Kobo Touch ~ Great gift for new moms & any avid reader

The Kobo has been an amazing gift to give this Christmas and here's why you should consider one.

My husband has been an avid book reader his whole life and has never been receptive to the idea of an e-reader.  However the new Kobo Touch seems to have changed all that.  Now he is anxious to explore e-books.

When I showed it to him, and he finally saw it in person, he was knocked out by how small and portable it was.  He loves to have a book in his hands, and he takes them with him wherever he goes.  The problem always is that the books can be large and awkward, and it can become banged up if it's in his bag.  The Kobo is a perfect size and weight, and he can store many books at once, so he's never having to carry more than one book!

Our living room has a wall of books and to be honest when it comes to moving packing those books can be a pain. He finally got rid of hundreds of books on our last move, and it still didn't seem to make a dent. I'm not going to lie to you, I like to read, but he is voracious!  He would be happy if we went out and sat together and read.  I'm a woman for heaven's sake, I'm verbal!  Anyway, enough about my husband's quirks, we don't have all day.

The convenience of Kobo Touch is he reads numerous books at one time and he can easily switch between books rather than carrying one.  He commutes via TTC(Toronto's public transportation) so his life is made easier with one handy little e-reader. It certainly helps that the prices for ebooks seem substantially less than actual books.  Even my husband can understand that!  This will make both our lives that much easier. Everyone can relate to that!

I do however think this is a brilliant gift for a mom to be or the new mom who loves to read.  Have you tried reading a book while breast feeding, bottle feeding or while baby is sleeping in your arms?  Reading is not so easy. What is great about e-readers is you need one hand to tap the page and voila...reading just got a touch easier.  The battery level is fantastic and can last a month(well 10,000 page turns) before having to give a charge, it also has built in Wi-Fi.  See more {here}


Switching to e-reading is something we are new too because of our love for books, we still enjoy going to Indigo and Chapters and looking through books. A good book is a good book whether you have an appreciation for literature in paper back or electronically.  We are no longer e-reader snobs.

Kobo Touch is remarkable.
Indigo has free shipping on orders over $25.   This would be an amazing baby shower gift and it's still the Christmas season(we also celebrate Ukrainian Christmas, Jan.7) so...that last minute gift you need...well here you go!

Everything Mom and Baby's Year End Contest

Toronto-based lifestyle family photographer, Diana Nazareth, works mainly on-location to create images that are often described as natural, modern, candid and real. Her latest venture is weddings, a natural extension of her affinity for all things family, love and connections that matter.
She is also a proud member of National Association of Professional Child Photographer (NAPCP), a member of the HELPING HEARTS photography team  and the official photographer for Children's Art Theatre School (CATS DRAMA).

Diana serves Toronto and surrounding areas including North, York, Scarborough, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Markham, Oakville, Brampton, Richmond Hill, London,  Milton, Whitby, Hamilton and Newmarket and ladies do I have something for you!  See her beautiful photography {here}, and she is not only beautiful on the outside but inside as well. A truly genuine soul who is amazing at what she does and she offering.....

 a Family Photo Session and Exclusive Digital Collection (all session photo's!): valued at $1075.00 

Get your friends and family over to Diana Nazareth Photography to like her page, we need to know who referred them to her page. So ask them to leave a comment. Then add your comment to Everything Mom and Baby's Blog post as to who you referred. This can lead to numerous points! So the more people you get to Like the more entries you get!

*Once that person has liked her page and commented your entry will only count then so we can verify.

~ It's simple to enter ~
(* mandatory)

* For a chance to win simply "Like" Diana Nazareth Photography on {Facebook} that is all that is required!
 
 If you're new to Everything Mom and Baby you can like me on {Facebook} too!

* Leave a comment on this post saying that you liked her page. mandatory

{Diana Nazareth Photography has to reach 1000 likes before the drawing can take place}

To increase your chance of winning, share the news on twitter or your Facebook page(you can click on the heart below where it says share this post) and then leave a comment here (my blog post) telling us you did so. Your name can be entered up to 3 times.

