Mother's Day Fairies

A belated Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Ever since I became a mom last year, Mother's Day is obviously a special day for me. This year was the first year I got a handmade gift from my daughter:

Too cute. The reading says "Mommy, I have a certain way of growing bigger each and every day. But my little hands and my special smile will stay in your heart a long, long while." Sounds cliche, but it really did bring a tear to my eye. 

When it comes to buying gifts for Mother's Day, it's a tough one - what do you get for the person that has literally given you life? Flowers are always a hit for Mother's Day, but I didn't want to spend money on cut flowers that would die a few days later.

A few weeks ago, Angie Mennen from Pathways to Perennials came on In the Know to talk about Spring Gardening. In one of her segments, she showed us how to make a fairy garden. Perfect. I was hooked. Fairy gardens are a new, trendy way of incorporating miniature plants and novelty items into your own garden. It's a nice DIY for moms and their daughters and something you can make a tradition out of. You can add fairies to your existing garden, or create a Fairy Garden planter, which is what I did.

I decided to make a fairy garden for my mom and mother-in-law, for my grandmother, and then I wanted one for myself, of course!

Using a planter I bought at HomeSense, I added an iron fairy from Pathways and 5 different perennials including periwinkle, stonecrop, a scotch moss, a verigated vine-type plant and another flowering miniature. I added some adorable little stones and faux crystals and voila! Adorable, isn't it?

At the end of the season, since these are all perennial plants, they can be transferred to the moms' larger gardens and we can build a new one together.

Needless to say, the moms loved them. I made them each a bit different, but there are so many ways to customize your own garden with different plants, blooms and accessories.

Next, I made one for my grandmother. Hers is a bit smaller, and instead of a fairy, I used a cherub. 

Lastly, here's my fairy garden. I bought a pedestal-type planter and a few accessories for my fairy (you know, in case she gets tired). She has a toadstool and a park bench, a little froggie friend and four plants of her own.  

I think I will definitely start this fairy garden tradition with Isabelle. Next year, we'll plant another set and eventually move the entire garden to the large garden and watch the plants and fairies grow! 

Mother's Day has now come and gone, but it's not too late to get your fairy garden started. Why not incorporate this spring DIY to your garden? What plants would you include?

Celebrating Baby's Firsts with #NatrelBaboo and FREE TRIAL

I often like to think back to important first moments: my first day of school, first job, first date, first kiss. With our daughter, we try and celebrate as many firsts as we can, and there are lots of them! #NatrelBaboo is celebrating baby's firsts with their new blog tour and I'm thrilled to be a part of it.

Below you'll find some of my baby's firsts. It's hard to say what are the most special firsts, because they are constantly changing. But I encourage everyone to look back and think back to their first moments as kids, as adults, as parents, as a married couple, as an employee. Our lives are full of firsts and we rarely stop to think about them. 

On the left: Baby's First time coming home. This was a HUGE deal to us, obviously. 

On the right: Baby's First Christmas. She was so excited to see the fancy paper and bows. I love this shot. 

These next few firsts aren't traditional, but still super important to us. 

On the left: Isabelle's first scary trick. We go to an infant gym program twice a week and this is the first time she was so high up. It was a big moment for both of us!

Below: Her first snow angel. In mid-February, we were hit with a major snowstorm. I thought it was a great opportunity to venture out into the white stuff and play. I loved making snow angels as a kid, so we made Isabelle's first one.

And last but not least, and this one is a favourite - baby's first vacation PLUS baby's first time in the sand. She loved the sand, which amazed me, and had a wonderful time playing in it and pouring it over her little toes. 

Just looking back at all this photos excites me - I can't wait to see what the next year has in store for us. First words, first steps, first time at the zoo, at a cottage, etc. As I mentioned, Natrel is celebrating these firsts and offering Simply Suppa readers a chance to try their #NatrelBaboo for the first time!

We actually took Natrel Baboo to Aruba (see vacation shot above) and it was amazing. We didn't have to worry about refrigerating milk (unless opened) and Isabelle gobbled it all up. It travelled well and I love the tetra-pack containers with the resealable lid. 

If you've never tried #NatrelBaboo, here's your chance! Click the ad below and you will be redirected to the Natrel facebook site where you can register to try a free product!

Thanks so much for reading and I hope you're first taste of Natrel is a great one!


“Disclosure: I am part of the Natrel Baboo Blogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Hey, May!

Welcome, May!

It's hard to believe May is already here. April seemed to fly by and May graced us today with a beautiful, sunny Spring day. It felt wonderful to drive to work with the windows down and the warm air blowing through the car.

Anyone who knows me I'm not a fan of socks! Socks - boo! I'm barefoot all year long and start to venture outside barefoot as early as March. I know, it's insane to some, but I love it! Today, was the first day, though, that I let my toes peep out just a bit! I know there aren't too many hard rules when it comes to wearing sandals anymore, but it's still not strappy season, just yet.

