Win a Graco Blossum 4-in-1 High Chair $280 [#Giveaway] CAN, 8/31

Kids grow out of things so quickly.

Often before you've had a chance to remove the tags.

It can get even more expensive when you have to buy two of everything.

Graco understands this and that's why they've designed a 4-in-1 seating system that can be used throughout the years and is easily adjustable to accommodate more than one child at a time.

Graco Grows with Your Children.

The Kids outgrew their high chairs over a year ago and we haven't yet purchased anything to replace them.

We need to.

The problem is that the chairs are too low for the table and the kids are constantly jumping off, falling over and tipping them over.

The Graco® Blossom™ 4-in-1 Seating System is designed to adjust to your growing child's seating needs and to accommodate more than one child in your growing family. It transforms seamlessly from an extremely functional highchair to an infant feeding booster, a toddler booster, and finally a youth chair.

Should your family suddenly grow, it can even accommodate a baby and a toddler at the table all at once. The 6-position height adjustment assures a front row seat for baby at any family table. And the 3-position removable footrest and 3-position one-hand reclining seat will ensure your growing child stays comfortable at mealtime.

It was interesting to find out that Graco has been a name that parents can trust for over two decades.

A few key features are;

• Seat two children simultaneously,
• 6 height and 3 recline positions,
• One hand removable tray with dishwasher-safe pull-out insert,
• Removable seat back is positionable,
• Machine-washable seat pad makes clean up easy,
• Infant head and body support,
• Locking front and rear casters,
• Convertible 3 & 5-point harness keeps baby secured.

Photo sourced from the Graco website.

You can find a review of the Seat System over at The Baby Bottom Line.

Connect with Graco Canada via their Website and Facebook.

Enter to WIN a 4-in-1 System Below!

Give your Family the Sleep it Needs with Gro Clock [Review]

Now that The Kids are toilet training, they're getting up earlier to go to the bathroom and they're not going back to sleep afterwards.

Coupled with the fact that they're not napping, I'm missing that extra sleep and so are they.

I'm tired of being tired.

When a friend mentioned there was a product that could help, I was excited to learn more.

Gro Clock to the Rescue!

The Gro Company are the creators of this fabulous product and in Canada, it's distributed by Oyaco. A bit about this Canadian company with a diverse range of products.

Oyaco is a Canadian distributor of innovative, safe and high quality baby, maternity and children's products. OYACO is based in Calgary, Alberta and ships its 30 product lines to over 600 retail and online stores across the country.

We take a great deal of pride in the brands we represent. Sourced from countries around the world, the brands ultimately found in our portfolio have been carefully selected, tested and evaluated by a panel of peers and moms. All our products meet safety standards and governmental regulations.

Before I even saw the product, I was impressed. All the information on the outside of the box was clearly printed in English, French and Spanish! That's the first time that I can remember seeing a kids product with all three languages.

When I saw the long and practical list of functionality, I just knew that my mornings of sleeping in were going to come true. Here are some of the key features;

• Key-lock option
• adjustable screen brightness
• silent operation
• energy saving daytime mode
• Includes educational bedtime story book
• optional digital clock and audible alarm feature
• additional daytime/weekend sleep mode
• can be set for periods of more than twelve hours
• Glowing screen shows images of stars and the sun to communicate "sleep" and "wake-up" time to children
• Stars go out one-by-one during the night to show the passing of time

The first night, we incorporated the bedtime book that accompanies the clock into our bedtime routine. The book helped the kids understand the concept and they really enjoyed being involved in picking the spot for the clock. I liked that the cord was 75" long, because I had so many choices of where to put it. I put it up high and tied off the cord so that it's not a chocking hazard.

The instructions were very detailed and I had to refer to them a few times. At the beginning, I couldn't figure out how to return back to the main menu so I just unplugged it. Luckily, it doesn't reset the clock or alarm times unless left unplugged for over three minutes. Convenient if you have to move it from one spot to another.

Funny thing, Max, herein referred to as the "Clock Setter" figured things out with only a few presses and no instructions. Hmmph.

The kids usually get up at 7am but play in their room until 8am. At which time, I get up for the day. Lately, it's as if the kids knew that this clock was on it's way because they've been getting up at 6:30am.

The clock was set for 8am. Here's what happened...

You'll need to turn it up because I was whispering the whole time!?

Now that we're on Day 4 of using the clock, The Kids get it! They're waiting for "The sun to come up" and then knocking on the door. They proudly tell me that the sun is awake and it's time to get up.

While the kids are still learning to recognize their numbers, I love that this product can grow with them as the digital clock can be displayed or not.

The one thing that I would have changed about this product is that it doesn't run on battery back-up. We live out in the country and have fairly frequent power outages as well, go camping every summer so it would have been convenient to use the clock in our daily routine.

Connect with Oyaco to find out about more great Gro Products and via their Website, Facebook and Twitter.

Tweet Let your Friends Get More Sleep with Gro Clock.

Note that a giveaway for a Gro Clock was previously associated with this post. Jennifer S. was the confirmed winner.

  Besos, The Zoo

Second Peek Maternity Boutique Has Moms Covered {#Giveaway} US/CAN, 6/25

Breastfeeding is hard.

Between a need for modesty, continued discomfort, and "baby brain", there are a lot of things that can go wrong.