The winner will be selected randomly on March. 1, 2012 if we get to a 1000 likes.
If not the prize value will change. Details to come.

A few details ~

1. Winner must reside in Toronto or anywhere in the GTA, and including Markham, Newmarket, Oshawa, Pickering, Brampton, Richmond Hill, Whitby, London, Hamilton, Milton and Burlington.

2. Winner must agree to book their Family Photo Session date by March 31, 2012. Session date must occur by November 30, 2012. No exceptions.

3. Session covers up to 5 family members only. Each additional member is charged an additional fee of $25. Winner agrees to pay for shipping cost of Digital Collection (estimated at $25).

4. Giveaway has no cash value and can not be combined with any other promotion or offers. No transfers permitted.

5. Winner must agree to sign a model release form allowing photographer Diana Nazareth and Everything Mom and Baby to feature winner’s session images on their respective websites and blogs.

If I get her to 1000 Likes I get a Family Photo Session too so please Like!

 GOOD LUCK!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Whatever your faith, may you find joy and happiness this Christmas Season as we celebrate the Winter Solstice and one another.

Turn the volume up on your computer to listen.

This ecard personalized with Smilebox

Hexbug by Nano ~ Micro Robotic Creatures

Okay these are super cool from HexBug.  To be honest when I got this to review I didn't think I would think much of it but I do! I love them.  The scatter around, my son gets excited when we pull this out and we all play with them...as a family.

I must say it again, these are super cool. I highly recommend them.
I gave a Nano bug to my son, I was thinking okay maybe this will help us get over our fear of bugs which I had passed on to him as we were up North this passed Summer.  It has helped :) but they are more of a fun toy to get your preschoolers into early robotics.

This Nano bug moves like a real bug, it flips over and zips around like a beetle.  These robotic bugs run for about $5.  These make great little gifts and stocking stuffers for the 3+.  If you see these, get one. You'll get hooked and get the whole collection which is what we are now into, LOL!  You can become a collector online.  There are so many ramps to use as well such as a Glow in the Dark Habitat, The Nano Starter Kit is pretty fun too and only $12!

The Hexbug Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set
The Nano's(bugs) move all over the place and go in circles sometimes.  My son was talking to it asking "Do you like going in circles, little bug?" then I pulled this out and the look of amazement swept across his face. We put some more Nano's in it and watched them move around...let the swarming begin! Nano owners would place their bugs on either side of the elevated
arena where they must scurry over an orange bridge, through one-way gates and meet in the center battle platform. HEXBUG Nanos nudge and knock their competitor out of the battle arena
until only one bug is left standing and reigned champion.


The Hexbug Spiral Starter Set (only $20!) and the Elevation Habitat is our favorite.

 Like the name suggests it's a nice starter set and the price is right if you are looking for a little extra something to give this Christmas Season.  I would recommend to all my friends as it is a fun toy and the bugs are really neat.

HEXBUG was designed to give children a positive experience with robotics at a young age. Their Everyone is drawn to the HEXBUG intelligent bug-like attributes and eye-catching packaging. Some of the products are so animated, they have fooled my cat dogs and my husbands friends have fun playing with this as well.

I think I'll have to get the Hexbug Spider next....I wonder if that will help get over my fear of those 8 legged creatures! You can buy online and I have seen these at Toys R Us.

{Share this post(click below where you see the little heart) and pass along if you know some one looking for something cool, fun and affordable this Holiday/Christmas Season.}

Recipe of the Day: Cheese-Puff Crowns a la Julia Child

Oh my god I am in love with these buns!!!!!!!!
They sort of remind me of the buns you get at Red Lobster but these are better..... because these are so easy to make and made by you. If you're looking for appetizers to make this Christmas or buns to have with dinner make a few batches.  I love Julia Child and this is my first Julia Child recipe.  How do I not have her cookbooks?! I'll add it to my Christmas list for hubby!