May is also the month of the Mom! In addition to Mother's Day on May 12, I will be participating in the P&G #MonthofMom photo challenge on twitter. Every day, I post a new photo, so please check out my posts!

Lastly, today is Wednesday, which means I was on air with another episode of In the Know. On tonight's episode, we welcomed Patrizia Grande, a local registered massage therapist. Here's a shot of me, pre-show:

The new spring weather has me wearing bright colours and bright lips. Today I was able to try this brand new lip product from pur minerals, available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart. It's called a Lip Gloss Stick - and it's exactly what it sounds like - a combo lip gloss, lip stick and stain. 

I have recently fallen in love with the pur minerals line. It started with an eyeliner that worked really well, and then I tried their 4-in-1 pressed powder and bronzer. Now, I'm slowly adding more and more pur minerals to my makeup bag. 

This Lip Gloss Stick worked really well for me - it has a nice scent and goes on smoothly and feels like silk on your lips. Unlike other stains or sticks on the market it doesn't dry out your lips, but has great staying power too. 

I tried "Daredevil", a beautiful light red - perfect for my pout and tangerine dress!  

I also love the construction of the stick as well.
Because it's not a gloss, it's not goopy or sticky. It's actually like a jumbo crayon, but not waxy or heavy. It glides on beautifully and just stays there.

I can't wait to try other colours! This one is taking up residency in my purse! Special thanks to pur minerals for letting me try this new line and share with all of you!

And so, here's to a beautiful, sunny and memorable May!

A BabyTime Show for All

Today, Marliese and I and our two babes in tow were some of the first in line for the Spring BabyTime Show at the International Centre in Mississauga. Last year at the spring show, my babe was just a little peanut, having only come home from the hospital 3 weeks earlier. The fall prior, I was pregnant, and went to the show for the first time with my mom.

Each visit has been a different experience for me, and that's because my baby has been at a different stage of life. It's also interesting to note how I felt today versus my other visits. As a pregnant mom, or a brand-new mom, or even a mom to a 6 month old, the show was sometimes overwhelming. There was so much info, so much to learn, so much to see. As a mom to a toddler (eek!), I could see everything with new eyes - I knew what we liked, found some interesting and new products and still came out learning something. 

Today more than ever, I realized this show is perfect for all moms - young, older, new or more experienced. We just see it through different eyes. 

Here are my takeaways - just a few - the show is still on until Sunday so please go visit!

Large retailers filled the centre, from Fisher-Price to Peg Pergo to Natrel Baboo and Snugglebugz. This was a great time to test out strollers, toys, convertible car seats and do some shopping. It's sometimes difficult to navigate with the strollers, but be patient and everyone will get through. It didn't stop me from visiting anyone - I hit up every single vendor to see what they had in store.

The stage was a hit for toddlers to preschoolers. Barney had a great presence and had kids and parents singing and dancing. Pardon the photo - Barney kept moving! Isabelle met lifesize Angelina Ballerina for the first time and while she was mesmerized by her, I didn't risk traumatizing her by taking a photo. 

I love me some local goodness. First Food Organics is an Aurora, ON based company that makes organic baby food. York Region Living first profiled Jenn and her company out of her home a few years ago. It was nice to reconnect at the show. She was giving out samples of her Yogurt Yums, and instead of trying them for myself, I gave them to the real judge - the babe. She LOVED them. And of course, you get them at a great price at the show. 

Not only are these little yogurt snacks delicious, but they're good for  her and I know where they've come from. Big Bonus.

And, even mommy deserves a little something at The BabyTime Show! I've been looking for a glass water bottle for the last little while and this beauty is from LifeFactory. It was $20 at the show and holds 600ml of H20. Of course, the handy dandy silicone sleeve prevents the glass from breaking - if and when I drop it. If it gets me to drink more water throughout the day, it's done its job.

And there you have it - a short recap on what I thought was another successful show. Of course, I didn't comment on the bottles and the pacifier clips and the photographers and the clothing shops. They were all there and they were all fabulous.

If you're still debating a trip this weekend, venture out and enjoy!


Disclosure: I am a BabyTimeShow blogger and received free tickets to attend the show.

Little Eco Footprint Review

I have always been someone who enjoys getting mail. Ever since I was a little girl, I would get so excited if I got a package in the mail. I even had a penpal and we would mail each other letters. The good ol' days of Snail Mail. Nowadays, if I get anything in the mail, it's usually a bill, which isn't nearly as exciting.

Little Eco Footprint brings back the excitement of going to your mailbox. This subscription based company sends out monthly care packages for Mom & Baby. I've subscribed to a similar company which focused on beauty products in the past, but I've never seen one designed for mom and baby, and bonus! this one specializes in eco-friendly options. A nice pairing, if I do say so myself. 