One thing that was easy was finding useful and quality products at Second Peek Maternity Boutique.

Breastfeeding can be a Positive Experience
for Baby and Mom.

Fortunately for me, I've had the opportunity to review their products and service before and had great things to say about their Undercover Mama Nursing Tank. Which incidently, I'm using for Baby #2! Here's a bit more about the company.

Founded in late 2009, Second Peek Maternity started as an online maternity resale shop dedicated to pre-loved maternity wear. Today it has grown to be a major retail online resource for new and expecting moms in Canada. We proudly support mom-owned businesses, featuring their products on our website. Many of these mommy products are award winning, and all were carefully chosen and aimed towards the lifestyle and needs of busy moms. Our goal is to help simplify the everyday tasks.

The first item that I reviewed was the Milk Bands Nursing Bracelet. The durable, wearable bracelet is available in five different colours. I chose green because I am a big supporter of organ donation and thought why not support my cause at the same time.

The mechanism on the bracelet is simple: when ready to nurse, flip the pliable bracelet over to see which side to feed from first. My favourite feature of this bracelet is that the font for "Right" is raised and the font for "Left" is depressed, which helps a lot in the dark at 2am! There are also removable sliding time indicators which can be used as reminders for anything that mom might forget. I'm currently managing my daughter's slow weight gain and am using the indicators to record the number of feedings per day.

At a regular price of $6.85, this is a great item to add to any gift for an expectant mom.

Nursing? Second Peek Maternity has you Covered!

The second item that I received was a MoBoleez Nursing Bonnet. With summer fast approaching, I'll be at the park a lot with my toddler and was hoping for something that provided modesty, sun-cover for my infant, wasn't too hot, while being stylish at the same time. I've never had luck trying to wrangle a blanket over my shoulder.

I was concerned initially that the bonnet would be too bulky to pack in my overflowing diaper bag, but was pleased to find it folded to no larger than a regular receiving blanket. I did make the mistake of ordering the 6-12m size instead of the 0-6m size, so it is a bit big on my 3-month old, but she'll grow into it which is OK by me.

I like that Second Peek provides options that would be considered suitable for boys too, although the bonnet provides such great cover nobody would be the wiser. I think that the Moboleez bonnet is a great alternative to other nursing covers available and have not seen anything else like it!

Second Peek Maternity Boutique is soon launching a sister website called The Mommy Collection. This site will house all the great mom-invented products currently available in the boutique. Be sure to book mark it.

Discount Alert! All Journeys of The Zoo's readers will enjoy a 10% discount off their purchase (until further notice). Use the discount code 'THEZOO' at time of checkout.

Connect with Second Peek Maternity Boutique via their Website and Facebook.

Tweet Share This Company and Giveaway with Your Friends.

Enter to Win a $30GC from Second Peek Maternity Boutique Below!

Baby Organic Joy Has The Perfect Gifts for Mother's Day!

When it comes to Mother's Day and gift giving in general, it's always nice to give something that the receiver can use.

This year, on May 12, give the Mother in your life something from their bucket list because,

Baby Organic Joy has Moms Needs Covered!

Baby Organic Joy has hundreds of baby items to choose from including bedding, carriers, clothing, diapers, teething, skin care, pregnancy, breast feeding, toys and feeding.

But, they're not only about Baby.

Even though The Kids are three and a half, there are many products for them such as pre-school items, grooming and bathing needs. There really is something for every Mother.

BabyOrganicJoy.ca is an online organic baby store based in Toronto, Canada. Our goal is to provide certified organic baby products or those baby products made with organic ingredients available in the market today.

At BabyOrganicJoy.ca, we have one of the largest online collections of organic baby products in Canada. For those baby products that are not available in organic form in the market, we chose the next best... Natural. Natural baby products are equally health beneficial because of the removal of various harmful chemicals.

Too much to choose from? If you're shopping for a new Mother, here are some items that she'll surely appreciate receiving.

Pickle Peas Bibs Keep Baby Dry and Stylish {#Giveaway} US/CAN, 5/11

Drool. Slobber. Dribble.

Whatever you call it, changing your baby for the 10th time in as many hours isn't fun.

What if you could embrace your baby's natural inclination and have them looking stylish at the same time?

You can with Pickle Peas Snap on Bibs!

Pickle Peas was started in 2012 by a mother of three who knows what drooling babies (and their parents) need. Pickle Peas offers interchangeable snap-on bibs that coordinate with a variety of different outfits including long/short sleeved onesies, long sleeved shirts and rompers. The company also has a commitment to sustainability:

Pickle Peas is proud to make a positive impact on the environment with earth-friendly fabric that's 100% organic cotton and through the use of low impact dyes, nickel-free snaps and recycled shipping materials.

For review, we received the long sleeve bodysuit with two interchangeable bibs in size 3-6 months. I loved how soft the fabric was and am sure it will get even softer with wear. The washable applique bibs are flexible (not rigid as I had expected!) and include a waterproof layer to keep the shirt (and baby) dry.

The colours were vibrant and definitely from a more "hip" palette than many of the baby clothes out there. While being cute is important, being comfortable and dry counts for even more. Turns out, Pickle Peas scored 100% on both these factors. Just ask my two month old daughter ;)

Speaking of which, as you can see, the sizing chart is right on because she weighs 11lbs and it's still a bit large for her.

