Ddrops | Review & Giveaway

There is no question that as parents, our children's needs are always at the forefront of our minds. As a parent of a child with multiple food allergies supplementation is something I struggle with. I work hard to provide a nutritious, well-rounded, gluten/dairy/soy-free diet for the boy, but I can't help but worry that he is missing out nutritionally.

As you may know, I was fortunate enough to win tickets to Blissdom Canada from Ddrops Canada and I have also had the opportunity to try out the Vitamin D supplements. "Vitamin D is actually a building block involved in repair and maintenance of the body" and is therefore something anyone and everyone can benefit from.  Ddrops are available for Adults, Children and Infants; amazingly all three products require only a single tasteless drop to get maximum benefits.

As you may know, the traditional source of Vitamin D is exposure to the sun and although there are a few other sources of Vitamin D, supplementation is often recommended.  The biggest problem we've had with Ddrops at our house is remembering to take them, particularly given the 'mommy brain' that is currently my reality.

Ddrops are a fantastic product; I love that they are tasteless and thus can be dropped into an evening bottle, licked off a spoon or even the back of the hand.  There's nothing worse that trying to syringe liquids into an unwilling toddler's mouth.  With Ddrops I have confidence that despite sunscreen, sunhats, sunglasses and protective clothing our family is getting sufficient Vitamin D to fuel and heal our bodies.

Ddrops wants you to have that confidence too, so we are giving away all three of the Ddrops products I tested, to one lucky Momma Stuff Blog Reader.

Ddrops has also offered to send a free Dora/Diego Growth Chart to any Momma Stuff Blog readers who post a question or comment on the Ddrops Facebook Page regarding Ddrops or Vitamin D in general.

Enter to Win

Ddrops set including: 1 Baby Ddrops, 1 Kids Ddrops and 1 Ddrops

Open to Canada only

 

First Entry:
Visit http://www.ddrops.ca online and leave a comment sharing why you want to try out Ddrops!

Please make sure you include your email address if its not in your profile otherwise I won't be able to contact you if you win!

 
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I entered to #win Ddrops Vitamin D supplements for the whole family from @mommastuffblog & @babyddrops http://bit.ly/jFGQ8G

Giveaway closes Sunday July 10th, 2011 at 8pm (PST). Winner will be determined by a random number generator. Winner will be notified via email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new name will be drawn and contacted.

Contest now closed. Congratulations to our Winner Comment #19 'Little Miss Kate'

boys will be boys

There are a lot of gender stereotypes in our society and before I was a parent I never realized that the need to play with cars or dolls is as intrinsic to a child as their need to colour or play with bubbles.  I used to think it was all about exposure, the toys available to a child would be the ones they learned to enjoy.

The boy went 'vroom vroom' with a toy car before I ever showed him and every single time I have given him a stuffed animal, hes thrown it on the ground and stomped on it.  The boy has a defiant streak and as he gets older, I find myself saying more and more often, 'he's a boy' with a shrug of my shoulders; when he wants to throw every toy in the house, knock down toy towers rather than build his own or when he feels the need to touch every item he can reach in the grocery store.  Based entirely on my limited experience as a parent, I've come to believe that our children's behaviours are at least partially related to gender; that there is some truth to the age old saying, 'boys will be boys'.

Case and point, I ran into another mom at the grocery store and she had her daughter, who is approximately one month older than the boy, with her.  She patiently stood next to her mom, eyeballing all of the items on the shelves around us, but not once did she grab or throw something, nor did she bolt causing her mom to run off and catch her.  On top of all of this picture perfect behaviour, her mom mentioned that she was 'jacked up on sugar' from a birthday party.  Seriously?

My jaw must have hit the floor, I don't take the boy to the grocery store unless I strap him in the shopping cart and have enough snacks to occupy him for the duration, this also requires that I never stop the cart close enough to the shelves that he can reach the groceries when I'm not looking.  If the boy behaved like this little girl in the grocery store, I swear he'd have to be practically comatose.

I know that personality and environment all effect who our children become, but for some reason this particular grocery store encounter has really left me thinking about the differences between little boys and girls. I don't know much about little girls, but with a house full of boys I'm certainly going to get the chance to learn first-hand about male behaviour.

Do your children fit into gender stereotypes?  Do you believe that 'boys will be boys'?  I guess there's always the option of raising baby genderless, but personally, I just don't see it as a viable option.

I'm a homebody

My home is in the suburbs of the World's Most Livable City; here in Vancouver we have mild (albeit wet) weather, great shopping, tons of community events, a great urban centre and still mother nature is literally at our doorstep.  Despite all the wondrousness that is Vancouver, I rarely make it out to enjoy everything the city has to offer.  While my sister might spend the day at a local beach, I'm more than happy to hang out in the backyard or walk to the park with my boys.

 Before you chalk my behaviour up to parenthood, I have a confession; I am a homebody and I always have been.

