Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique, Mississauga ~ Spring Skin Clinic Saturday June 2!

Last month, I introduced you all to my favourite Canadian-made natural baby bath products, Bubbles & Squeak by SoapStones.  I also introduced you to the fabulous shop that sells SoapStones products exclusively in the GTA - Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique in Mississauga.  We are still using many different SoapStones products at home, and I love visiting the shop to re-stock!

I have some exciting news for you and your skin!  Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique is hosting a Spring Skin Care Clinic this Saturday June 2 from 1:00pm-3:30pm.  You will have the opportunity to meet Darla, the creator of the incredible SoapStones product line, along with participating in Q&A, giveaways, product demos, and refreshments.  I attended the first Bare Indulgence Skin Care Clinic in February and it was great!  I loved seeing owners Lisa & Tony, and meeting Darla.  I am a huge fan of SoapStones and loved having the opportunity to ask Darla questions about my favourite products.

If you live in the GTA, I encourage you to visit Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique.  I can ensure that you will be hooked on your first visit!  The SoapStones products that they sell are ideal for people of all ages, with all skin types.  Lil-J and I have horribly dry skin, and SoapStones helped us to get through the winter comfortably.  From the baby line Bubbles & Squeak, to the milk baths and shaving butter, I promise you will find something you love.  And this shop is the perfect place to pick up a gift for someone special!

Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique is located in Sherwood Forrest Village, at 1900 Dundas St. West, Mississauga.  Ph# (905) 403-0007.

It's Not Easy Being Green...Asparagus

In a family of veggie lovers, Lil-J is the odd boy out.  He loves protein, and would prefer a steak or pork chops over any side veg.  It's a constant battle to get him to try new veggies and continue to eat the veggies that he once liked.  But we don't let his stubbornness discourage us, and our patience has paid off.  This month, we had a major veggie breakthrough!  An asparagus milestone!

We consume A LOT of asparagus! It's a weekly purchase at the grocery store, and we eat it up to twice per week. "We" being hubby, Big-A and I. We have been trying to get Lil-J to try it for about a year now. As with any other new food, every night that we served asparagus, a single spear would be placed on Lil-J's plate. Night after night, he would balk at it, give it the stink eye or throw it across the room. Over time, he also learned that he could easily sneak it to his big brother who would happily gobble it up.

Earlier this month, I tried again for the entire meal to get Lil-J to try a spear of asparagus.  At the end of the meal, he surprised us all by eating a piece!  I honestly think that he did this just to shut us all up and get us off his back, but I'm ok with that!  We all broke out in applause, gave tons of high-fives and told him how proud we were of him.  Big-A was especially excited!  The following night we served asparagus and again, Lil-J ate it - this time 4 spears!

Lil-J eating asparagus!  Success!!

A thumbs-up from Lil-J - he likes it!

Feeding your children healthy foods can be very frustrating.  They will fight back and test your patience.  They'll throw the food they don't want to eat and make you regret ever putting it on their plate.  But every second of this battle is worth it!  When starting these battles, I remind myself of the old saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".  It may have taken a year of placing that single piece of asparagus on Lil-J's plate for him to actually try it, but now he likes it!  This method works for us, and we will continue to use it!

Now, for some information on delicious asparagus...

• it is a member of the Lily family
• it can grow up to 10" in 24 hours
• it grows in sandy soil
• contains no fat or cholesterol, low in sodium
• contains less than 4 calories per spear
• a very high source of Folic Acid; a single serving (approx 6 spears) provides 60% of your recommended daily allowance of Folic Acid making this vegetable ideal for pregnant women
• great source of Folic Acid, potassium, fibre, Vitamins B6, A & C, and thiamin

There are many different ways to cook asparagus.  My favourite cooking method is to steam asparagus in an aluminum foil packet, either in the oven or bbq.

Perfect Steamed Asparagus

Ingredients:

1 bunch fresh asparagus

1 tbsp melted butter or olive oil

1/2 tsp lemon juice

salt and pepper

2 sheets of aluminum foil, cut approximately 18" long

Directions:

1. Snap the end off of each asparagus spear.  Rinse well under cold running water.

2. Place asparagus on a large piece of aluminum foil.

3. Drizzle butter or olive oil and lemon juice over the asparagus.

4. Sprinkle asparagus with a pinch of salt and pepper.

5. Place the second piece of aluminum foil on top of the asparagus and seal by folding the two pieces over one another on the four sides.  Fold until you create a tight seal.