I like the fact that she can't pull off her bib and I don't need to worry about her yanking on her neck. The snaps were a bit stiff at first but with use are becoming easier to open and close.

The variety of design options on the website covers all the bases, and Pickle Peas is open to suggestions for future designs, should you have any. With International shipping (including tracking), and $4 Flat Rate shipping within the USA, anyone can access this cool new clothing system.

Pickle Peas – Dribble Duds for Little Hipsters.
Cool. Innovative. Comfy. Cute.

Connect with Pickle Peas via their Website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Enter to Win Your Own Pickle Peas Set!

Enrich Your Babies Playtime with Tiny Love Products {#Giveaway}, US/CAN, 4/27

During the kids first year, there were several items that I couldn't live without; my breast pump, soothers and educational ways to keep them stimulated such as their Tiny Love Noah's Ark Play Mat.

While it didn't have fancy sounds (like the one you can win below!), it served it's purpose in providing me with some much needed time to myself and them some time to snuggle.

If have a baby yourself or know someone that is pregnant, they will definitely appreciate receiving any of the Tiny Love Products.

Show Them You Care by Gifting them Tiny Love Products.

About the company: Tiny Love is a multi-award winning toy and baby company founded in 1991. They focus on creating toys and accessories to promote and maximize baby's development from birth to 12 months.  Their products are in more than 50 countries around the world. They strive for innovation and originality. Tiny Love has a team of experts in child developments that guides their creative team in inventing new products. Quality & Safety are at the top of their list of priorities and all products meet the most rigorous safety standards.

A few months ago, we reviewed Tiny Love's My Nature Pals Stroll. The versatility, ease of use & quality of this amazing toy made us fall in love with Tiny Love. We knew when we were told we would be getting the Gymini Super Deluxe - Lights & Music to review that Tiny Love wasn't going to disappoint. And we were right. This is an amazing activity gym that any baby would be happy to have. It's recommend for babies ages 0-12 months, so you clearly get your money's worth this this activity center that will last a long time.

It came in a very flat box that shows just how great this is for storage or traveling.. When you aren't using it, the Gymini can easily be folded up so its not in the way by securing the two snaps on the bottom. It literally took me 3 seconds to unsnap and pop the Gymini up to instantly have an activity mat for Baby Skibbles to play on.

Not only is it a great activity center, but it actually plays music and lights up.  It was easy to unscrew the back of the battery compartment, insert batteries (not included), and replace the cover.  There are two different settings for music - classical Mozart and nursery tunes.  Whenever you push on the pink flowers on the mat, music will play and the flowers light up! The first time Baby Skibbles noticed the light she looked up at me and smiled.

There are various textures throughout the mat, aiding in the sensory development of my daughter, which I love.  The elephant's ear actually makes a crinkle noise, while the butterfly and flowers are a raise silk material, the same material that the gym is made from.  The mane of the zebra and tail of the giraffe are made from a corduroy.

There is a large mirror in one corner that builds language, communication and self-image skills as your baby continues to develop.

Baby Skibbles LOVES when you sit her in front of the mirror OR when she rolls over and find herself. She just lays there looking and smiling. It's one of the cutest things I've seen her do so far.

The following five hanging toys are included with the Gymini Deluxe:

• a plush hanging monkey with springy legs to pull on,
• plush bird that spins/hangs from the ring it's attached on that also has crinkly wings,
• a plush elephant that doubles as a jitter pull toy,
• a hard rattle that has beads to spin,
• a plush giraffe that also is a rattle.

The padded mat also comes apart to be machine washable! Tiny Love really has gone above and beyond to make sure that your baby is developing well. Literally the only con I have is that it doesn't come with batteries (only because I am horrible at making sure we have extras in the house).

We love our Gymini Deluxe Lights & Sounds!

BUY IT: You can view this and other Gyminis by Tiny Love plus the rest of their product line or purchase yours today by clicking HERE.

Enter to Win a Tiny Love Gymini Below!

Kids Get Clean and Have Fun with Pampers Kandoo {#Giveaway} US/CAN, 4/26

Cleanliness is an important concept to teach our children.

Seeing as The Zoo has two potty training toddlers, good old-fashioned hand washing is a regular theme around here.

That's why we were pleased to add some Pampers Kandoo products to our hygiene regimen. The bonus, you have the chance to win some for yourself below.

Be Clean and Have Fun with Pampers Kandoo Products!

Pampers Kandoo Line of Kid Friendly products includes; Handsoap, Shampoo, Body Wash and Hand Sanitizer. All are specifically designed to help children get clean on their own.

They're made with natural ingredients to promote healthy skin and hair and mild formulas with no sulfates, parabens or phthalates.

The pumps have great scents that make kids want to get clean and the Unique bottles are designed to be fun and easy to use.

Since the kids were born, The Zoo has been using Pampers products. We believe that the brand works hard to support their customers by providing quality, well-tested products with the added bonus of fun.

Did you know that their website provides great tips and ideas for keeping our kids clean, as well as printables like progress charts and colouring pages to keep them engaged? If you're anything like me, you can use all the help you can get!

The first item was reviewed was the Magic Melon Foaming Hand Soap and it was a big hit with the kids and me.