I got this recipe from my mother.  It's out of a April.4/27, 1992 First Magazine

All I did was follow the super easy instructions.

• In a nutshell, preheat oven to 425F.  Makes 8-9 buns.

• Boil water, butter and salt, remove from heat and throw in a cup of flour.  It will look like clumpy at first but will smooth out quickly and look like mashed potatoes.

• Transfer to a bowl and while still warm, make a well in the middle, add 1 cup of beaten eggs, about 4. Add the eggs at a 1/4 cup at time (my consistency was perfect at just about a half cup of beaten eggs rather than the cup recommended) It's like a puff pastry formed into a ball and with swiss cheese in the end.   So  once the egg is added the dough should hold its shape when scooped up on a spoon. That's why it's important to add a 1/4 cup at a time, you don't want it too loose or you'll have to start all over. I used an electric beater when adding the egg.

• Beat in 1 cup of the cheese ( I just stirred it in) and form a ring by dropping mounds of the dough in a circle (pictured below) *make sure the pan is lightly buttered and floured.

• Cook at 425F for 20 minutes than reduce to 400F for another 20 minutes ( I baked mine for about 50min)

It's crisp outside and moist and savory within. DIVINE!

Ingredients:

1 cup of water
3oz of butter
1 tsp of salt
1 cup of flour
1 cup of lightly beaten eggs(about 5, I was good with 4)
1 cup + 2 tbsp of Swiss cheese.

Win Donny from Monster Factory

Kyle Mini Monster

Need a last minute gift idea? Cute stocking stuffer's needed? Monster Factory just brought back the mini's priced at $12.95 and these mini's make a cute little gift. I'd like another :)

I first came across the Monster Factory at the One of a Kind Christmas Show.  I fell in love with the look, quality, loved that it is a local company made by talented artisans and well....my son could not get enough of them as we were about to leave.
From the corner of his eye he saw the Monster Factory and immediately ran towards the booth.

He saw a whole bunch but we he liked most was Donny.
Donny is part of the Buddy and Friends and we are need of another "companion" for Donny so we are debating which one to get next? I might need your help with choosing!

Donny

This is Donny, he is so cute and goofy looking, he is my son's favorite.

"Donny is ever the opportunist, Donny always has a get rich quick scheme in the works."

Monster Factory is based in Toronto, ON where their studio is located on 471 Richmond Street West, Suite 102. I love supporting local businesses.

All Monsters are made on the premises.
The Monster Factory "is a character toy brand run by Adam Dunn, Rhya Tamasauskas, and Bliss Man. Together they design and create engaging monster characters who live in a strangely familiar world. Combining their backgrounds in film, art, and fashion, the creators have developed a strong sense of collaboration that affects every aspect of their process from storytelling to product design. Their efforts have produced countless monster characters who, despite their appearances, are just like you and me."

With Christmas around the corner take advantage of their Colin Sale and visit their website to see what they are all about.

Monster Factory would like to give you a Donny of your own ( I bought mine!) so ONE lucky subscriber is in for a treat!

Pong ~ The leader in radiation reducing cell phone covers and iPad covers

I recently just got this to review and while I turn down a lot of companies I couldn't refuse this as a new iPad2 owner.
I have to tell you about it because I think it's important for your pregnant bellies if you sit with your iPad propped on the beautiful belly and for your family members and friends.
I have friends with iPhone's, my husband has a Blackberry and these will be under the tree for them.

 

With almost every household using/having cell phones and iPads it only makes sense that this Holiday Season one should receive a Pong.  I feel much better with my son handling our iPad2. Why? Read below.

Sweet boy playing with my iPad with the pong cover in place

What is Pong?
Developed by scientists out of MIT, Princeton, UCLA and Harvard, Pong cases have been scientifically proven in independent, FCC-certified labs to reduce cellular radiation by up to 95% below the FCC target.

