Family Jewels blog.

Archive for the ‘Great Finds’ Category

New Favourite: Organic Kamut Puffs Cereal

My son is a big boy now. Did I tell you that we walk down the street together now? I’m still disappointed that the crowds don’t part in waves of applause. First walking, then an umbrella stroller (okay, we’ve only rolled in it twice: who can stand the heartbreak of forward-facing out?) and now cereal.

We’re getting ready for our transition to toddler room, and that means breakfast will no longer be held for his arrival. I want something so that he can fit in with his peers, a snack that won’t ferment in my purse and one that I can finally fill his Snack-Trap-y thing with. Since he exhibits no cereal preference, we try a new one every few weeks. (At least until I can distract him from the toddler-height merchandised box with the bright, smiley koala).

Keeping it together thanks to Kamut

Everything from Barbara’s Bakery has been a winner, including the Cheerios alternative superstar,  Organic Breakfast Oh’s (low-sodium whole grains, lightly sweetened with fruit juice). But, frankly they’re too small for my slow fingers to snatch up before they become a fine, stamped-upon dust. Enter Nature’s Path Organic Kamut Puffs. These babies are delicious: a tiny bit naturally sweet and nutty, no added ingredients, crunchy and a fun oversize grain.

What’s Kamut? It’s related to durum wheat, so it still contains gluten, but is much less refined and with more protein. It includes the bran, germ and endosperm of the entire grain, preserving vitamins, minerals, fibre and photochemicals. And it’s missing all of the usual cereal junk: sodium, sugar, over 50 calories, etc.

Definitely not nutritious enough as a meal substitute, but perfect as a not-too-filling tide-over until I can feed him something proper. Maybe.

The bad news: there’s no koala on the front, so this may be a time-sensitive, limited appeal sort of cereal. But it does only cost $2.69 at my grocery. And it’s from a Canadian mom-and-pop brand. Brilliant!

—Melissa, CF’s lifestyle editor

PS: There’s a great round-up with nutritional analysis of organic kids cereals in our next issue. And if you have any tips for toddlers who won’t drink milk, please let me know!

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

The Very Best Valentines Day Gifts for Everyone in the Family

Muffymade Valentines

Muffymade Valentines

We are officially four days away from the lovey-dovey holiday and there are still many gifts to be bought and valentines to be written. Luckily, we’ve rounded up a slew of great presents for everyone from your single BFF to the oh-so-hard-to-buy-for hubby, plus grandma and more!

Check them all out here.

And while love is in the air, don’t be afraid to treat yourself to a little something like this romantic fragrance set, and check out these great articles for help on setting the mood and reclaiming your sex life.

- How to get over (or under) life’s big bumps

- How to get your groove back

- The sexy mom game plan

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

Palm-Oil Free Candy for Valentine’s Day!

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt, via Flickr

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt, via Flickr

Before you grab that heart-shaped box of candy off the shelf, check the ingredients list for palm oil. Readily found in everything from makeup to food products—it’s found in about 50% of all packaged goods available today—palm oil has come increasingly under scrutiny for the ways in which it is harvested.

Palm oil is produced in Malaysia, Indonesia and in many tropical climates, and giant swaths of bio-diverse rainforest have been cleared to make room for fields of oil palms: in the process destroying habitat and putting many forms of life (animals, plants, insects, etc.) at risk, including orangutans and elephants.

Since the World Wildlife Federation introduced a Palm Oil Scorecard in 2009 to rate various corporations who buy palm oil for their products, some have committed to buying only sustainable palm oil. But you can cast your vote as well, by buying Valentine’s Day treats that don’t contain palm oil. Happily, there are lots tasty options to choose from!

Palm-Oil Free Candy:

• M&Ms, Mini M&Ms and Peanut M&Ms
• Reese Miniatures
• Russel Stover Assorted Chocolates
• Hershey’s Kisses (but not Hershey’s Hugs)
• Wonka Sweethearts
• Dove Milk Chocolate Almond, Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate, as well as Dark Chocolate Collection, Raspberry Truffle Hearts, Milk Chocolate Hearts, And Dark and Milk Chocolate Roses
• Wrigley Life Saver Valentine Mix

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

New Shop on the Block: Mjolk

Today I saw something, something so wonderful I couldn’t breathe. I spotted it out of the corner of my eye, but didn’t really believe it was true. And couldn’t really believe it’s true, because it is out of my budget. Unreasonably so. I first coveted this rocking sheep (the pink, of course, silly) one or two years ago. But it wasn’t available here. And my heart had been temporarily smitten by another (more about him on Monday).

Rocking-sheep

Thankfully, my good-sport friend Carlo, he of Mr. Red Lips fame, dashed after it to find out that it’s now available at Mjolk, a shop full of awe-worthy Scandinavian designs, in Toronto’s junction neighbourhood.

Warning, my friends. This is the kind of boutique where everything is truly perfect. And priced accordingly. But the good news is that you can never go wrong in investing in something that functions impeccably and is breathtaking to boot. Buy once, I say, and you’ll be happy forever. Or so I hope.