Max loved the smell and that it was bright green.

I liked how the colouring helped me to ensure that soap was getting into all those nooks and crannies.

The fact that the bottle is shaped like a frog just adds to the fun!

The other item we reviewed was the Flushable Kandoo wipes. We are hesitant to flush anything other than the "basics" (i.e. organic materials) down the toilet as we are on a septic system. Normally, we have to research the products compatibility and it's a real hassle. It was nice to see that the packaging specified "septic-safe".

They were moistened with lotion which made them soft to the touch. I can see these being a great transition between regular wipes and toilet paper. I plan on using them as a reward for a successful bathroom visit. The stories they'll tell...

Win a Boogie Wipes and Pampers Kandoo Prize Pack!

Want to know more? Be sure to connect with Pampers Kandoo via Website, Facebook and Twitter.

Boogie Wipes makes Sore Noses a Thing of the Past {#Giveaway}, US/CAN, 4/26

Anyone with a Toddler is no stranger to endless colds and other ailments.

Seeing as The Zoo has twice the nose-cleaning to do, we were excited to try Boogie Wipes, 'Gentle Saline Wipes for Stuffy Noses'.

Boogie Wipes. Snot your Average Wipes!

Simplify Life with Glow Baby’s First Journals {#Giveaway} CAN, 3/18

Baby brain makes you forget things.

Baby brain makes you forget things (smile).

New parents are often pushed to their limits, with lack of rest, stress and an overwhelming sense of insecurity.


Glow Baby understands this and can help alleviate some of this pressure, especially in the early days. By keeping adequate track of your baby's activities with their journals, you can know when to seek help and when you and your baby are on the right track.

Piece of Mind is Only a Journal Entry Away.

Glow Baby is a Canadian company whose focus is providing unique and user-friendly scheduling tools for today's busy parents. Glow Baby products are all about helping parents save time and reduce the stress of the day to day. Glow Baby Journals, Calendars and Lists help parents keep track of daily activities such as; feeding, sleeping, diapering, bathing, first foods by type, meal planning, family activities, general to do lists for daily tasks, groceries etc. All Glow Baby products are designed with both function and fashion in mind.

After the birth of my first daughter, my in-laws were visiting and helping with the supplemental feeding of formula. It would have been really handy for everyone involved to have an organized system like the "Baby’s First Journal" for recording feedings and diaper changes.

The journal is printed in Canada and contains over three months of pages. It can easily fit in a diaper bag or purse and is coil-bound so it lies flat when opened. A real convenience when writing with only one hand! I like that there is space to record both breast and bottle feeding as we've had to do a bit of both this time around as well.

Nursing mothers that are concerned about their food intake affecting baby's stomach could also easily use the "notes" section on each page to track what they themselves eat, in order to identify any issues. I especially loved the checkbox for "vitamins" which I can never keep track of.

Things got really interesting last time when we introduced solid foods so I was excited to also get a chance to review the Baby’s First Foods journal.

The journal is laid out by food group (Grain, Veggie, Fruit, Protein, Dairy and Snack) and includes a sample page for suggested use. A parent or caregiver can track the foods tried, the texture, child's reaction and any sensitivities. Again, there is space on each page for notes.

Another useful tool in our home are the meal planning and favourite recipes sections. They help with variety in my meals and ensure that I'm not forgetting any important foods. I'd find it useful to have a list of items we play to try so I'll be adding that checklist to my journal.

Overall, I found both journals very helpful and easy to use. They would be a useful addition to any parents collection of baby-care tools, especially those that have low birth-weight (slow-growing) kids like The Zoo or ones with other caregivers. Knowledge transfer made easy with journals from Glow Baby!

Enter to WIN Two Glow Baby Journals!

Find the Best Shower Gifts with Bloomin' Creative Baby {Review}

It seems that everywhere I turn, someone I know is having a baby and I'm in need of a shower gift. Perhaps it's something in the water.

Fortunately for The Zoo, we found Laurel and her Bloomin Creative Baby shop just in the nick of time. Funny thing is, her need for baby shower gifts was also the reason why she started her shop.

Laurel's shop has a variety of different fabrics and products to choose from such as; teethers, snuggle blankets, bibs (for all occasions), feeding covers, soother savers, and breast pads. Something for everyone. She kindly sent me a teether, snuggle blanket and bib to try out.

It hasn't been that long since the kids were babies and but I'd never seen a teether ring like this.

The ring contains six, 1" natural wood balls enclosed in fabric and each tied off with a knot. The ends are double stitched for safety but the knots were so tight that I couldn't get them undone.

MommiesFirst Subscription Boxes: Feature & Linky {Canadian}

It's time for Journeys of The Zoo's October installment of the "I Am Canadian" Feature and Linky.

Remember to add your name to the Linky at the bottom of this post.

We searched high and low and know that you will be excited to read about this month's Feature Recipient...

    MommiesFirst!

Without further ado, let me introduce you to Lorena Pacheco Scott of MommiesFirst and allow her to tell you about her latest "baby".

I am a mom of two young boys Sebastian and Alistair (ages 3 and 9 months). As a proud mama, I have been known to "go on and on" about my boys, but today I wanted to share with you the story of my "third baby" – MommiesFirst.