It protects your phone's signal strength too.

Thinking of gifting a child an iPad or cellphone?

•  An article published last month in the scientific journal, Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, reported that children absorb twice as much radiation from cell phones as adults do and more than FCC guidelines permit.

• Most vulnerable are a child’s brain, eyes and bone marrow, which can absorb as much as 10 times the amount of radiation an adult’s body does.

•  These findings come just 4 months after the World Health Organization classified cell phone radiation as a potential carcinogen based on a large, global research study.

Pong for iPad2 comes in a nice sleek box with a polishing cloth(loved how it cleaned my iPad2), it has openings around the hard shell case you never have to remove pong. I can easily recharge, turn it off and on and download photo's and apps no problem without having to remove this awesome case.

You can prop it up, the cover itself has a faux leather that easily flips open and closes it can also configure into a horizontal and vertical position. As it's shut the iPad2 goes into sleep mode. 

This is the only iPad cover you'll ever need!

and one can feel better using their cellphone or when your kids are using them. It reduces SAR up to 95% below FCC limits while protecting the signals strength.

Get one for yourself, your friends & family. Please share this post, click where you see my little heart below for links.

It is a great product and more should know about it.

To learn how Pong works look {here}

Buy {here}

Elephoto ~ Give the gift of memories

This Christmas season I've had the pleasure to use a more personal approach to holiday gift giving by using elephoto.  I loved all the options for personalized Yuletide gifts....I can't say what I got or everyone will know. But 2012 will look a lot better for the grandparents.

Here are some of my favorite ideas:

Have you thought of creating baby's first calendar? You could with elephoto.

If you want to make affordable options to make your own personalized holiday cards you well they are just a click away.

You can also make lovely poster calendars which is a nice touch with your custom photo's for the grandparents and other family members for 2012 or you can get the photo books which is another great gift where you can add those sweet newborn pictures or other special memories that you hold dear to you.

How easy is it to do?

Simply select your product, theme and upload your photo's. You can easily edit and zoom in to see your creation clearly.

Not only can you use elephoto for personal use but they even have a Business selection for you!
If you are a WAHM and would like to create a catalog, click {here} to see your options.

Elephoto is a Canadian company based in Toronto, Ontario where you can turn memories into magic and they are offering a lovely gift for one lucky Everything Mom and Baby subscriber of a $50 gift voucher.

Why wait to win? You still have time to get this in time for Christmas! Shop now and use this code: MOMBABY15
to save 15%, code is valid until January.31/2012. Start shopping {here}




*Just give it a moment to download or click on Read More for the rafflecopter entry form for the giveaway*

More unique Christmas present ideas: Dolly Tai's and Gumdrop Kids

 Move over Cabbage Patch Kids there's a new heirloom in town to give this Holiday Season and they are handmade in Canada by the very talented Sarah Shaw of Crazy Baby Accessories.

Buy {here}

Her Waldorf inspired dolls are called Gumdrop Kids and they are one of kind and sure to give the little girl in your life one great big smile. She a numerous different styles you can choose from for these gorgeous dolls.
To see what else Crazy Baby Accessories has please visit her Etsy shop for the most adorable doll clothes, hand knit hats for  girls and boys and stylish clothing.

Buy {here}

Another great find to go with your Gumdrop Kid is a  Natural Mother Productions Doll Slings, pictured to the right.
Handmade in Canada by the uber babywearing mom and carrier maker, Michelle Dunn.

Do you love baby wearing? Well your child can enjoy it as well!
This Dolly-Tai is perfect for your little one to carry his/her dolls or toys.  Comes in your choice of prints and featuring the safety and convinence of velro straps, your child will love this early introduction to the benefits of babywearing!

My great finds at the One of a Kind Christmas Show: Holiday gift idea's

Although this just ended a lot of the venders can be found online and I'd like to share with you some of my favorite finds.

