Not Just Baby Brain

Wordless Wednesday – Ottawa Tulip Festival

Stacey — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:19:31 +0000

This was our second year taking in the Tulip Festival in Ottawa. These pictures were taken on May 6; the weather was perfect, the flowers were beautiful and we enjoyed it so much that we went again the following weekend! While we were downtown we took a walk over to Parliament and shared a snack on the lawn.

The Tulip Festival is on until May 21 so if you’re around the Ottawa area for the long weekend I highly recommend taking it in!

Wordless Wednesday – Dandelion bouquet

Stacey — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:49:22 +0000

Ashlyn is in love with dandelions this year and picks a bouquet whenever she can! Good thing there are lots around

Three

Stacey — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:18:11 +0000

How did she go from such a wee little thing to a preschooler in a blink of an eye?

Happy third birthday, my little sweetheart!

UPPAbaby G-LUXE (giveaway)

Stacey — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:00:52 +0000

The piece of baby gear that I most ~~obssessed about~~ researched before our first baby was born was definitely the stroller. There are so many different options out there now and it can be hard to narrow things down! We decided on a full-sized stroller that we could put the carseat in and it has served us well….but that was just the first of many strollers that we would own. It turns out that these days, many families have different strollers for different needs and what we need now that Rowan is almost walking and getting ready to take on the world is a lightweight stroller that folds compactly and is still comfortable for all of our adventures out and about. Enter the UPPAbaby G-LUXE!

I was sent the G-LUXE in Sebby, which is a gorgeous blue; I’ve received many compliements on it! When it arrived, I was able to assemble it in a few minutes - just pop on the front wheels, click the sunshade onto the sides and attach the cupholder and you’re done. One of my favourite features is that when you have the G-LUXE collapsed, it stands up. That is so much nicer than a bulky stroller that falls to the ground when it’s folded.

The G-LUXE takes up very little room in our trunk – you can see that after a trip to a warehouse store I had more than enough room for our stroller and all of our groceries. I can take the G-LUXE out of the trunk and set it up while holding a squirming one year old and I’ve never seen a lightweight stroller with such a large and easily accessible basket! As you can see in the top right picture, it has room for the purse that I’m using as a diaper bag and there is still additional space underneath the seat.

At a mere 11 lbs, the UPPAbaby G-LUXE is by far the lightest stroller I’ve ever had the pleasure of pushing around. By coinsedence, we took a trip to the Agriculture museum on Easter weekend with our old stroller, and then went back with some friends and our new UPPAbaby G-LUXE a few days later. I was quite impressed with how well the G-LUXE fared: I can easily steer it with one hand while holding my preschooler’s hand, the sun canopy is huge and has SPF 50, the drink holder is secure and holds everything from my coffee to a sippy cup, and the ride was just as smooth as our full-sized stroller. In fact, I preferred having the G-LUXE because of its smaller footprint; when you’re in crowded spaces it’s much nicer for everyone if the stroller is compact! As you can see above, Rowan was perfectly happy to spend the morning chilling in her G-LUXE.

The UPPAbaby G-LUXE is suitable from 3 months to 50 lbs, but to be honest, Rowan is the primary occupant. I did take Ashlyn for a quick spin to see how it handled with a bigger child (she’s about 30lbs). It still handled like a dream and she was quite comfortable in it so I know we have years of use ahead of us! You can see that Rowan has loads of room to grow and Ashlyn still has a long way to go before she’d be too big. Every time we take the G-LUXE out she asks if it’s her turn to ride in it!

Having a lightweight stroller with a 120° recline is really handy for the odd time we’re out and Rowan decides to nap in her stroller. The only thing that I don’t love is the mechanism to change the incline of the seat; I find it a bit tricky to get the plastic tab up high enough on the drawstring to get the seat fully upright. I fully realize that is just because I’m not used to this method (it’s very common on strollers with an umbrella fold) and it’s certainly not a deal-breaker!

The suggested retail price for the UPPAbaby G-LUXE is $199.99. Please visit UPPAbaby to find a Canadian retailer close to you.