MommiesFirst is a new online, Canadian business helping moms sort through all the products on the market that are vying for her attention and her wallet. How do we do this? We've created a MommiesFirst Council, comprised of moms, dads, and baby experts, to find, test, and review products. Based on their feedback, we send our members (both pregnant and new moms) monthly care packages with 4-5 different products designed to help them navigate through the journey of motherhood. Every box we send out is customized to the mom’s month of pregnancy or the age of her baby, so she only receives the most relevant products at just the right time. It is our hope that by sending beautiful packages to moms that are also super helpful, we are genuinely helping make moms' lives a little bit easier and a lot less stressful.

I am often asked what inspired MommiesFirst and the answer is quite simply – my children. Three years ago when I became a mom for the very first time I was SCARED, OVERWHELMED, and CONFUSED. And, to be perfectly honest, I was angry that no one had told me about some of those challenges. I never forgot those feelings of despair and loneliness throughout my pregnancy and during the first year of son’s life. All of those struggles and emotions came flooding back this past December when my second son was born. But this time, I had a bit more confidence, so I resolved to do something about it – to create something that would help make a difference for all the other new moms out there. And that’s how MommiesFirst was born.

It also seems appropriate that with my two sons on my lap (literally), we launched the MommiesFirst website on Mother's Day 2012. There were a lot of sleepless nights between May and September when we shipped our first boxes to moms. It has been an adventure managing a household with two young boys and a new business, but I’m a mom on a mission. Through MommiesFirst, I'm committed to helping moms (and their babies). There are days when I know my boys miss hanging out with their mom or I wish I could just run to the park to be with them, but I'm hopeful that in following this entrepreneurial path and in building an enduring company servicing moms (and their babies), I am inspiring my boys too. I want to teach them that having a dream and wanting to make a difference – and then pursuing these two goals relentlessly– is both important and possible.

If you or someone you love is interested in signing up to receive a MommiesFirst care package, please visit www.mommiesfirst.com. A subscription costs $25 per month, with free shipping. All of our boxes are delivered with love and care!

A big thanks to Lorena for sharing her new and exciting business venture with us. If you're like me, you can think of at least 10 people that could use this service so stop by her website for a visit, connect on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or YouTube.

Please contact me if you would like to be featured on Journeys of The Zoo!

Note that Journeys of The Zoo did not receive any compensation in exchange for publishing this information.

And Now for The "I Am Canadian" Linky...

If you are Canadian or have a Canadian Product, Cause, Blog, or other Canadian related item, then you are officially invited to add yourself to this Linky.

Note that this Linky is not intended as a Giveaway Linky. Please go here to post or enter giveaways.

Besos, The Zoo

Second Peek Maternity & Undercover Mama Review

When my friend Sarah learned of my second pregnancy, she so graciously bestowed upon me a gift certificate to Second Peek Maternity Boutique.

Excited to get something new for this time around (I'm even more frugal than Sarah), I immediately went to check out their website. I was impressed by the wide range of products (over 20 categories), for pregnancy and beyond.

First, I perused the "Pre-Loved Maternity" clothes to see what was available. I was pleased to see that there was a good range of options in all sizes. Even better was that each item was photographed on a mannequin, which allowed me to see how the item would drape on a pregnant form. In addition to maternity clothing, the boutique carries a wide assortment of mom-invented gear (how cool is that?!) for babies, kids, and moms. All the prices were clearly marked and in CAN$.

After much difficult decision making, I decided on the "Undercover Mama Nursing Tank". I ordered a medium in a practical black (it came in Black, Brown and White). The site recommends ordering a size smaller than your normal size, which I did, and I'm happy to report that the medium fits!

I got out my stash of nursing bras to prove the theory that it will attach to any nursing bra. The tank has two methods with which to attach and I had no trouble hooking it up to the different styles of bras I have. It was a cinch! I suggest you do what I did and view a video of how to use the tank on Second Peek Maternity Boutique's website.

The package was sent expedited service and it only took a few days to arrive. Seeing as I was paying for shipping, I would have liked to see two shipping options; expedited and regular ground mail. For me, time is not of the essense as I'm not due for another six months.

I am so pleased to have this product because I don't relish the opportunity to have my belly hang out while nursing in public, especially in Ontario in February! For the many reasons that I am ready to have the baby (the excitement, an end to the nausea, the visits from family), I can now add nursing in public to that list. Thanks to Undercover Mama and Second Peek Maternity Boutique, I am...

Ready for Baby at Second Peek!

Rene is a regular Contributor at Journeys of The Zoo and received a copy of this product that enabled her to complete this unsolicited review.

  Besos, The Zoo

Playtex/BabiesRUs $250 {Giveaway} #babyshower, CAN, 8/23

Have you ever had to make 20+ baby bottles a day, on little to no sleep and pump upwards of 2L of breast milk at the same time? If you have, you know how you're short on time and convenience is key. In order to simply our lives, Journeys of The Zoo used Playtex's disposable system for our bottling needs.

Playtex made sense in so many ways:

• it's affordable,
• grows with the child (4oz and 8oz sizes),
• BPA Free,
• disposable (boiling water in the middle of August is not fun),
• tons of choices (with nipples), and the best part,

Playtex is a Name that you can Trust.

Playtex offers tons of product such as soothers (which The Zoo also used) and a Diaper Genie® Essentials Disposal System which is included in this prize pack!