Aside from my furry friend here, I’ve got my eye on a couple favourites, like  Kristian Vedel perfect birds, these perfect pendant lamps and the perfect kids’ room rug, the pompom-style Pinochhio. I’ve even found one thing I’ve been searching my whole life for: the perfect butter case. And I can’t wait for son to be old enough, so we can make a field trip for a Pointy Hat Acrobat set. I’m reasonably certain that my life, or at least my heart, will never be the same, or at least until Monday.

What are you doing this weekend? I suggest you visit. But if you can’t make it there, why not take inspiration from these dot hooks and craft something similar on your own? And please leave me a note, if you do. (Especially if you don’t mind a shameless copycat.)

—Melissa, CF’s lifestyle editor

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

The DuWop Private Red Lipstick Test

When we came across Private Red lipstick from DuWop, which claimed to adjust its colour to the wearers’ pH levels, we weren’t sure what to make of it. But then we all started trying it on. We were literally gob-smacked.

Not only did it look a little different on all of us, it looked magnificent on everyone, no matter what our colouring! Don’t buy it? See for yourself!

Find the lipstick at Sephora and select Shoppers Drug Mart Beauty Boutique locations.

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

Review: The Sweetest Stamps Ever

Sweetest stamp I've ever seen

Sweetest stamp I've ever seen

Um, do these Craft Pudding stamps not make you want to have like a dozen babies already? Well, maybe not twelve, but at least one named Noa, one named Olivia and one named Isis. Oh, and a boy! I wouldn’t mind Alexi.

I’ve used them before here, but I recently ordered a Sebastien one and the stamps have since become one of my go-to gifts. Magda hand-carves each wooden stamp based on the photo you send her. We chose Max’s striped turtleneck as the base, and she perfectly captured my son’s lopsided grin, the contour of his chubby chipmunk cheeks and his happy-go-lucky hair. In fact, it’s possible I like his stamp self even more than the real life version of him.

With ours, we personalized thank-you card envelopes, valentines, photo backs and Post-its. We’ve even made labels with it (a great solution if your kid’s name is Audrey, Owen or Grace, or any other of last year’s top names). And now that my son’s learned the word “mine,” I think we’ll start stamping his books. And his crackers. If that works, I may even consider getting a “Mummy” stamp, and labelling the bed. The whole thing.

Custom name rubber stamp, $23 US, Craft Pudding.

—Melissa, CF’s associate editor

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

Big News for Little Munsch Fans!

Photo Courtesy of TumbleBooks

Photo Courtesy of TumbleBooks

Everyone’s favourite Canadian author Robert Munsch has teamed up with the digital version of Tumbleweed Press to ensure that his books go everywhere, and we mean everywhere, with your kids.  The Munsch 6-Pack Volume One and Volume Two, can be bought at the Apple iTunes store and are applications for the iPhone or the iTouch. Not only are these six highly coveted Munsch books, including the brand new release, “Put Me In A Book”, the author himself narrates the animated picture books.  Munsch delivers the stories as they are meant to be read – with gusto and a plethora of zany noises and music.

Each volume offers over 30 minutes of distraction for your child so that you can complete your banking transactions, go to the bathroom in solitude (HEY, a parent can dream), or even do the groceries without having to lose your focus or answer a zillion random questions. They will also be available for other 3G phones and Sony PSP.

Keep watch at the end of January when the website goes live with nearly 1000 titles for sale. Now you won’t have to lug a multitude of books everywhere, they will fit nicely in your phone and you can relax, knowing that your child isn’t immersed in a video game. The only difficulty will be explaining the uproarious laughter to the puzzled on lookers.

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

Review: The Very Best Stay-Up Mittens

One little mummy lost her mittens, and she began to cry…

Sometimes it’s the little things. Like realizing just after you’ve hopped onto the streetcar, babe in arms, that one lonely mitten was left lying on the street. The good news, my friends: my daycare pick up is now 25 percent easier, and there are approximately 75 percent fewer women bad-momming my son’s cold, naked hands.

baby all weather

I’ve finally found the perfect mitten! There’s an exclamation mark here because I’ve got a commitment problem. I need to know every product out there at every price point and read every review, before I can even start considering a purchase. And while my inability to make a quick decision left us bootless in December, the good news is that all the adorable colours and embroidery of Mimitens are still available. (And far fewer lost singles are hanging off tree branches across the city.)

Mimitens are Thinsulate-lined and water-repellent, and, most amazingly, never come off, whether pulled over or under coats (or our style: shoved-up, scrunched inside). Too, the cotton/bamboo is Oeko-Tek certified, and part of profits go to charities like Right to Play and Sick Kids.

Yep, well worth the $29. But if you’re still not convinced, these are the words of our family tester review:

“These mitts went over really well. They stay on Felix’s little arms and aren’t super-puffy, so each squeezed through his snowsuit wrists no problem. He’d usually be tottering around with his paws stuck in the coat. Poor guy.”