6. If using a bbq, place the asparagus on the top rack for 15 minutes.

7. If using the oven, place in oven set at 375 degrees F and steam in the aluminum packet for 18 minutes.
8. When the asparagus is cooked, carefully tear open the packet (steam will be released and can burn your hands), place in a dish and serve.

You may have to adjust the cooking time depending on the heat of your oven or bbq.  Perfectly cooked asparagus should have a slight bite to it, and should not be mushy.



Perfectly cooked asparagus - spears are not soft and mushy,
but they are cooked through.

Ontario asparagus is in-season May and June.  Take advantage of Ontario asparagus and serve it as much as possible during these months, steamed or grilled on the bbq, pureed into a delicious asparagus soup or sauteed and served with pasta.  And if you can't get your kids to eat it, keep trying and don't give up!

Almost Famous Roasted Potato Salad

With the start of the Victoria Day long-weekend just hours away, I thought I'd share my absolute favourite spring/summer recipe with you all.  It is a recipe for my Roasted Potato Salad that I posted last summer, the most popular and viewed post on my blog!  Anyone who eats this Roasted Potato Salad loves it, and it immediately becomes part of their seasonal menu.

This recipe will be perfect for family BBQ's this weekend, and I can assure you will wow your guests!

I'm not a fan of creamy potato salads.  Boiled potatoes, raw onions and mayo?  Not for me!  But a couple of years ago at a BBQ at my parents house, my mom served roasted potato salad.  It looked good so I decided to give it a try and it was delish!  I've been making it since, for guests at dinner or on a lazy Sunday.  It's the only potato dish that receives comments like "Mama, this is soooooo good!" (from Big-A) and "Moooore tatoes pease!" (from Lil-J).  I've also been told by friends that they are the best potatoes that they have ever eaten...seriously!

Along with being delicious, it's super easy to make.  Try it out for a long weekend BBQ, or for any occasion this summer!

Roasted Potato Salad

2 lbs (6-8 medium sized yellow or white potatoes – not russet or baking potatoes!)

Salt & pepper

2 tbsp canola oil

1/3 cup of your favourite creamy dressing (see below for my faves!)

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

2. Scrub and dry potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces (leave the skin on).

3. Coat potatoes with oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper.

4. Roast potatoes on a non-stick baking sheet (or in a cast iron skillet) for approx 30 minutes, turning over about ½ way through.

5. Once potatoes are roasted, remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes.

6. Add dressing to a large bowl.  Pour roasted potatoes into bowl and mix gently, coating all potatoes.  Add more dressing if needed.

Serve warm.  Serves 6-8 people.

Potatoes roasted to perfection, ready to be dressed!

** You can make these ahead.  Roast the potatoes, store in a covered bowl.  Heat the potatoes in the oven or microwave and toss with the dressing right before serving.

*TIPS*

1. Stick to flavours that you like.  My fave dressings are PC Vidalia Onion Dressing, PC Bacon & Roasted Onion Dressing, Renee's Gourmet Greek Feta Dressing & Renee’s Gourmet Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.

2. Try something new.  I tried some of these last summer, and some I'll try this summer: PC Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing, PC Blue Menu Blue Cheese Yogurt Dressing & PC Artichoke & Asiago Cheese Yogurt Dressing.

3. Add other ingredients.  Roast the potatoes with slices of vidalia or red onion and bell peppers.  Add chopped bacon, blanched green beans or asparagus, or cooked peas before mixing with the dressing.  If you think it will taste good with the dressing that you're using, add it!

4. Don’t forget food safety!  Most creamy salad dressings contain dairy and/or other perishable ingredients.  If you’re serving the salad at home, serve immediately while it’s still warm.  Don’t keep any leftovers that have been sitting out for more than 2 hours.  If you’re taking the salad to a park or picnic, store on ice in a Ziplock bag or container and keep out of the hot sun while you're eating.  Nothing ruins summer fun more than food-borne illness.

Have a wonderful Victoria Day long-weekend!

Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique Mississauga ~ Baby's Bubbles & Squeak

How much do you love your favourite brand?

Enough to stock your home with their products?  Definitely!

Enough to tell your friends and family about it?  Of course!

Enough to travel to the next city or town to purchase it?  If you love your favourite brand enough, you probably would!

But that's where the love stops...for most people.