The Diaper Genie has a patented Air-Tite® system with Push-N-Lock clamp and 5-layer refill helps prevent odours from escaping the pail. Its unique features lock in odours. Because a happy nose means a happy baby.

To top it off, this prize pack includes a $100 gift card from Babies "R" Us who is the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer. Toys "R" Us, Canada operates nearly 70 stores across the country. For store locations and convenient online shopping, visit www.Toysrus.com.

----------------------------------------o----------------------------------------

Prize: Playtex Gift Basket and Diaper Genie valued at $150 and a $100 Gift Card to Babies "R" Us.
Eligibility: CANADA ONLY.
Duration: The contest will run from Thursday, August 2 until Thursday, August 23, 2012, inclusive.
Shipping: Included in the prize except for the gift card.
Entry Method: Rafflecopter Form.
Disclosure: Journeys of The Zoo did not receive any products or compensation in exchange for posting this giveaway.

A big thanks to KidSumers for coordinating this giveaway and letting Journeys of The Zoo participate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway was posted to Blog Giveaway Directory.

  Besos, The Zoo

Disney Baby Cuddly BodySuits Now in Canada {Review}

Disney has just introduced their Cuddly BodySuit to the Canadian market and Journeys of The Zoo couldn't be more excited to let you know why you need to get your hands on one. Make sure you read down to the bottom to find out how!

When I think of Disney, Mickey and Minnie come to mind and of course that loveable Pooh Bear Winnie. You'd think after all those years that he'd learn to moderate his honey intake.

So, when I received my bodysuit, the cute and artsy Pooh Bear on the front captured my eye immediately. My girlfriend Rene liked it too and she's a tough customer. Her comment...

"I'm not one for pink, starchy ruffles and princesses dancing around with flouncy gowns but this is something that I will put my kids in." If she likes it, then it should satisfy even the toughest critics!

My positive impression grew after it was washed because it seemed to get even softer!? Seeing as a bodysuit is the closest thing to a baby's skin, super soft fabric is a MUST!

I liked that Winnie was imprinted onto the fabric, rather than a decal as I find it easier to maintain from a wash and wear perspective. The contrasting-colour safety stitching also added that little extra touch of pizazz. Just because you're a baby doesn't mean you can't,

ROCK THE STYLE!

The wide neck is key for those of us with big-headed babies. And can I just take a moment to applaud the brilliance behind the double-row of snaps. Whether you have a short or long baby, this product will work for you. It's been awhile since my kids were wearing bodysuits (on a daily basis) but I really wish that this genius design had been available when my kids were young. I don't cloth diaper but I imagine that this feature would also be great as it gives extra room (in the length) without being too large all around.

Really unique design!

The packaging, states that these bodysuits come in a multitude of styles and colours and you can even get coordinating shorts! They're sold exclusively at Babies R Us and retail for $12, which means that it's easy and affordable to add one to your cart while picking from a Friend's registry. More patterns and styles are released for the holiday season so maybe a Pooh Santa is in the works.

It's still a couple more months until my girlfriend Rene has her second baby but I know what she's getting in her "Welcome Home Baby" package. Seeing as the outfits come in sizes 0-9 months (I got 3-6 months), I know that it's something that she can really use!

Remember that you too have an opportunity to review this great product. Contact me for details.

Besos, The Zoo

Pampers Is More Than Diapers {Giveaway} #babyshower, CAN, 8/23

I was talking to a friend the other day about how Pampers has been with Journeys of The Zoo since the very beginning. And that was a really early start, try 30 weeks, 3 days gestation (yes, the 3 days count!).


For the first eight weeks of their life, the kids were cared for in the NICU and were treated exclusively to Pampers diapers and wipes. When they came home, I wanted to stick with a tried, tested and trusted product.

Pampers Worked for Us!

Pampers story doesn't end there. They are much more than diapers and wipes. They have a great rewards program of which I am a member (every little bit helps), they have a forum where families can connect and share stories and they're supporting our Olympic Athletes by getting people just like you to create an anthem just for them!

Join in on the Fun!

When Journeys of The Zoo had the opportunity to share our Pampers success story and throw in a giveaway, we jumped at the chance. You too can benefit from Pamper's generosity as they are giving away a $100 Pampers Prize Pack (diapers and wipes)! Enter below for your chance to win.

From 3.1lbs to 28lbs in 2.5 years!

Connect with Pampers on their Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/PampersCanada

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Eligibility: CANADA ONLY.
Duration: The contest will run from Tuesday, July 31 until Thursday, August 23, 2012, inclusive.
Shipping: Included in the prize.
Entry Method: Rafflecopter Form.
Disclosure: Journeys of The Zoo did not receive any products or compensation in exchange for posting this giveaway.

A big thanks to KidSumers for coordinating this giveaway and letting Journeys of The Zoo participate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway was posted to Blog Giveaway Directory.

Besos, The Zoo

Simplify your Life with the AVENT 3in1 Sterilizer #babyshower, CAN, 08/23

Journeys of The Zoo is excited to introduce you to today's #Babyshower Sponsor AVENT who is giving away a 3 in 1 Sterilizer valued at $99!

