems. I suggest having blood done every once in a while to check for deficiencies.
• Realize that most children outgrow such pickiness.
• Take your child shopping with you. Sometimes if they pick out something to eat, they are more likely to actually eat it.
• Check out the book The No-Cry Picky Eater Solution by Elizabeth Pantely – the BEST book on the subject.
• If you live in Ontario, contact your local health unit and ask about the NutriStep screening.
• Ask your doctor for a referral to a nutritionist to discuss your concerns.

Good luck!

Added 4/25/12 – Check out Picky Eating Therapy from Healthy Lifestyle, Strong Family

Diane from Me, Him and the Cats asks… What is your favorite/most used product that you have reviewed ?

Oooh good one. I had to think for a bit but the item I got for review that I’ve used the most since I’ve gotten it would have to be…. my desk chair from CSN Stores (Now Wayfair). I’ve used it for over a year now and my bottom is much more comfortable because of it!

Ashley from Dr. Pepper Diva asks… Why did you start blogging?

I actually started blogging WAY back in 2003. I had websites from geocities starting in 1999 for many different things and on one I did book reviews. Then I found amazon.com and started putting my reviews there. Then in 2003 they changed the rules and didn’t allow anyone to post reviews on amazon.com if they hadn’t purchased from there and I didn’t have a credit card so I couldn’t purchase from there.

So I was planning to go back to my website for reviews when I stumbled upon a book blog and saw that this would be a great place to feature my book reviews. So I started my book review blog first and then shortly after, started this one. It was originally mostly for me, with results from online quizzes and my own thoughts. Then I saw that others were blogging for an audience and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. The direction of Callista’s Ramblings has changed many times but that’s how it all started.

Okay that’s it for today. If you submitted a question and I didn’t answer it, check back next week! If you want to submit a question, go here.

Ask Callista 4/13 –New Weekly Feature–Get Your Questions Answered

A Little Background

I love knowledge and I love helping others. When I started my blog, one of the things I wanted to do was impart knowledge to others. Not that I claim to have all the answers of course but what I don’t know, I have fun looking up.

When I was a kid, my mother and I would pick a topic, research it, and present it to each other in a fun way (demonstrations, bristol board displays etc.) Yes like a grade school project, but for fun.  As a teenager I research Autism and made my own binder full of notes and research. I still have it I think.  I didn't really know anyone with Autism, it just interested me and still does.

So yeah, I love knowledge. It`s why I read almost exclusively nonfiction.

On to the Feature

So every Friday, I will answer questions submitted to me by readers and friends. They fall under one of three categories: General Knowledge (Something I could look up if I don`t know), Advice/Opinions (My advice on the subject or I will gather advice from others if I don’t know or feel qualified to answer) and Personal (questions about me or my blog.)
You can submit your questions here.

The Questions

Samantha asks: What do you suggest for a child who is interested in potty training some days and will do good for a week or two, but then will stop and not want to use the potty at all for a few weeks? My daughter will be 2 and and half in May and I would really like her to be potty trained by the end of the summer.

Callista says: Potty training is difficult because we control so much about our children’s lives and potty training is the one thing that we can’t control. We can’t MAKE them go. We can put them on the potty, we can reward, bribe or threaten all we want. But we can’t make them go.  Many parents have a goal of when they would like their child potty trained by and it’s okay to have a goal but ultimately, the decision rests with the child. If she is showing interest and has even gone a few times, then she does want to do it, but she may either feel pressured and be pulling back or she may be nervous about moving to the next step.

Make sure you not only praise her when she goes but when she chooses to just sit on the potty. If she goes in her diaper, don’t make a negative comment. It’s tempting to say something like, “You know you should really do that in the potty” or “Big girls go on the potty” but that may backfire on you. Just change her diaper as if it’s no big deal, do it quick. One trick to try is to start dumping the poop into the toilet before throwing out the diaper. It’s a subtle message about where it should be, without saying anything. Depending on how often she is going in the toilet and if she is interested in wearing underwear and if you are willing to deal with a lot of mess, some parents (including me) have found just switching to underwear a good way to go. Once they actually have to FEEL their mess, they are more apt to go to the toilet. However you don’t want to switch back to diapers so take this step only if you are both ready.

Jen asks: When milk is heated does it lose any nutrients or calcium?

Callista says: I had a lot of trouble finding an answer to this one! There is a lot of conflicting advice around and the sources I would trust, didn’t seem to have anything on it.  I think the main consensus seems to be that heating at high temperatures can make milk lose some of it’s nutrients but that heating up milk in the microwave for a baby or a hot drink should be okay if you heat it up in short bursts, for as little time as possible. Heat no more than 30 seconds at a time, and you really shouldn’t need much more after that anyways. I will look into this furthur and see if I can find a more concrete answer from a reliable source. If I do I will be sure to share it. Also remember I am not a medical professional and will not be held liable for my advice.