Jacquelyn Francis, mom of 20-month-old Felix

PS: Thanks to the lovely mummies behind Mimitens, we’d like to offer you the chance to win one of these: baby mitts, hat, scarf or mittens. To win, send an email to win@canadianfamily.ca with the subject line “Gimme Some Mittens!” and share your best tips for avoiding lost-mitten syndrome.

—Melissa, CF’s associate editor

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

The Best Vitamin D Supplement for Babies

DdropsThere’s a lot of news recently suggesting a demand-based shortage of vitamin D and so forth. To me it sounds a bit like the big pharma version of new-release-video-game-console hype. But it did remind me of my first, okay, second, mummy regret. (First regret is still too raw, i.e. shameful, to add to my ongoing public confessions.)

For months following his birth, I gave my son a vitamin D drop daily, as recommended for all babies, particularly those breastfed.

Instead of researching to death the varieties available, as I’d do with any other product, I used the sample our pediatrician gave us, and bought it again. My babe sucked it back like candy, because, well, it is a chemical candy. It wasn’t until the six-month mark, when I was at in line at Shoppers, that I found out a more healthful version is available.

Another mom in line kindly told me that “a not-nasty” alternative is kept behind the counter. And it is so much better, and so much easier. D Drops contain pure vitamin D3 without any other chemicals or additives (such as artificial flavours and sweeteners, etc.). It’s also odourless, doesn’t require a dropper and your dumpling only needs the tiniest drop that fits on the tip of the top of a blueberry.

If you can’t find it locally, this great online pharmacy ships free across Canada.

PS: Do you think doctors should hand out large-size “samples” of baby products? Technically, it’s not an endorsement, but it seems implicitly so. Are sleepless new mums being preyed on? Is this akin to formula samples in the hospital?

And what vitamin do you give your baby? Thanks for sharing.

—Melissa, CF’s associate editor

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

Best Bets for Last-Minute Gifts

.

FOR THE NEAT FREAK

The Panasonic360 Quick heats up super fast, which was good for our easily distracted, less than enthusiastic tester. She was pleasantly surprised that she could begin almost immediately after plugging it in. Likewise, she wasn’t able to scorch the buttons on her husband’s dress shirts, nor rip the pocket because the iron is pointed at both ends and allowed her to back up between buttons and into the pocket. However, if you are not passive-aggressively attempting to get out of household chores we definitely recommend this new and improved design. $80, available at The Bay, Home Outfitters, London Drugs and Future Shop.

The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks. FOR THE GAMER (YOUNG OR OLD)

Whether you remember the thrill of Zelda on the original NES console, or you know a young one who is new to the video game franchise, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the latest Zelda release for the DS, is a winner, through and through. It captures all of the the things that have turned Link and Zelda into video game legends: engaging puzzles, exciting adventures and lots of monsters to defeat. This game makes the perfect gift for any game lover, no matter what their vintage. Rated E10+. $40, available where video games are sold.

CARGO 7in7 Mini Kit. FOR THE NEW MOM

Cargo’s 7 in 7 Mini Kit has everything a gal needs to go from fresh-faced to fabulous with step-by-step instructions because some mornings are better than others. The kit includes a concealer/foundation, mini essential eye palette, mini eye liner, mini lash activator mascara, mini beach blush, mini reserve lip liner and mini lip gloss. The kit is available in three shades—light, medium and dark— to complement all skin tones. $39, available at Murale and Sephora.

Instant USB Charger. FOR THE HARRIED PARENT

If you’re anything like us, you probably know someone who has a hard time remembering to charge things whether its a phone, PDA or mp3 player. Using a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the Duracell Smart Power Instant rechargeable charger is a light-weight little device that will add additional battery life to most USB port devices and make that special someone much easier to reach cause their phone will actually be charged. $45, available at retailers nationally.

20-235. FOR THE HANDY PERSON

Those not keen on home improvements may not see the need for a saw that has interchangable blades, but for the person on your list who loves building things, this is the perfect gift. The Stanley FatMax Xtreme InstantChange handsaw, with double-locking mechanism, comes with a soft-grip handle for comfort, a 15″ lacquered, fine finish blade; and a 15″ lacquered aggressive blade. $40, available at home improvement centres nationally.

sa06_gk733_Press(RGB)SnowCovered. FOR THE FASHION FAN

Tired of watching her check her cellphone for the time? Give her this sleek, stylish SnowCovered Swatch Watch. $65, available at all Swatch boutiques and retailers across Canada.

  • comment on this postComment
  • RSS Feed IconGet The RSS

advertisement
Twitter Feed

follow us on Twitter

NEWSLETTER
Join Us

Sign-up here to receive our FREE e-newsletter - exclusive content, offers, recipes and more!

advertisement Luxe for Less 20msc Bake Sale Guide March Break
advertisement
Special Messages
advertisement