The one thing that I don’t like is bringing a ton of gear or products with me when traveling, in fact – we travel so much as a family now that I think we have the the art of packing lightly down pat. There is nothing worse than carrying a child and being bogged down by a heavy diaper bag or countless bags of luggage!

I was recently introduced to Splendipity, a mom-owned company who has taken the car seat cover and universalized it making it an all-in-one travel product for families. This universal cover is made from organic cotton and feels incredibly soft to the touch. It is sized generously and can be used in a multitude of different ways.

Although it makes an excellent car seat cover, the Splendipity can also be used as a Shopping Cart Cover, Car Seat Shade, Swing Cover and High Chair Cover! They mention that you can use this as a nursing shawl, but to be honest I generally don’t use a nursing cover and usually opt for my aden + anais Swaddles while nursing.

There is a gap to allow the car seat handle to come through in the middle of the cover. It also makes for a nice peek-a-boo window, so you can keep an eye on your little one.

Each Splendipity cover is machine washable and reversible. Regardless of whether you opt for the pink, green or blue versions, the cover can be flipped to reveal the soft creamy organic cotton lining which I love.

Price: $42.97 from Splendipity

There is nothing like snuggling up under a blanket in the winter months. The thing is, my kids have all the cuddly ones and mine are either woolen or cotton. Nothing wrong with wool or cotton blankets, but I can’t even begin to count the amount of times that I’ve lusted over my kids’ minky ones.

Saranoni is a new company that has included every member of the family with their line of luxurious minky blankets. Made from soft swirly, minky and satin, these plush and cuddly wonders are available in a variety of sizes. The mini is fantastic for babies and big enough to drape across a stroller or car seat.

One size up is the luscious 30 x 40 size which is ideal for a toddler. The Lavender Swirl/Chocolate Lush is amazing! Not only does it have the swirls on one side and soft lush on the other, it is framed by a 2 inch minky border. So you basically get three textures in one.

Saranoni has also just introduced a brand new size which is great for the toddler who has outgrown their blanket but large enough for teens. It also has the three textures and measures a generous 40 x 60.

And now, for my favorite. The Extra Large blanket from Saranoni is to die for…..and a little dangerous. See, the evenings are usually my work time, a window of opportunity to get some unfinished projects and contracts completed. If you do have things to do in the evenings, do NOT lie on the couch with this blanket because you will nod of faster then you can say boo. Although I adore it, I don’t recommend using it if you want to stay awake and upright .

Saranoni will be introducing a brand new Candy Apple Red and Hot Pink blanket on January 30th, just in time for Valentine’s Day and they will be marked down by 20% so keep your eyes peeled on their website for updates!

*Company sent sample for review.

Although I love to craft with my kids, I seldom have the time to get ‘down and dirty’ and immerse myself into intricate projects and time consuming activities. Recently, I was introduced to a super cool company called Box Play For Kids, who has created a very innovative line of… stickers! Yes, stickers .

These eco-friendly, 100 percent recycled stickers can transform household items such as egg cartons, old cereal boxes, mac & cheese boxes, shoe boxes and other ‘throw away’ items into new toys. My girls and I tested out the piano egg carton sticker as well as the refrigerator and they were thrilled to give their dolls some new pieces of furniture and loved the creating process. You simply peel the backing off the sticker and place on whichever item you are using. Easy, peasy!

There is a very wide range of stickers that can be used in various ways. They would make a great addition to birthday party fun and make a great indoor activity. You can see the various options in Box Play’s gallery.

To test out the concept, be sure to download this free snowman sticker from Box Play.

Lunch Punch is a brilliant company I was introduced to during the ABC Kids Expo in Louisville last year. Kiersten, the inventor of these neat little cutters decided to create the Lunch Punch in order to encourage her three boys to simply sit down and eat, but they were more interested in playing then anything else. After wasting too much bread with cookie cutters, butter knives and kitchen scissors Kiersten invented a cutter that uses most of the bread and transforms a child’s sandwich into something fun.

Before I had kids I swore up and down that they would eat their crusts, but sadly that fantasy of mine has yet to come true and regardless of how I dress the sandwich, both of my girls refuse to eat their crusts. We tested out the new “Sweet” set of Lunch Punch cutters today and needless to say both girls were thrilled. So much so, they had 3 sandwiches each. A little too eager perhaps? We’ll see if they are hungry at dinner time because three sandwiches? Really?!

As you can see, even kids can make their own sandwiches and snacks with this neat little invention. It would make a great activity for a kids’ party or get together.