Rebelle of Dishin with Rebelle asks: What is some advice you can give to new bloggers or even bloggers that have been around awhile but are still struggling?

Callista says: My two biggest tips/advice for new or struggling bloggers is this:

1. All is Not What It Seems
It may look like that bigger blogger has it all, has more time to devote to their blog than you, is just better at blogging than you, got lucky when it comes to opportunities or has a huge fan base that comments on every post but NOT NECESSARILY.  Those bloggers have a larger fan base and great opportunities because they work hard for it and they’ve figured out shortcuts to save time. They use scheduled posts, scheduled tweets and post/email templates. They often spend many hours on their blog, getting little sleep. Most of all, they have #2 on my list.

2. You Need a Community
I’ve blogged for years, some of which were on and off, but fairly steadily since at least 2007 yet I got piddly stats until just recently (2011).  The biggest help to my blogging has been the blogging communities I’ve found and joined. I bounce ideas off of them, they help me with problems and they exchange comments, retweets, giveaway entries and stumbles with me. (Also pins, follows, +1s and visits) It takes some time to find the right one(s) for you. I’ve joined some and found they weren’t for me and moved on. My two biggest community groups are the Canuck Bloggers Network and She Promotes. Just make sure you follow any communities rules.

Okay that’s it for today, this post has gotten really long! If you submitted a question and I didn’t answer it, check back next week! If you want to submit a question, fill out this form.

Tim Hortons Ups Their Cup Size

Tim Hortons seems to be following along with other companies (especially in the US) whose drink sizes are super sizes. The official date for the change is Jan 23, 2012 but there are some stores that have already made the switch. So find out if they've switched before you order unless you don't mind getting a bigger size.

Tim Hortons says that the prices will not change but some of my friends think it's just a matter of time before the prices go up, but that it will be deemed separate from the bigger cup sizes.

What do you think? Are you happy the cup sizes are changing? Would you buy the new XL? Do you think the prices will go up later? Chime in below!

*Disclosure: I am sharing this information because my readers may want to know. No compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information. 

REVIEW: Brugo Mug - Temperature Controlled Hot Beverage Travel Mug

Do you drink a lot of hot beverages like Coffee, Tea or even Hot Chocolate? Do you burn your tongue on the first sip and then half way through have to dump the rest because it's gone cold? Not anymore!

The Brugo Mug is a uniquely designed mug that controls the temperature of your hot drink so that each sip is the perfect temperature.

There is a special chamber at the top of the cup and when you have it set to tip/sip, you can tip the cup to put a bit of the drink into the chamber, then swirl a few times to cool it, and then sip it! The more you swirl, the cooler the sip will be. Then when the rest of the drink is cool enough (less than half left), you can set it to sip and just sip normally.

There are three settings on the lid:

1. Lock - Makes the cup spill proof, lock it when say it's on your desk and you aren't drinking from it or it's in your cup holder in the car.
2. Sip - You use this when your drink is less than half and cooled enough that it won't burn you anymore. This makes it act like a regular mug.
3. Tip and Cool - What makes this mug unique - allows the drink to enter the special cooling chamber.

The cups are well designed, heavy enough to not tip over easy but not so heavy it hurts to hold it. They come in a wide variety of colours and even in some muted darker colours in the executive collection.

See how it works:





I don't drink coffee or tea but I tried it with Hot Chocolate. It took me a little while to get the hang of how much to tip and how much to swirl to get the desired temperature of drink but I figured it out. At one point when the drink was about half full, I figured I didn't need to swirl anymore because I had forgotten about my drink for about 20 minutes. So I switched to regular sip and took a drink and burned my mouth! I'm not used to a drink staying so hot for so long!

If you drink a hot beverage every now and again and usually always in a house or building, you may not need the Brugo but this is definitely great for those who drink coffee while in the car or on the go in any other way or who love their drinks very hot. My mother loves her tea hot so she has to drink it really fast or it will cool down and she won't like it. I will be giving her my Brugo Mug so she can enjoy her tea and still drink it hot.

The Brugo Mug would make an AWESOME gift for a coffee or tea lover in your life. A belated Christmas gift, birthday gift, upcoming Mother's or Father's Day gift, or just an anyday gift!

Check out Brugo Mug on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out the website for specials like 25% off when you buy 2 or more and Free Standard Shipping on orders over $75 (these specials are Canadian but you can click to your countries website to find your own specials)

*Disclosure: I received the product(s) mentioned above free of charge by the company or PR representative for evaluation purposes. No other compensation was provided. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.