The monthly membership is $29, or you can purchase a 3-month package for $87, or a 6-month subscription for $162. It makes a great gift for a new mom, or even yourself!

Wanna see what I got in my box?

In the April Baby Box, I received:

• Earth Berries Soap Nuts (Retail Value $5)
• Maple Hill Dyer Balls Gift Card (Value $7)
• Elma & Sana 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil (Value $10)
• PRANA organic nuts (Retail Value $5 per package)
• Smith Farms Red Berry Lip Tint (Full Size $6)
• Re-wood Toys (6 bolock set - $8)
• Wee Woollies ($15 gift card)

I thought it was a good mix of product and gift cards, and while I haven't used the online money yet, I have definitely tried the products. The nuts barely made it home! I like that many of these products are Canadian, and organic. I also really appreciated there was something in there for baby, the small wooden blocks.

With the box, I also received a little newsletter that gave tips on fitness, nutrition and aromatherapy - good information in a concise manner. 

I think this is niche service, but a cool one at that. I would recommend it to my fellow moms and even suggest it for upcoming baby showers and parties. 

Disclosure: As a PTPA Blogaholic, I occasionally receive product for review. As always, the opinions on my blog remain my own.

SIX DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS with The #BabyTimeShows!!

I am so thrilled to once again be partnering with The BabyTime Show. The BabyTime Show happens twice a year (Spring and Fall) in Toronto and basically give moms-to-be, new moms, and experienced moms (and dads!) a plethora of information all under one roof.

I went to my first BabyTime Show with my mom when I was pregnant. I was overwhelmed to say the least, but I learned so much that day. Now that I have a 14-month-old, I'm ready to see what's in store for the toddler years - what's new, what's cool, what's popular, etc.

Plus! The BabyTime Show is an awesome place to shop. In the fall, I picked up a few great toys for Isabelle, these awesome sparkly shoes and loaded up on samples and freebies.

Some of my favourite vendors and companies will be present, like Uppababy, Peg Perego, Babies R Us, Snugglebugz, President's Choice, Natrel, Playtex and more! And of course, there are literally hundreds of smaller vendors selling everything from photography to toys to organic clothing.

So, you wanna go to the show?

As I mentioned, I'm partnering once again with the show to bring you show updates, AND a fantastic, out-of-this-world giveaway. Actually, make that SIX DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!! I thought it would be MUCH more fun to spread this out - it's like Christmas in April! And, based on the snow we had last week, it really was like Christmas in April. I digress. It's not going to snow anymore. Happy thoughts of sunshine and flowers :)

How do you win, you ask? You just enter the Rafflecopter below. There are some options you can do every day, so you'll have to come back to do that and secure more entries for yourself. I will award one winner each day starting Friday, April 19, 2013. Six Days of Giveaways means all the prizes will be awarded by Wednesday, April 23, 2013.

What can you win? You can win 1 of 4 pairs of tickets to the show, PLUS we have two wonderful prize packs: a Britax prize pack (value $50) containing seat protectors, kick mat, & window clings and a Barney 25th Birthday prize pack containing hit Barney products!

The Spring Babytime Show runs Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28 at the International Centre in Mississauga. I love this location - it's easy to get to, FREE parking and plenty of it. Babies, of course, are welcome and the show makes it easy for moms - there are nursing rooms and diaper stations to make this excursion super convenient!

Good Luck to you and hopefully we'll see each other at the show!
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I have partnered with the BabyTimeShow and have received tickets to attend this event. The opinions expressed remain my own.

Earth Rangers Contest

As a new mom, I'm always on the hunt for some neat, educational activities to do with my daughter. Granted, she's only 1, but the time will come when I'll need to fill her mind - and heart - with worthwhile activities and causes.

Earth Rangers fits that bill. Earth Rangers is the kids’ conservation organization dedicated to educating children and families about biodiversity and inspiring them to become directly involved in protecting animals and their habitats.

Just in time for Earth Month, Earth Rangers is launching their Whales, Trails, and Polar Bear Tales Contest.

Whales, Trails, and Polar Bear Tales, generously supported by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation and in collaboration with the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, offers a chance for four families of four to win a once in a lifetime eco-adventure trip to the Canadian sub-arctic for six days and five nights.

The trip will take place from Thursday, August 15, 2013 to Tuesday, August 20, 2013. Each winning family will experience the beauty and wildlife of the Canadian sub-arctic while spending five days at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, an active research station on the shores of historic Hudson Bay. 

Families will have the opportunity to kayak with beluga whales, tour the old Hudson Bay Company’s Prince of Wales Fort, ride in a giant Tundra Buggy while on a Polar Bear spotting expedition, take in a cultural presentation by a local aboriginal elder and visit the renowned Eskimo Museum and Parks Canada Visitor Centre.

The contest runs until Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

To enter visit www.earthrangers.com, set up a Bring Back the Wild fundraising campaign and then complete the entry form.

Good Luck!