Donny is a monster from Monster Factory, I had forgotten how nice it is to support local, hand made items.

There are lots of monsters to choose from and my little guy clearly stated:
" I don't like real monsters, just pretend ones like Donny"

Well Christmas came a tad early for my guy. I had to get this for him as the girls at Monster Factory could not get enough of Charlie and Charlie could not get enough of this sweet monster who is named "Donny:
Ever the opportunist, Donny always has a get rich quick scheme in the works"

All are Monsters are made in Toronto!
Check out their monster of the week Colin and save!

Another great find was this baby carrier cover from GogoMama Designs.

gogomama

The look of it gorgeous and priced at $120.  All made in Toronto by the lovely mama, Jennifer.

It is made from a canvas type material that is a blend of cotton and linen and lined with fleece. The stitching was very nice and looks like a great functional cover. I did not get a chance to try it on due to time (so I do not know if the strap pulls around the neck) but it does fit over most carriers and you can do a hip carry as well as front and back.
It has one strap that goes around your neck and the sides have pullies so you can cinch it up.

See what else gogomama designs {here}



Tapochki

Tapochki

 Super cute little booties. They are a handmade wool blend with leather soles and the inside is made of a cozy wool fleece. I wish I had a little girl to get these for! They also come in a brushed twill material as well.

Vintage Baby Revival
Do you love knits for gifts and have your little one bundled up in handmade goodness?
If your little girl loves Little Red Riding Hood this is the {poncho} for her.

Melissa also makes adorable slippers and leg warmers.

See more from her shop {here} I have my eye on her Dijon Organic Cotton scarf!

Something for Mom? I love jewellery personally and knits myself but check out Luxe Design.
Create your own look and design from this Vancouver based company.
Sentimental gifts go a long way and here are some of their designs for mom, sisters, the adopted mama to be and for animal lovers.
I love their idea for bridesmaids! The site has so much for inspiration and the price point for every budget. A must see :)


I love candles and in particular beeswax, the smell reminds me of church and the melting beeswax scent also reminds me of making Ukrainian Easter eggs.

One of the best brands for beeswax candles is Pheylonian.  Their candles, including the natural plant fibre wicking remain a handmade craft, utilizing the purest cappings beeswax.  Since inception, the Pheylonian's have worked in conjunction with eco-conscious beekeepers who guarantee the finest quality of pure cappings beeswax and bee products. Their family of beekeepers employ integral holistic bee keeping practices, which ensure the exclusion of any artificial honeycomb foundation being used. All Pheylonian wax, honey and bee pollen is sourced from the Northern Canadian Prairies, from a region free from pesticide, fertilizer and GMO crops that have had no commercial activity for over fifteen years.

The Clay Cauldron use non toxic glazes and her beautiful pottery is made in Toronto,ON
Do you have a baker in the family? One will love this bake stack.






All Things Jill.I have a good nose and I know quality when I smell it, after all I started out working with essential oils and was trained and worked with one of the best in city.
I love All Things Jill soaps, the lavender soap was heaven as was just about everything else!
They have you covered from pet care to hand and body care to even baby and male skin care.

Sooth dry itchy skin in a nice warm Oat Milk bath.
The Milky Way, Organic Oats & milk, with petals of Lavender, Calendula, Rose, Chamomile and pure Essential Oil of Lavender combine to create a milky bath to soothe even the most sensitive skin.

Finish off by moisturizing your skin with their delicious body butters and check out their Holiday Gift Sets.

Book Reviews: Potty Training & Bedwetting

Potty training can be a daunting task. To reward or not to reward? How can we get our kids interested in learning to potty train? How are they going react to their bodies signals?

Well I found Potty Training you Baby by Katie Warren to be a very helpful read.

Babies are smart and one of the quotes that I love from this book is this:

"There is really no need to put off potty training until a child is old enough to tell you he's tired of a wet baby.