Years ago while vacationing in Northern Ontario, Lisa and Anthony Caruso were introduced to SoapStones Soap & Skincare Inc. in Huntsville ON.  Lisa instantly fell in love with the natural SoapStones products and made regular visits to Huntsville to indulge and to introduce friends as well.  Fast forward a few years to last November, when she and Anthony opened Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique in Mississauga as the exclusive GTA retailer of SoapStones products!  That is how much Lisa loves her favourite brand, and I can totally understand how she fell in love in the first place!

Proudly Canadian, SoapStones creates naturally hand-crafted soaps, lotions, cleansers and more, all made from natural and often local ingredients.  When you visit Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique in Mississauga, you will find the entire line of SoapStones products in all of their incredible scents.

When I first stepped into Bare Indulgence, I was expecting to be overwhelmed with smells as I often am in other 'bath and body' stores at the mall.  For an asthmatic, it can be difficult to breathe in some of these stores.  This was not the case at all at Bare Indulgence.  The smell is sweet, fresh and clean, and I was in the store for over an hour without feeling the need to step outside for fresh air.  The shop is beautifully decorated and showcases its huge selection of SoapStones products perfectly.

What impressed me most when I first visited Bare Indulgence is the warm welcome that I received from Lisa and Anthony.  They are extremely knowledgeable of SoapStones products, and can help you with any skin issue that you have.  You really can feel the excitement off of them, that they are living their dream by selling a product that they love.  Not many people love their favourite brand this much!

Lisa and Anthony generously provided me with numerous products from different SoapStones lines to try out.  I was so excited to try these natural products.  As I've mentioned many times before, we are a 'bad skin' family.  Eczema, psoriasis, rosacea...you name it, we have it!  Lil-J and I also have extremely sensitive skin.  There aren't many products that I can use on my face or body that I don't react to.  And we have to be extremely careful with the products that we use on Lil-J's skin.  We've battled his skin problems for 2 years, and can usually keep it under control with a gluten-free diet and constant moisturizing, but it doesn't take much for him to break out in rashes and eczema on his body and face.

After explaining Lil-J's skin issues with Anthony, he insisted that I try the SoapStones Baby's Bubbles & Squeak line first.  He shared many stories and customer feedback with me, from people who have used this line on their children with great success.  With ingredients like oat protein, shea butter, lavendar and chamomile, I felt confident in allowing Baby's Bubbles & Squeak products to come in contact with Lil'J's skin.

I stocked up on four Baby's Bubbles & Squeak items and have been using them for the past four months.  The products are so rich that you don't have to use a lot - they go far!  It's taken me almost four months to get to the bottom of the bottles, and I'm now ready to re-stock.  That's a long time, considering I bathe my boys every second night and slather Lil-J from head to toe with lotion.

I am very happy to share my SoapStones Baby's Bubbles & Squeak experience with you all, and I encourage you to try it yourself!

Bath Time for Baby  ~ Baby Wash
Ingredients like Chamomile Flower Extract, Japanese Green Tea Leaf Extract, Aloe Leaf Juice and Cucumber Fruit Extract create a soft, sweet scent and a silky baby wash ideal for the sensitive skin of newborns.  I have used it as a bubble bath for Lil-J (we have never been able to give him a bubble bath in the past due to the harsh chemicals found in most bubble bath brands), as well as a body wash on a natural sea sponge.  I also use it to wash his hair, and I don't have to worry about chemicals coating his body during rinsing.  From his very first bath using this baby wash, his skin has been super soft with absolutely no irritation.  Big-A also loves this wash, and asked to give his opinion on my blog.
Big-A's verdict: It's nice and creamy and it smells good!

Chamomile Baby Lotion
Ingredients like Apricot Kernel Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Vitamin E and Chamomile Essential Oil create a sweet, almost fruity scent and a luxurious lotion.  It's light, but rich at the same time.  When I slather Lil-J with this lotion, it absorbs into his skin without leaving a greasy residue and his skin is as soft as it was when he was a newborn.  We have used many different lotions on Lil-J over the past two years, both prescription and over-the-counter, some costing up to $78 for a small tube.  I will still use the $78 prescription cream when his skin is at it's worst, but a $9 bottle of Chamomile Baby Lotion is perfect for everyday use and I will continue using it as he grows.  For a natural product, the price and quality just can't be beat!  Big-A also wanted to share his two cents on this product.
Big-A's verdict: I like it because it's nice and comfy and you can put it all over your body, and my little brother can use it!


Chamomile Baby Soap
This soap has four simple ingredients: Saponified Vegetable Oils, Cocobutter, Calendula (Pot Marigold) Petals and Ground Chamomile.  The soap has a creamy lather, washes off skin clean, and the ground chamomile creates a non-irritating, exfoliating texture.  I use this soap for quick baths, and both Lil-J and Big-A are left with soft, sweet smelling skin.
Big-A's verdict: It's smooth!