When I was in University, while my friends were out at the bar drinking and dancing, I was at home in my jammies watching a movie by myself and drinking a steaming cup of decaf.  A girl at work recently told me that she was ecstatic that her three year old went to bed at 8pm because that meant she and her husband could easily go out after he was asleep; I laughed.  The boy goes to be at 7pm and we rarely, if ever, go out after he's in bed, we're pretty happy to watch a movie on a weekend evening. I like to stay home and I'm OK with that.

That being said, I'd like to start taking advantage of the plethora of family friendly events that my community has to offer, and we are definitely making some headway.  In celebration of public service week, our local works yard had a huge open house with opportunities to make birdfeeders, climb on all the 'mighty machines' the city has to offer and and there was even a play area in the middle of the works yard.

It was so great to get out as a family and enjoy some of the local community; I hope that we will continue to do more and more of these types of things and with summer just around the corner I'm confident we will.  Does your family get out a lot or do you tend to spend most of your time close to home?

Maude Baby Cloth Diapers | Review

It's no secret I'm a cloth diapering momma; we however have opted to use a cloth diaper service rather than washing our own.  This was in large part simply a compromise to the diaper debate that both my husband and I could agree on.  That being said, I have often wondered about the ease of cloth diapering in the traditional way.  I've wondered about the time spent rinsing, washing and potentially stuffing diapers and whether it truly is more economical when you factor in laundry costs and time.

I still can't answer most of those questions, however when Motherofasale.com presented me with a chance to try out a new Maude Baby cloth diaper, I couldn't resist.

Maude Baby pocket diapers fit children sized six to thirty-six pounds and include both a number of snaps and adjustable leg gussets to ensure an effective fit regardless of your childs size.  The adjustable gussets work much like the elastic in the back of childrens pants; adjustable buttons along an elastic.  I was worried that the button might come unhinged during washing, but I need not have worried, the diaper emerged completely intact and ready to wear.

At close to 36 pounds, Maude Baby diapers were snug on the boy, but they left no marks on his skin and he seemed extremely comfortable with their plush softness next to his skin.  I decided to put Maude Baby diapers to the  test right off the bat and stuffed both inserts into the diaper and put the boy to bed.  Keeping in mind that no disposable can handle the boys nighttime wetness and these days even our cloth diapers have been having trouble, the Maude Baby diapers were on par with our diaper service and definitely surpassed disposables with regard to wetness control.

Although cloth diapers often make baby bums look big, I personally find cloth diapers absolutley adorable and irresistible.  Maude Baby diapers are no exception, they aren't overly bulky and they come in four vibrant colours, Biscayne, Chili, Bubblegum and Lemon Lime.

Maude Baby diapers wash up beautifully, even after a pretty potent toddler poop; if I was going to consider buying and washing my own cloth diapers, Maude Baby cloth diapers would definitley make the list.  Maude Baby diapers are availabe on the Maude Baby Website; the price for a single diaper is $27.50 but the price drops to close to $16 per diaper when you buy the 8-pack combo.

It's not always easy being a momma to two

No matter how many books you read or mom's you talk to, I don't believe that its possible to truly comprehend the exhaustion and sleep deprivation that a newborn entails. Similarly, despite a 'been there, done that' attitude, nothing can truly prepare you for the challenges of having an infant and another child at home.

I admit it, before the baby boy arrived, I didn't give mothers of two near enough credit. I know that in the long run, having two little boys 25 months apart is going to be fantastic, but for now, its extra-exhausting.

With one, you can go back to bed after an early morning feed.
With one, you can nap when the baby naps.
With one, you can shower when the baby naps or you can just plop them in their bed and let them cry for 10 minutes.
With one, you can watch oodles of tv while nursing the baby.

With two, not so much.

It's rare for the baby boy to sleep within the boys two hour nap so I rarely have any time of my own to sleep, shower, blog, bake, sew or anything else that may possibly recharge my batteries, just a little bit.

I'm not complaining, this exhaustion and steep learning curve is a very real part of motherhood and I truly believe that the momma's who swear everything is perfect, all the time, are quite simply, liars. That being said, every moment that has its frustrations is matched by another moment, laced with love, that makes it all worthwhile.

So to you Momma's who have been doing it for ages, kudos to you. And for us Momma's that are just learning to walk this new walk, WE CAN DO IT. Motherhood has the most amazing reward; the immeasurable love of our children.

Bamboobies eco-friendly breast pads | Review & Giveaway

Breasts are virtually a rite of passage for women; a physical manifestation of the numerous changes that are occurring mentally, emotionally and physically as we undergo the transformation from girl to woman.  Similarly, tender nipples are simply a reality for breast-feeding momma's, especially during the early days when our bodies and our babies are just learning to communicate.

Despite sore nipples, for those that are able, breastfeeding is a beautiful thing.  Although there is no magic bullet to make breast tenderness subside, it will get better as your breastfeeding journey continues.  There are things you can do however, to help ease the transition.

Quality breast pads are a must.  I admit that I have a box of disposables in my bedroom, but I primarily use them as a backup, I stash them in  the diaper bag, in the car, at my parents house anywhere that I don't want to be caught without.

Reusable, cloth nursing pads are easy to use, easy to wash and if you get the right ones, they can be discreet, comfortable and effective.  If you haven't heard of  Bamboobies, I urge you to check out their website.  Bamboobies sent me a pair of their regular and overnight breast pads for the purposes of this review, keep reading for your chance to win a 2-pack of either variety.