One lucky CANADIAN reader will win an UPPAbaby G-LUXE in Ani (pictured at the top of the post)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May the Fourth Be With You

Stacey — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:05:41 +0000

Can you tell our whole family are fans of Star Wars? I wasn’t really into sci-fi before I met my husband but I must admit that my inner geek has really come out the last few (er, 9) years that we’ve been together! On Star Wars day, May the Fourth be with you

Wordless Wednesday – Bubble Wrap

Stacey — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:11:32 +0000

This was Ashlyn’s first experience with bubble wrap -she loved to pop it!

Happy Mother’s Day from Dorset Cereals (giveaway)

Stacey — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:19:19 +0000

If Ashlyn had her way, she’d have cereal for at least 2, if not 3, meals a day. I’m always checking the cereal aisle to find a cereal that is good for her but still tastes as yummy as the sugary stuff that she reaches for. I was happy to receive a package from Dorset Cereals featuring a variety of their delicious and nutritious cereals and my family has been more than happy to help me taste-test them!

Our current favourite is Super Cranberry, Cherry & Almond Muesli. Full of cranberries, cherries and almonds with raisins and sultanas, sunflower seeds, flame raisins and toasted cereals; we have enjoyed it dry as a snack, with milk, and my personal favourite – on top of a bowl of plain yogurt. I’m trying to keep my computer off until after we’ve eaten so that we can spend breakfast talking and getting ready for another hectic and fun day! You can find Dorset Cereals at various retailers across Canada and around the world.

Families will be spending quality time with mom this Mother’s Day. But they can also show mom they’re thinking about her EVERY day by winning a simply delicious gift bag for her that’s filled with Dorset Cereals.

TWO lucky readers will each win a gift bag from Dorset Cereals (ARV $75). Includes is an attractive gourmet getaway lunch tote made from protective material that insulates for up to four hours and folds flat for easy storage and four boxes of Dorset Cereals!

To enter, tell me what you’re planning to have for Mother’s Day breakfast (required).

For additional entries (leave a separate comment here for each):

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Contest closes MAY 7 @ 10pm EST; open to CANADIAN RESIDENTS only.

Please make sure that your profile is public or leave me your email address in each entry so I have a way to contact you. I will use And The Winner Is… to chose the winner and email them. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

Wordless Wednesday – Sliding

Stacey — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:32:10 +0000

Ashlyn was (and is) all about swings, but for Rowan it’s the slide. If you’re not careful, she’ll even try to climb up it to give you a ‘subtle’ hint that she’d like to slide now. The parks should be fun this summer!

Spring?

Stacey — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:18:24 +0000

When Ashlyn told me, with wonder and glee, that it was snowing this morning, I thought she was teasing me. Guess we shouldn’t have taken off the snow tires last week.

What’s the weather like where you are this morning?

Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns

Stacey — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:05:33 +0000

I’m not sure who the bigger fan of Jake and the Never Land Pirates is in our house – Ashlyn or her parents! Full of fun and adventure, it’s been popular in our house for months now, so we jumped at the chance to review a copy of Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns.

“Yay hey! The most famous Never Land hero of all time is back! Before you can say, “I can fly!” – Peter Pan returns to lead Jake And The Never Land Pirates on their first-ever full-length adventure. During a game of “catch-me-if-you-can,” Peter Pan’s mischievous shadow slips away.and winds up in the clutches of that sneaky snook, Captain Hook! Now it’s up to Jake, Izzy, Cubby – and YOU – to help Peter rescue his shadow. Then, enjoy more excitement with five Jake And The Never Land Pirates adventures, including a DVD premiere. Awash with happy thoughts, swashbuckling action, new songs, and never-ending fun, Jake And The Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns! proves good friends can do great things when they work together!”

Included inside the dvd is a blow-up pirate sword, which Ashlyn needed to watch her movie. It’s been in pretty heavy rotation ever since – in fact, it was on while I wrote this review – and it’s definitely a movie that we all enjoy. I asked Ashlyn what her favourite part was and she said “I love everything, Mommy”. The songs are catchy and with the Pirate Party feature I can finally sing along to them. Look for Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns at a retailer near you!