Cheeky Baby ~ Natural Baby Cheek and Lip Protector 
Soy, Shea Butter, Hemp Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Castor Oil and Vitamin E.  Need I say more?  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this product!  It has the texture of a body butter, and it is gentle enough to use all over your baby's face.  During the dry winter months, I spread it over the boy's cheeks when they came inside from the cold.  Instead of having red, irritated, dry cheeks, their skin was soft to the touch and not irritated at all.  I love this product so much that I must confess...I stole it from the boys!  Every winter I suffer from horrible chapped lips and cracked fingers.  One day I put the Cheeky Baby in my pocket and brought it to work with me.  Within days, my lips were healed.  I then started putting it on my finger tips and under my nails, where the cracks were the worst.  Again, healed in a few days.  I have yet to give this back to the boys, and thankfully they're too young to know I have it!



Bare Indulgence offers many more Baby's Bubbles & Squeak products, from laundry soap to massage oil to bum butter.  Next on my list of must-haves, is the Monster Blaster Room Spray.  This room, bed and pillow spray is made up of pure floral water.  I think this is the perfect solution to freshening up the boys bedrooms, without filling the air and their lungs with the toxic chemicals found in most air fresheners.

Along with SoapStones baby products, you will also find plush toys and bamboo clothing at Bare Indulgence.  If you're looking for a fabulous shower gift for a new mom, you can easily create your own or purchase one of the adorable baby gift baskets in the store.  A baby's skin deserves the very best from the start!

I take skincare very seriously, especially when it comes to my boys.  After using dozens of different products over the years, I can honestly say that SoapStones is at the top of my list.  There has been an obvious improvement in Lil-J's skin since I've started using Baby's Bubbles & Squeak products.  His skin is soft and has a healthy glow, and he's not tearing at it and scratching.  I am beyond impressed with the results I've seen, and I will continue using these products on a daily basis.  I am so thankful that Bare Indulgence offers these superior skin products in the GTA!

If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, make the trip to Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique and indulge in SoapStones body products for you and your family!  You'll be happy you visited and will want to return!  And make sure to check out their website at http://www.bareindulgence.ca/ to view the complete list of products found in their store.

Bare Indulgence Bath Boutique
1900 Dundas St West, Boutique #8
Sherwood Forrest Village
Mississauga ON
L5K 1P9
Ph: 905-403-0007

Kinder® & Children's Miracle Network Partner Up For The "Joy To Share" Campaign!

Easter has come and gone, but it was definitely a memorable one for my family.  We travelled 4 hours North of Toronto, to celebrate the long weekend with family and good friends.  The fresh, spring air was just what my boys needed.  Although we've had an early spring this year, life and work have consumed my life lately and we haven't had the time for visits to the park and walks around the neighbourhood.

I had been looking forward to Easter at the cottage for weeks, four straight days without work (and housework - yippeee!), just quality time with my boys and husband...and then it hit.  On Thursday, I came down with the absolute worst flu that I have ever had.  I quarantined myself indoors for two days, away from my family and other civilization.  The other two days, I was slow moving, lacking the energy and patience needed to deal with two excited little boys.  Making homemade bird feeders on day 3 left me spent, and in need of an afternoon nap.  I felt horrible.

Being confined to my bedroom, I hardly got any photos of my boys and their cottage adventures on Easter weekend.  I did make sure to bring my camera along for our bird feeder activity, though.  It was a lot of fun, and we made enough to treat our family and friends to homemade Easter gifts.

While moping in my own influenza misery and missing my boys terribly, I began to regret the past few weeks where I allowed the busyness of life and work to interfere with the quality time my boys deserved.  I also spent time reflecting on a few blogs that I have read in the past, blogs where parents pour their souls to the world while dealing with a sick child, or the loss of a child.  How blessed was I to have two healthy, growing boys!

7 years and 2 boys has caused many visits to emerg and a handful of trips to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto.  From on-going skin issues to a concussion resulting in vision problems and months of follow-up, our boys have kept us on our toes!  As horrible as it was to see our children in pain and suffering, though, they did have full recoveries and my boys and our lives went back to normal after they healed.  This is not the case for so many other parents.  Hospitals all across Canada are filled with children suffering from a number of health issues, and their families need all the support they can get.