Philips AVENT is a leader in parenting and baby products. The Philips AVENT product range includes breastfeeding, bottle feeding, toddler feeding, baby monitors and newborn gifts. Their website states that:

The new AVENT SCF284/05 Electric Steam Sterilizer has been designed to make sterilizing as simple as possible. With adjustable size, it takes up less kitchen space and the baskets fit both wide and narrow neck bottles.

Some other advantages are that it has a six minute cycle with automatic shut-off (we all get busy!) and Natural steam sterilization kills 99.9% of harmful germs (great piece of mind). To top it off, this sterilizer is BPA Free. A BIG plus in my books.

Watch this cute YouTube Video to see for yourself.

For whatever reason, when the kids were young, I didn't have an electric sterilizer and I assure you, my life was anything but "simple". Twice a day I was sweating over a hot stove boiling (and burning) bottle parts like it was going out of style. Because, I had plenty of time for that.

I did have their manual breast pump as a back-up and for the handful of times that I needed it, it was a lifesaver... literally.

Whether you decide to breastfeed or bottle feed, sometimes things don't go according to plan. I really wish that I'd had one of these sterilizers in my collection. If I had to do it all over again (please no, smile), I would definitely be putting this on my wish list.

We all want to do what's best for our family and our kids.

Adding Advent products to your life is a great start!

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Prize: One lucky Canadian will win an Avent Sterilizer valued at $99.
Eligibility: CANADA ONLY.
Duration: The contest will run from Friday, July 27 until Thursday, August 23, 2012, inclusive.
Shipping: Included in the prize.
Entry Method: Rafflecopter Form.
Disclosure: Journeys of The Zoo did not receive any products or compensation in exchange for posting this giveaway.
Notes: Picture and Video may not exactly represent the Prize being given.

A big thanks to KidSumers for coordinating this giveaway and letting Journeys of The Zoo participate.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway was posted to Linkies Contest Linkies and Blog Giveaway Directory.

Besos, The Zoo

What Winnings are in The Zoo's Mailbox #1? {Canadian}

Now for our first latest installment of "What's in The Zoo's Mailbox". Besides the usual menagerie of bills and people trying to sell us homes (silly them, we already have a house) so far this week we received the following four items.

1. Splash N' Boots ~ Act Two DVD

There's no secret that the big purple dinosaur reigned supreme (past tense) in this house (not so in these people's homes). But there might just be a new Sheriff in town (as far as I'm concerned). Who am I talking about you ask? Well, the trio of "Splash N’ Boots", herein referred to as "Splash", "Boots" and their dog "Lily".


As part of my extracurricular activities, I won their latest DVD, "Act Two".

Initially, I was under the impression that I had won a Children's DVD. However, I started to question what this DVD was all about after reading the cover. You see, it kept mentioning how "hilarious" it was so I thought that it must be a comedy (for adults) because what kid's movies are called hilarious and have a warning that it "May cause laughing..."? Turns out I was right on both fronts (Once I thought that I was wrong...).

This was the "funniest, made my smile hurt and left me laughing through my tears" kid’s movie I have ever seen or even thought existed. Yes, it was that funny. It could have been because I watched it on my new 47" LED TV (had to get that in somehow, smile) but most likely it was because (just like the cover says) it was...

"A Whole Lot of Awesome".

I'm not sure what age their intended audience is but I'm pretty sure that it’s older than two. Don't get me wrong, the kids were stuck to the TV like two drooling dogs to a bone but I know that they didn't get most of the humour. Like the Chinley's and Fruit Explosion skits which are absolutely brilliant. I'm pretty sure that all the songs are their own and they fit the skits perfectly (as opposed to the skits fitting the songs). A really creative pair.

No matter, Artemis spent the entire time looking for scenes with Lily the Dog, herein referred to as "My Dog" and Max loved all the music especially the scene where a young boy (maybe 5 or 6, I'm not good with ages) was playing the drums like a pro. I'm sure that in no time at all they'll be yelling "Shish Kabob" and singing/dancing to the music.

By my estimate, the movie was around one hour long which is just perfect because right around the 55 minute mark was when the kids were done. The last skit, "Fransico Fransico" had me scratching my head. Not in a bad way just in a "what were they going for" way as the skit is all about toilets. So, in order to be true to my readership and integrity (I can totally be bought, smile), I sent them an email asking just that.

This morning, I received the following reply from Splash...

"...Really appreciate you posting the review on your blog (which I was really enjoying this morning). We are 100% independent (no labels, distribution, financial backing etc. so word of mouth has been our fuel since we started full-time 7 years ago.

Now to answer your question. We were also wondering what we were going for after we saw the final cut of the Toilet Skit. HA. The idea came from listening to my nephew talk about his latest obsession/new funny word "Toilets". From there we came up with a concept of what it would look like to put toilets in different rooms of the house. As random of an idea as it was it seemed to somehow fit the "Saturday Night Live for Kids" vibe this DVD had taken. Hope that sheds some light on the situation :)

Thanks again! Send us your address and we will send you Act 1. (Be warned this was made 4 years ago with zero budget and mostly filmed in my dad's chicken barn).

Hope you can catch a show sometime :)"

Splash hit the nail on the head when he wrote "Saturday Night Live for Kids Vibe". Couldn’t have said it better myself. For the sake of integrity (again, I can totally be bought), I should mention that in my email to them, I might have totally begged mentioned that I would like to have Act One. Chicken barn + Splash N' Boots = More Awesomeness! I can’t wait to tell you all about it. I haven’t been this excited since I found that FPC for Nordica Cottage Cheese (Google it, I think that it’s still available). I need to get out more.