Bamboobies have a number of noteworthy features, including their uber cute name, but their absolute softness is second to none.  Only organic bamboo/cotton velour touches your tender breasts and when I first took them out of the package, I literally rubbed them against my cheek the way the boy rubs his 'blankie' on his face.

In addition to kitten softness, Bamboobies are extremely thin, leakproof and have a unique heart shape.  I admit I was skeptical, but Bamboobies ROCK!  These super thin pads kept my breasts comfortable and my shirt dry; the heart shape allowed the pad to easily conform to my breast without any telltale lines showing through my t-shirt.  And because sometimes leakage just refuses to be contained, Bamboobies also makes large overnight breast pads made of organic bamboo fleece (also ridiculously soft) in the traditional round shape.

All Bamboobies breast pads are eco-friendly and use organic bamboo fabrics and an ultra-absorbent (and thin) hemp core to disperse and lock in milk leakage.  Bamboobies are available online and start at a price of $16.99 for two pairs.  When I think of what I've paid for cheap, leaky, lumpy, cotton breast pads in the past, Bamboobies are well-worth the price.

Bamboobies is offering Momma Stuff Blog readers 20% off their purchases, just use coupon code MSB20 at checkout!

Enter to Win

Two pairs of Bamboobies Nursing Pads ($16.99 value)
Open to Canada/US only

 

First Entry:
Visit Bamboobies online and leave a comment sharing the Bamboobies feature you like the best!

Please make sure you include your email address if its not in your profile otherwise I won't be able to contact you if you win!

 
Additional Entries:

Please leave a comment for EACH additional entry

Follow the Momma Stuff Blog via Google Friend Connect (left sidebar)
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Tweet this giveaway (once per day - leave a link)
  I entered to #win 2 pairs of @Bamboobies ultra-soft, ultra-thin, ultra-eco breast pads | @mommastuffblog http://bit.ly/jVk9b8

Giveaway closes Sunday June 5th, 2011 at 8pm (PST). Winner will be determined by a random number generator. Winner will be notified via email and the winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new name will be drawn and contacted.

Contest is now closed, congratulations to our winner, comment #31, Jamie. 

Ponderosa Cake | Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free Chocolate Banana Cake

To those who attend the University of British Columbia (UBC), Ponderosa Cake is a well-known treat; I however only had the pleasure of tasting this moist, chocolate chip banana cake once in my pre-gluten-free life.  I was at a barbeque and I found myself amazed that this cake, which by ingredients simply sounded like a glorified banana bread, could taste like so much more.

Once I returned home I promptly Googled the recipe and when I first started experimenting with gluten-free recipe adaptations Ponderosa Cake was at the top of the list.  I'm still not exactly sure how this recipe got its name, and I tend to simply call it chocolate banana cake, but regardless, after many iterations, I am confident that I have this recipe ready for gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free mass consumption.

The last time I made this recipe was at Colin Jack's Celebration of Life; his brother suffers from gluten and dairy in tolerances and I wanted to make sure that there was a treat he could safely enjoy during his time of grief.  I wish that I could share a photo that truly displays the texture and deliciousness of this desert, but instead I have only a snapshot of my Ponderosa Cake taken on this unforgettable day.  But please trust me when I say that this cake, complete with a chocolate chip and brown sugar centre, is absolutley delicious and must be made if you love the combination of banana and chocolate.

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free Ponderosa Cake
(Chocolate Banana Cake)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cups of mashed ripe bananas (approximately 2 large bananas)
• 1 tsp baking powder  

•  1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

•  1/2 cup sorghum flour
• 1/2 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup tapioca flour
• 1/2 tsp xantham gum
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

• 1/2 cup dairy/soy/gluten-free shortening*
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup plain coconut yogurt**

• 3/4 cup of allergen friendly chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350F, line (or lightly grease) your baking pan with parchment paper. 
• In a small bowl, mix together bananas and 1 tsp of baking powder.  Set aside. 
• In a small bowl mix together cinnamon and brown sugar.  Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (sorghum through cinnamon). Set aside.
• Cream together the shortening and sugar until well combined.
• Mixing thoroughly between each addition, add the egg, vanilla and finally the banana & baking soda mixture to the wet ingredients.
• Alternate adding the dry mixture and the coconut yogurt to the wet ingredients, ending with the coconut yogurt.  The batter should be fairly thick.
• Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan, sprinkle half of the chocolate chips over the batter then sprinkle half of the cinnamon & brown sugar mixture on top.
• Repeat the batter, chocolate and cinnamon layers with the remaining ingredients.
• Bake for 40-45minutes until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.  Allow to cool before cutting and serving.
• Enjoy.

yield: One 8x8 cake - this recipe can be doubled for a 9x13 cake

* if you are not concerned with 'soy-free' I recommend Golden Crisco.  For those that can tolerate dairy, I find shortening gives a better texture to the final product than butter.
**Original recipe calls for sour cream, I imagine soy yogurt would also work.