Thankfully, the Children's Miracle Network is available to Canadian families in need, providing comfort, treatment and hope to millions of sick kids each year.  They currently raise funds for over 170 Children's Hospitals.  Through monetary donations, fundraising or volunteering, you can help this amazing organization and in turn, support your local Children's Hospital.

As a proud #KINDERMom, I'm excited to announce that Kinder® Canada is also supporting the Children's Miracle Network though a partnership called A Joy To Share.  Through the Kinder® Canada Facebook page, you can make donations to the Children's Miracle Network and learn about featured Hero Moms and Miracle Kids. 

The Miracle Kids tab provides stories of children, as told by their mothers, who have been helped by the Children's Miracle Network through their own local Children's Hospital.  Hayden, who has suffered with asthma from 6 months of age, has spent a lot of time being treated at the Winnipeg MB Children's Hospital.  Having a more serious form of asthma has made his condition difficult to treat with the standard approach.  I have suffered from asthma from a very young age as well, and I know how terrifying it is to struggle with each breath.  Thanks to the Children's Hospital and funding from the Children's Miracle Network, Hayden and his family have received the education and assistance needed to ensure that he lives a healthy life.  There are many other children profiled, each with a heartbreaking but inspiring story.  I encourage you to take the time to read these stories, and you can also comment on them.

 

During Easter, Kinder® Canada also supported the Children's Miracle Network through sales of their seasonal Easter items. You could find Kinder's® delicious chocolates paired with adorable plush toys (Lil-J received a Kinder® lamb from his Auntie Erica; he sleeps with it every night), and an awesome Kinder® Easter Egg Hunt Kit perfect for kids! I purchased my kit at my local Costco store and it was a hit with my boys.




You can follow Kinder® Canada on their Facebook page, and make sure to LIKE the page to participate in all that Kinder® Canada has to offer.  You can also follow Kinder® Canada on Twitter.

And don't forget to visit the Kinder® Canada website at http://haveyouplayedtoday.ca/ for nutritional & product information, as well as parenting information.

I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.

As with every post that I write, the opinions on this blog are my own.

Kuuala ~ Selling Products To Create A More Sustainable Planet

Buying green products for personal and household use can be extremely overwhelming.  What brands are best?  What ingredients are best?  Who do you trust?

I am constantly reminded of the importance of using green products while watching tv, reading magazines and blogs, and most importantly, from my 7-year old 'eco detective'.  Big-A attends one of the most environmentally friendly elementary schools in Ontario, and he has made it his life goal to get everyone around him on the green bandwagon!

When searching out the best green products available, it's hard to know where to start.  You could spend a small fortune testing and trying yourself, but why waste time and money when someone else can do it for you?  The special someone that I have found goes by the name Kuuala!

Kuuala's mission: 

"The Kuuala team was formed around the idea that buying sustainable products could be made easy, by clearly explaining the many benefits and by offering a wide selection of green products."

Kuuala understands that choices we make on this side of the world will impact the entire world.  They offer products that allow consumers to make a difference by saving natural resources and reducing pollution, and ultimately making our world healthier.

The Kuuala Online Store offers a great selection of brands and products in many categories.

Personal Care

• Categories include skin/body/hair/dental care, women and men care, baby & mother, cosmetics and beauty - everything that your family needs on a daily basis
• Brands such as Organique by Himalaya, Nature Clean, Tashodi, gDiaper (a compostable/flushable solution to cloth and disposable diapers!), Kaia and Seventh Generation

Eco Cleaning

• Categories include household cleaners, kitchen/bathroom/laundry care, paper products and commercial cleaners
• You'll find a vast selection of Nature Clean and Seventh Generation products

Home & Lifestyle

• You'll find glass vessels to hold hot or cold drinks, a line of bamboo kitchen items by Ekobo (LOVE!!), Mayukori nursing and sleeping pillows and water filtration options

Office & Work

• Check out ReBinder, a full line of recycled office paper supplies

I have reviewed Nature Clean and Seventh Generation products in the past, and both brands are permanent staples in my home.  It can be difficult to find my favourite green products in stores, though.  Some stores only sell one of the green brands that I like, while others sell numerous brands but have a small selection of each available.  I love that I can purchase my favourite green household brands through Kuuala's online store, not having to deal with the disappointment and frustration of not finding my favourite product at my local store.

When Kuuala offered to send me a Mayukori pillow to test out at home, I was both excited and intrigued.  I know that standard pillows hold and absorb dust mites, sweat and drool (my boys are deep sleepers and serious droolers!), shortening their lifespan.  I've heard that a standard pillow has a lifespan of 3 months to 2 years, depending on materials and care.  They will often get to the point of being unhealthy before they are disposed of and replaced.