Realize that babies aren't incompetent beings, they simply lack experience.  While a baby may not to totally control his little system, he can easily grasp the concept."

I thought myself, oh he's not ready, I'll start when he's ready to tell me. Well, he got trained at 2 1/2 yrs old. I got him super excited about wearing Lightning McQueen underwear and well...I did the rewards thing and it got us on the right step.

Potty training takes time and the baby must learn what it feels like to be wet, to associate wetting and the muscles involved to recognize that feeling.  It will happen in due time for you but I highly suggest this book to read before you start.  Kids get motivated to learn a new skills naturally and you can't force potty training. 
Buy it {here}

Another book for the parents here of older kids who are going through bedwetting check out this book
 Getting to Dry by Max Maizels, Diane Rosenbaum and Barbara Keating.

I truly had no idea what issue's can arise from night time training. My son usually gets up at night to go and I am there to help him.
But we'll see what happens next year!
This is book is aimed for older children (about 4+yrs.)
This book is a great read and a great learning tool for all parents.

The book starts off asking you/caregivers to respect the dignity of those who wet; they do so not because they choose to be wet, but because they haven't yet learned how to be dry.

Pretty powerful words as I know I've gotten ticked off once or twice when we missed the potty, after reading this I had to change my attitude. So what if I had to do more laundry, so what I had to mop up the accidents. 

You'll also learn about enuresis vs incontinence, everyday stresses and what is causing bed wetting? This book covers the pro's and con's of wetting alarms, drug therapies and changes in diet and sleep schedules.
Replace punishment with praise.
Buy it {here}

Bakebook Review: The Rosie's Bakery "All-Butter, Cream-Filled, Sugar-Packing Baking Book"

Do I have your attention? I mean with a book title like that how can one not have visions of delicious cakes, stacks of cookies and sugar plum fairies?

A brief excerpt:

Throw moderation out the window. When you want that real homemade flavor, from-scratch frosted layer cakes, brownies that taste like brownies, and cookies that taste like the ones your grandma used to make, only real ingredients will do: real butter, real cream, real chocolate, and lots of it.
Thats how Rosies has been baking its award-winning treats for over thirty years, and why the Rosies Bakery All-Butter, Fresh Cream, Sugar-Packed, No-Holds-Barred Baking Book won an IACP/Julia Child Cookbook Award.
Visit Rosie's website {here}

What I loved...well everything but here's what I baked: Rosie's Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

This book is my baking must have. As a SAHM I do have the time to bake and cook from scratch.
I was getting so tired of reading bag labels and ingredients of pre-made cookie dough, pre-made cookies....yuck. I am sick of artificial, Soy by products and other ingredients found in commercial made products.
Kick it old school with me and bake!  It is so easy and thanks to mixers really all you have to do is add dry to wet ingredients and mix.  Plus it's a lot cheaper, kids are eating "better" and the house smells amazing.

Get a copy of the book {here} it's on special!

Make a batch!

2 cups plus + 1 tbsp of all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 sticks of butter, unsalted room temperature
1 cup + plus 1 tbsp of packed brown sugar
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 385F and line your baking sheets
2. Sift flour, salt & baking powder
3. Cream butter, vanilla and sugars until light and fluffy. Medium speed  1 1/2 - 2minutes, stop the mixer twice to scrape the bowl.
4. Add the eggs to the butter mixture and beat on medium speed until they are blended. About 30 seconds, scrape the bowl.
5. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed for 15 seconds, scrape the bowl.
6. Add the chocolate chips ( I used milk chocolate chunks!)
7. Drop by heaping tablespoons. 2 inches apart on the baking sheets
8. Bake until golden and center is light and slightly puffed up.  11-12 minutes.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
* Note: This dough is great if you refrigerate first, I did for about 4 hours as suggested in the book. It produces a thicker, chewier cookies with crisp edges.