In closing, in my opinion, this is exactly what the Children’s movie scene needs. The icing on the cake is that they’re Canadian (from Toronto).

I Canada.

You can see what they’re all about on their website (www.splashnboots.com) which amongst many things includes their Show Schedule and Free MP3 Download. I would definitely be interested in attending a show but I think that I’ll leave the kids at home.

Looking forward to having this on replay for many years to come. Thanks for your generous gift(s) Splash N' Boots!

2. Zaida Baby First Keepsake

Now, if you are related and/or know me and are planning on having a child, act surprised when I give this to you. Or, try not to look disappointed when I hand you a Geranium. Allergic to flowers? All is not lost because you or someone who loves you (more than me, smile) can buy you one of these.

When I opened the envelope, it was evident (even from the packaging) that Zaida Baby cared; about their product and their clients. The keepsake came in a protective bubble envelope and was wrapped in red tissue paper, with a white satin ribbon and customized "Zaida Baby" sticker. It also came with an overview handout. A really formal presentation.

An excerpt from their website under "15 Reasons to Love My First Keepsake" reads, "It's one-of-a-kind! Zaida Baby - My First Keepsake is in a class of its own! It is the first baby book to include a storybook for your belly. The first 95 pages of this keepsake begin your journey of positive pregnancy."

While you'll have to wait for the arrival of your child to see pictures of the journal (because I don’t want to ruin the surprise), I can tell you that I'm really excited to gift it to one of you!



I don't know what it is with me and winning contests from Canadian hosts (I won yet another one yesterday) but Zaida Baby is Canadian (Burlington, Ontario). Did I mention that...

Canadians Rock!

3. LeeLee Labels

In my obsession flare for entering contests, I've focused on a few areas in which I'd like to win. 1. A Tablet/Kindle Fire/Kindle, 2. All Things Kids, 3. Crafty Things, 4. Stationery (more on that below) and 5. Labels. Thinking of birthday gifts (I know you all are), feel free to pick something from the above list. Note that Staples is having a 20% off sale on tablets right now. In case you were wondering… But seriously, don’t buy me one because I'm.going.to.win.one.all.by.myself.with.no.help.if.it.takes.me.two.years.

Where was I?

If I’m anything like my mother, I like to be organized and labels fit the bill. What warms the cockles of my heart even more is Personalized Labels.

Yep, you guessed it, I won a Two Name Pack of personalized labels from LeeLee Labels.

What's great about this pack is that they split the order (54 labels per name in three different sizes) and let you have two names. How great is that!? The order process was really easy. You got to pick the font, background design, colour and if you wanted an icon or not. Even those not so computer savvy people could figure it out. We chose "The Zoo" and "The [My Last Name]'s" as we think that we’ll get the most use out of them this summer.

While they had tons of icons to choose from, and might have been able to accommodate me and/or even provided the service (I didn’t ask), I would have liked to have used my own "Zoo" logo.

The packaging is also worth mentioning. Ed and I were talking about all the uses for the clear plastic protective sleeve (that the labels came in) and their cardstock advertising in the front which can double as a bookmark (probably their intention as it has writing on the back). I always appreciate companies that try to “Reduce, Reuse or Recycle” their products, especially packaging which is an necessary evil.

Not to be fooled by false advertising (smile), I went around finding things to label and trying to test out their "claim" that the labels are Dishwasher, Laundry and Waterproof/UV resistant. After running their sippy cups through (on the top shelf of our new dishwasher), it appears that all is still in order. I’ll have to test their UV claim this summer (although I know that you don’t need sun to be affected by UV rays, you do need to venture outside to stick said labels to something and the weather has been less than stellar). Regardless, they have my seal of approval.

I’m looking forward to the next time (one has to think positively) when I’ll get some with each of the kid’s names on it.

4. Set of Four Notecards from Hans My Hedgehog
And last but not least (for this post anyways), I managed to add to my stationery obsession stash with this four pack from Hans My Hedgehog.

It was one joyous surprise after another.

The notecards had a long piece of white ribbon (tied in a bow) attached to them so as to keep the personalized notecard contained (more on that later). Of course I kept the ribbon for my craft stash.

The drawings were more detailed and "alive" than I remembered seeing in her Etsy shop. I originally thought that they were on white cardstock with yellow envelopes and wouldn’t have still had a rave review but it turns out that the notecards are mounted on yellow cardstock (I love yellow). It really makes them popout.

But let’s forget about the notecards for a minute because it’s also about the envelopes. As you can see from the picture (I don’t do them justice), they too have drawings on them. Let’s just say that if you receive an empty envelope, you won’t be disappointed.

It was really nice to receive a personalized, handwritten note from Jessica (on the beautiful kangaroo card). The kind of special touch that makes a company stand out.

I have a few people that I will be sending “thank you/you rock” notes to and I’m sending these. When all this beauty has been shared with others, I’ll definitely be checking out her "Zoo" themed ones.

If you’re looking for something with the "Wow" factor, check out her shop at: Hans My Hedgehog

Besos, The Zoo