The Lunch Punch cutters come in a wide variety of styles and can be used for sandwiches, fairybread, toast, cakes, cookies, egg-in-the-hole and so much more. The best feature of these cutters is that they are designed to use as much of the bread as possible, thus eliminating waste. They are also made from ABS FDA certified food grade plastic, are BPA free, lead free, mercury free, phthalate free and are dishwasher safe. Did I mention they are fully recyclable?

Price: $14.50 from our affiliate Amazon.com.

The temperatures have officially dipped down low here in Ontario after a few months of abnormally mild weather and although I usually alternate through my coat wardrobe (yes I have more than 4….er 5 winter coats), I’ve been using my new Land’s End coat exclusively for one main reason – it’s the warmest of them all.

I was recently given the opportunity to test one of Land’s End’s coats for women and opted for the Luxe Down Parka. Just a little word of advice – the coat looks 10 times better in person than it does in the photo! I am extremely picky when it comes to coat styles as I basically live in them for 6 months out of the year and that can get me in trouble most of the time because winter parkas aren’t exactly ‘cute’. This one totally is!

The fabric’s slight sheen is due to its special DriOff™ finish to repel snow and wet. This finish in combination with the 600 fill power down, gives you a coat that is incredibly warm – it is rated – 40° to -5° Fahrenheit!

The fabric has a slight sheen to it and the length covers your bottom nicely. Unlike most of my coats, this one is not overly bulky and won’t make you look like a Michelin man lady. The waist tie is extremely flattering and offers a tailored look, however if you aren’t fond of the whole belted look or want to switch the look up it can be removed.

Same goes with the hood, it can be removed if you wish or if you aren’t fond of the faux fur, you can remove that as well.

100% of my coats all require additional layering, because we hit temperatures of -30 C on a daily basis here in Northern Ontario. Amazingly enough, the Luxe Down Parka kept me warm without a sweater which is a complete miracle in itself! The hood is nice and deep (won’t fall off with the wind) and the overall construction of the coat is excellent. I’ve worn this parka with dresses, skirts, jeans and snow pants. Because of the style, construction and warmth, it can be worn anywhere and with anything.

Man, I sound like I’m really bragging, but honestly this is the warmest coat I’ve ever had!

The sizing is bang on (you won’t have to size up or down) and the coat is available in 5 colors – Washed Teal, Black, Dark Sapphire, Rose Red and Spice Brown.

In regards to pricing, the price point on this coat is less than most winter coats available through Sears or The Bay. The Luxe Parka retails for $179.50, however it is currently on sale for $89.99! Another bonus? Lands’ End ships to the USA & Canada

*Thank you to Land’s End for sending us a coat for review purposes.*

My eldest daughter had a bout with eczema when she was a baby and although she no longer has the condition, she gets extremely dry every winter. I was given the opportunity to test out a product called Exederm a few months ago, however during the summer we don’t have issues with dryness so I was unable to test it out until recently.

Exederm is a line that has actually received a “Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association. There are no fragrance, parabens, lanolin, propylene glycol, color, dyes, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine or phthalates in the range.

You can see comparisons of some of Exederm’s products compared to others on the market by visiting their website. One product that always irritates my daughter’s skin is bubble bath. The Cleansing Baby Bath is very gentle and doesn’t dry out baby’s skin.

The great thing about Exederm’s line is that it is affordable! Prices range from $12.99 to $14.99 and you can find the entire line at your local A&P, Food City, Drugstore.com, ShopRite, Target online or Amazon.com, to name a few.

If your child has eczema and you are looking for a gentle skincare solution, I highly recommend this line!

*Company sent sample for review purposes.

A couple of months ago I was given a sample of Zarbees, a new cough medicine that is marketed for children. My kids weren’t sick at the time, so I was unable to try it until recently. A couple of weeks ago my girls came down with a terrible case of the flu which then proceeded to turn into a wicked cough. To be honest, I held off using the medicine as I’m not a fan of medication and prefer to use all-natural remedies instead.

If I hadn’t been so immediately dismissive and actually looked at the ingredients I would have seen that Zarbees is in fact natural with a very short ingredient list. The ingredients consist of buckwheat honey, water Vitamin C, natural flavors, tartaric acid, zinc gluconate, malic acid and plant extract. Not bad!

Zarbees is everything you want in a cough syrup. Thanks to the Vitamin C, it boosts your immune system and the honey sooths your child’s throat. It is drug-free there are no refined sugars or dye and it’s even gluten-free. Smart!