Mayukori pillows are made in Canada, and are inspired by traditional Korean pillows.  They are natural, ergonomic, anti-mite and hygienic - ideal for allergy sufferers.  These "EGOresponsible" pillows are plant based, stuffed with buckwheat from local organic farms, making them compostable!  The buckwheat allows the pillow to naturally form to the shape of your head and neck, offering superior cervical vertebrae support.

Along with being "EGOresponsible", Mayukori also has a "SOCIOresponsible" attitude.  Their products are handmade by a Montreal reintegration company, training women in need in industrial sewing and providing them with small commercial jobs.  These women will eventually be given the opportunity to receive a diploma and move on to work for private companies.  I absolutely love any company that accepts social responsibility, and being a supporter of my local women's shelter, it means a lot to know that owning a Mayukori pillow will help a woman in need.

Mayukori's AKI Nino Child Pillow

Upon receiving our new Mayukori Nino Child Pillow, I instantly loved the AKI design, colourful and playful, perfect for any child!  It's compact, much smaller than a standard pillow.  The first few nights that Big-A used the Nino Pillow, it ended up on all parts of his bed.  It was a bit of an adjustment, transitioning from his standard sized pillow to a smaller one, but once he realized that it tucked perfectly under his neck he got used to it quickly.

Being the kid that he is and not understanding how important ergonomic and hygeinic are (that's Mommy and Daddy's job!), his favourite thing about the pillow is the ability to chill it or heat it.  I also love this option, and on occasion have 'borrowed' the pillow during evening story time.  I love the support and stretch that it gives my neck and head, especially after a long day sitting at a computer at work.

After 3 months of using this pillow, I can honestly say that it still has the same shape and form that it had on day one, and it doesn't smell at all.  Here is Big-A's own review of the Mayukori Nino Child Pillow:

"It feels nice and soft!  You can lay your head on it and it helps you to go to sleep.  It helps your head stay clean."

I love the mind of a 6-year old :)  Big-A loves his pillow and once Lil-J starts keeping his pillow under his head while he sleeps, I'll get him one too.

Big-A sleeping soundly on his Mayukori pillow.

The Mayukori Pillows retail at Kuuala from $59.49 to $109.49, from child to adult sizes and they come in numerous styles.  With a 2-year guarantee and a 10-year lifespan, I think that the price is totally worth it!  Buying a good quality pillow is as important as buying a good quality mattress, and when you consider that you will spend an average of 7-8 hours with your head on a pillow (and your children may spend up to 12 hours doing the same), quality really should come first.

Check out Kuuala online at http://ca.kuuala.com/ for a complete list of brands and products.  One of the most awesome things that Kuuala offers to consumers that most websites cannot offer, is FREE SHIPPING and FREE RETURNS across Canada, with no minimum purchase required!  They also offer a 6-month return policy.  Now that's great customer service!

You can also follow Kuuala on Facebook and Twitter and Google+.  Help support this Toronto-based online company and in turn, support and protect our beautiful Earth!

From Nana's Kitchen - Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Growing up I constantly watched my mother cook and bake, and I helped out as often as possible.  One invaluable tip that I learned from watching my mom in the kitchen was how to supplement ingredients and change recipes when needed.  And that is probably why I have such a hard time following a recipe without making my own adjustments.  To this day, I'm still learing from her and calling her every time I need culinary advise or help with a recipe.

This past weekend we had my in-laws over for a triple birthday celebration (for Big-A, Lil-J and I) and I had it in my mind that I would bake gluten-free cupcakes for Lil-J, and a red velvet cake for the rest of us.  I had all the ingredients to make a homemade cream cheese frosting and sent hubby out to find the cake mix.  After a failed search for red velvet cake mix at our local grocery store, I was left with chocolate cake and cream cheese frosting...not exactly a match made in heaven!  I also had very little time to make any major changes to the dessert menu.  What to do?!

So I picked up the phone and called mom, asking her what I could do to fix my frosting fiasco.  I quickly wrote down her instructions, and made one of the best batches of homemade frosting that I have ever tasted!  I could eat the entire bowl with a spoon, it's that good!  And here it is:

Nana's Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
1 250g package of plain cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups icing sugar
2 tbsp cocoa powder

Directions:

1. Cream the cream cheese and butter together until you have a smooth consistency.
2. Add the vanilla and milk, and mix until combined.
3. Sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder.
4. 1 cup at a time, add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, beating until combined.
5. If the frosting is too thick, add milk 1 tsp at a time until you have the desired consistency.  If the frosting is too wet, add icing sugar 1 tsp at a time until you have the desired consistency.
6. Refrigerate in a covered bowl or container until 30 minutes before you're ready to use.  Allow to soften at room temperature 30 mins before spreading onto a cake or cupcakes.

This super creamy frosting spreads perfectly onto cake.

TO. DIE. FOR.

This frosting is very creamy, chocolatey, and has a delicious tanginess from the cream cheese.  It's a perfect match for any cake flavour.  And if you're at all intimidated by the thought of making homemade buttercream frosting, this is an easy alternative!

DISCLAIMER: Not all the food products used in this recipe are certified "Gluten Free". I do, however, causiously check all food labels and Brand websites before making my gluten free desserts. If you have gluten allergy concerns,

I suggest you do the same.

March Break Fun For This Kinder® Family!

March Break is just around the corner - yay!  I remember during my school days, being so excited about having an entire week off from school just to have fun!  Big-A is literally counting down the days to next week, carefully placing an 'X' on each day that passes.  Lil-J has no concept of March Break yet, but I'm sure he'll be pleased to have his big bro with him for a week straight!

March Break entertainment doesn't have to mean breaking your budget.  There are many ways to make each day fun without spending any money at all!

Movie Nights

• With no school the next day, many children will stay up a little later than usual.  I have a mid-week movie night planned with Big-A.  We love watching movies together, and a home movie with a bowl of popcorn and a bottle of sparkling water is definitely budget-friendly.

Picnic Lunch

• Last summer, I had posted about treating my boys to an at home picnic lunch.  We've done this many times since, and March Break is the perfect time to plan this fun lunchtime activity for your kids.  Put on their favourite tv show or movie, place a big blanket on the floor and serve up picnic-type foods like cheese & crackers, fresh veggies with dip and pita chips with hummus.  Buy some fun, colourful staws for their drinks to make the picnic extra special!

Fun In The Kitchen

• Let your kids join in the fun of preparing meals, by allowing them to wash or cut veggies or by setting the table.  Use this time to bake an extra special treat like chocolate chip cookies, and up the yum factor by turning them into Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches!

Stay Local & Free

• On a lazy Sunday a few weeks ago, we decided to visit Toronto's High Park Zoo with the boys.  We hadn't been there since Big-A was 2 years old and too much time had passed - we just had to go again!  I love High Park - it's only a 20-minute drive from our home in Oakville, and it's like being in a different world.  The trails and the ponds make it an idea place to spend the day.  The zoo features many different animals that you don't have to walk for hours to see.  It's all outdoors, and very small - perfect for little ones.  And the best part?  It's FREE!  If you live in the GTA, why not make a day trip to High Park, walk along the paths and visit the zoo!

Don't Let Work Ruin The Fun

• My husband and I both work through March Break every year.  We save our vacay days for the summer months.  This year, though, we both decided to book off the Friday of March Break.  Whether we plan something outside of the house, or just hang out at home, it will be a great day!  If you have to work every day during March Break, plan special activities for after dinner or during the weekend.  Your kids will be happy just spending time with you!

My boys smiling under an 'umbrella tree' at Toronto's High Park Zoo!
Created using Kinder® Canada's My KINDER® Moments app on Facebook.

Being a proud #KINDERMom again, I can definitely think of another way to make any March Break moment extra special.  Treat your little ones (and yourself!) to a Kinder® Surprise® and you're guaranteed smiles all around.  With the perfect mix of quality chocolate and a fun toy, it's a great way to enjoy those little moments, the ones that really matter.

Kinder® Canada launched a new line of toys for 2012, and you can view the collection (over 70!) on their Facebook page.  On this page, you can join in family-friendly conversation, and make sure to check out the My KINDER® Moments app as well.  Using this app, you can create your own framed Facebook photos capturing your favourite family moments to share with all of your friends and family!  And with every moment you capture using the My KINDER® Moments app, you are instantly entered to win monthly cash prizes.  Double the awesomeness!

I also encourage you to visit the Kinder® Canada website at http://haveyouplayedtoday.ca/ for nutritional & product information. You will also find some handy tabs such as Ideas For Creative Playtime, Playful Events Near You, and Development Interests For Parents.

Don't stress about how to keep your kids occupied and entertained during March Break.  Have fun, relax and enjoy this precious family time!