Not only does it do an excellent job calming their throats, but my kids love the flavour and prefer the texture to our usual cough syrup from Chinatown, which is incredibly thick and dark. I am so pleased with this stuff that you better believe we’ll be switching.

Even though this is an American brand, it is readily available in Canada! Thankfully, my local drugstore carries Zarbees and I’ve also seen it in Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Ontario.

I have officially gone boy fashion crazy! Suits, ties, suspenders, little spiffy shoes, you name it I have it. Now, don’t get me wrong I adore my girls and all of the poufy, glittery, pinkness, but the house has become, shall we say… a little too pink.The blue is such a nice addition and has balanced things out quite a bit.

One of my favorite companies for boys is Fat Tie. They have come up with a tee that has the tie sewn right in. There is no need to worry about dry-cleaning or fastening the tie to your child’s collar, because it is literally part of the shirt! Since the tees are made from a lightweight 100% cotton fabric and the ties, waffle jersey knit, they are a cinch to wash and can just be thrown in the dryer.

If you want your son looking spiffy this holiday season, but don’t want to buy an entire suit, this tee looks amazing paired with a blazer and a pair of jeans!

Price: $38.00 from Fat Tie

*Thank you to Fat Tie for sending us a sample for review purposes.

Beyblades are at the top of my 7 yr old son’s list this holiday season. From the first time he saw these he was hooked!

The tops themselves are very cool. They remind me of battle tops that my brothers played with when we were kids. It’s rare for toys today to call forth that nostalgia. The metal construction, precision nature and high tech launchers make me think of a time when more toys were made well. When quality mattered.

What I also like about Beyblades are the stories that go with. It’s not just a cool top. It’s the portal to another world.

I’ve watched my son get swept away by the world of fantasy before. He fell in love with his Pokemon toys and cards because of the stories and characters that went with. He’s not lacking for imagination in any way, but attaching a world, characters and stories to a toy opens up a whole new layer of play for him and his friends. Suddenly it’s not just choosing a top to spin – it’s engaging in a fantasy battle between two mighty opponents. They’re part of the drama being played out in the Beystadium. In their own living room. And I don’t think I have to say this, but I will: I’d much rather watch my son and his friend’s tops duke it out, than watch them kick the crap out of each other. Maybe that makes me a wimpy boy mom. But I’m taking baby steps. I’m fine with the battling now. As long as it’s the Beyblades doing it!

I should point out that the backstory is not needed for these toys to be fun. They are fun on their own. I’ve yet to watch any of the shows, but I too enjoy playing with them. The “rip” and “whrrr” of a speeding top are quite satisfying. I love to launch the Beyblades with the pistol launcher. There. I’ve admitted it! It’s kind of irresistible.

I’m pretty sure that my son will treasure his Beyblades collection forever. It’s something he’ll put away and pull out again over the years, and possibly show to his own kids.

For this reason Beyblades are high priority on our holiday gift list. Next up… a better case to store them in!

Price: Varies depending on the set. The Beyblades Metal Masters Triple Battle Set pictured above retails for $39.99 through our affiliate Amazon.com

*Company sent sample for review purposes.

FamilyFun is a magazine we’ve been subscribed to for quite some time now and if you know me, you’ll understand that in itself is a big deal. I’m not fond of magazines as I do most of my reading online, however there are 4 favourites I love and adore, ones that I subscribe to year after year and Family Fun is one of them.

I was recently approached by Disney to check out their latest magazine, a kids’ version of FamilyFun and was excited about the new addition. The original FamilyFun is filled with inspiration and ideas for parents who are looking for ideas to entertain and stimulate their kids. This one is for the kids.

I wasn’t expecting anything but a brown paper envelope with a magazine enclosed, so you can imagine my surprise when a huge box was delivered to my door – one from FamilyFun.

Not only was the magazine included, but Disney also sent over a bunch of art supplies to complete several of the crafts in the magazine. Smart no?

So far, we’ve completed a balloon project as well as this glittery snowflake. My kids were excited about the snowflake because we hadn’t had a snow fall. Funny enough, the day after we made this we had a huge snowfall. Ask and you shall receive….

Anyways, back to the magazine. Geared towards children ages 6 to 12, it is chock full of games, puzzles, crafts and food ideas that encourage your child’s creative abilities. The projects are fun, quick and easy, and most of them can be completed with items found around your house.

Another bonus – it’s ad free! There are no ads cluttering up the pages, it is 100% pure fun. Like Disney’s FamilyFun magazine, FamilyFun Kids is affordable and runs at $23.94 per year.

For a free preview or for more information on the magazine, click here.