I’m part of the KINDER® Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.

The opinions on this blog are my own

Nature Clean ~ Solutions For A Toxin-Free Home

I've always been open to trying natural, chemical-free products in my home.  From cleaning to laundry to body, I've been very impressed with some brands, and definitely less than impressed by others. 

When approached to try out Nature Clean products, I was more than happy to give them a try!  I was very familiar with the brand, seeing their products at grocery and department stores week after week.  And I LOVE Canadian-made products!  Nature Clean generously sent me a selection of products to test out, and my family started using them immediately.

Pure-Sensitive Shampoo/Conditioner
This is my absolute favourite Nature Clean product and deserves the top spot in this post!  Since receiving my samples of the Pure-Sensitive Shampoo & Conditioner, I have purchased more bottles myself and will continue to do so.  I have suffered with psoriasis on my scalp since age 21 and as with any autoimmune disorder, I have good days, so-so days, and bad days.  The shampoos that I use to treat my scalp sometimes hurt, and always leave my hair resembling straw (requiring different products to make my hair manageable).  Upon my first shampoo with Nature Clean Pure-Sensitive, my scalp was instantly soothed and my hair was left squeaky clean.  And the conditioner made my hair silky smooth.
Since I've started using this line of shampoo and conditioner, I have received numerous compliments on my shiny soft hair.  I have also used the shampoo on both my sons and have had no issues at all.  I am very careful with using shampoo on Lil-J due to his skin problems, and Nature Clean has caused no reaction.  I would recommend this shampoo & conditioner to anyone!

The Specs:

• Biodegradable
• Safe for colour-treated hair
• Products ideal for cottage use as they are Septic Tank & Grey Water Safe
• Made without parabens, sulphates (SLS & SLES), phthalates, propylene glycol, silicone, PEG (polyethylene glycol), phosphates, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances or dyes

Sensitive Bath Bar
As with the Pure-Sensitive Shampoo, my skin was left squeaky clean after using the Sensitive Bath Bar.  But it was not at all irritated or dry.  I've also used it on my children and have had the same results.  I have been using the same brand of moisturizing bar soap for over 15 years, and will continue to use it through the cold winter months.  During the warmer months, though, I will definitely use Nature Clean's Sensitive Bath Bar, when moisturizing isn't necessary.

The Specs:

• 100% natural ingredients
• Gently cleans and moisturizes skin without irritation
• Unscented and Dermatologist Tested

Treehouse^TM Natural Wipes
I don't find much difference in the selection of baby wipes that I've used on my children.  I always by unscented wipes, and my boys have never reacted to them.  I, on the other hand, have reacted to them.  Along with having sensitive skin, I was also blessed with extremely sensitive eyes.  Make-up remover has never been an option for me as it always leaves my eyes and eyelids extremely irritated.  Instead, I use baby wipes.  Some brands that I've used irritate my eyes, but Nature Clean Natural Wipes do not irritate my eyes at all.  While using them on Lil-J's tushy, I was impressed at how thick the wipes are.  And, after reading the ingredients list, I wouldn't think twice about using them on the boy's hands to clean them. 

The Specs:

• Biodegradable
• Great for use on hands, face, body and bum
• Dermatologist Tested
• Free of alcohol, chlorine, parebens, sulphates and petroleum ingredients
• Wheat, nut and gluten free

Fruit & Veggie Spray Wash
To be honest, I was unsure about this product.  I can remember when fruit & veggie washing sprays first hit the market and I've never really been convinced to try them.  I don't exclusively buy organic fruits and vegetables for my family, and buying non-organic is something that I don't stress over.  I do, however, wash many of the fruits and veggies that I buy with dish soap (cucumbers, melons, apples, peppers) and decided that I might as well give the spray wash a try.
Most pesticide residue cannot be removed with water alone because pesticides are water-resistant, ensuring that they don't get washed away by rain water.  Nature Clean Fruit & Veggie Spray helps to remove surface pesticides, chemicals, bacteria, wax and dirt.  It has a mild scent straight out of the bottle, but once rinsed off of produce leaves no scent or residue.  I am not a chemist, and really can't tell if the ingredients in this spray wash are good for my family or not.  But I trust Nature Clean and their products, and I trust that they are safe for my family.  I will continue to use this spray.


I am very happy with the results of the Nature Clean products that I tried, and this Canadian-made brand is now part of my regular list of brands that will be in my home and available to my family.  Check out the Nature Clean website and their line of products, and give them a try!