Christmas Gift Idea for Kids

The internet is a marvelous place!  I live on the east coast of Canada, and it seems that we have been forgotten when it comes to all the latest and greatest products. There are no brick and mortar stores that sell a lot of the items I have featured on by website and I live in an urban area! I feel really terrible for those that live in Northern areas or hours away from a city, because there is no chance that their local Mom and Pop shop are going to have any of the hottest new trendy items.  And if you are lucky enough to find something, the price has usually been so inflated it should be gold plated.  This is what makes the internet so amazing – no matter where you live, you can find exactly what you are looking for, and it can be shipped straight to your door.

Narissa Singh, a  mommy of 2, lives in Northern Alberta and has had the trouble of trying to find the perfect products for her own kids for special occasions, yet alone the perfect gifts for others.  With a Bachelors Degree and 10 years experience in the financial industry, Narissa was ready to set out to a new adventure – starting an online store with quality products.

Play and Learn Toys is very picky when they decide on which suppliers to choose from, they want good quality toys and also have the environment in mind as well – with most of their products being eco-friendly wooden toys.  I had the opportunity to review some of the products that Play and Learn Toys have in the past.  For example, they carry Haba.  Haba makes excellent quality wooden toys that keep children interested with their bright colours and ability to makes noises.  Plan Toys also makes excellent wooden toys that are age appropriate for learning and development.  Play and Learn Toys also carries Melissa and Doug, this is a top of the line company that makes so many great toys, including puzzles and classic toys like blocks and trains.

Play and Learn Toys also carries high quality quilts, receiving blankets, bunting bags and bibs by companies such as Swaddle Designs and Bizoux Bizoux.  These companies are very hip and modern, there are no fluffy bears on any of their designs.  These would make excellent gifts for new babies as you would be sure to be giving a product that is unique (can’t get it at your local big box store) and modern.

The Play and Learn Toys website is well laid out, you can shop by age, category, price or brand.  There is also a gift registry available which makes shopping for a new bundle, a birthday or even Christmas really easy.   If you are in the Rainbow Lake, Alberta area, Narissa would also be more than happy to have you come to her house to show you all the great options there are outside of the regular products you will only find at your local brick and mortar.

Buy it: To purchase, visit Play and Learn Toys

Giveaway: 1 lucky My Wee View reader is going to win a $100 Gift Certificate to Play and Learn Toys

To Enter: Visit Play and Learn Toys, and make a comment back here about your favourite item

Bonus Entries:

• Follow My Wee View and on Twitter, and ReTweet this  RT @myweeview #Giveaway – $100 Gift Certificate to Play and Learn Toys #win Ends 12/18 http://tiny.cc/2Llti (you can Tweet this once a day for an extra entry each day)
• Become a Fan of Play and Learn Toys
• Become a Fan of My Wee View on Facebook
• Blog about this giveaway
• Grab my button
• **Follow My Wee View on Google Friends Connect
• Subscribe to my blog by RRS Feed
• Subscribe to my blog by email (2 Entries)

Giveaway closes December 18th @ 11:59 pm PST. Open to US and Canada

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY

To all my Alberta readers, you are going to love this…

There are so many great moments in life that we want to preserve and cherish forever.  There are a lot of people out there that own cameras, but not everyone has an eye or the view it takes to really be a professional and good photographer. Bonnie Herschmiller Photography is an amazing photographer.  The photos on her site capture some really special moments and there are some really amazing original poses that you don’t see by every other photographer.  Bonnie Herschmiller Photography really has a great eye and captures some incredible moments.

Bonnie Herschmiller Photography will make lasting memories for all the special times in your life like a wedding, pregnancy, or a new baby.  Bonnie Herschmiller Photography also will take glamour shots and anything else you would be interested in.  Being a new mom, I am more than impressed with some of the fantastic baby photos Bonnie Herschmiller Photography has been able to capture.  I have a 9 month old daughter, and it is impossible to get any good photos of her.  She always has her mouth open or one or both eyes closed.  Bonnie Herschmiller Photography must have a lot of patience and a quick trigger finger to grab the incredible frames shes does with babies.

Bonnie Herschmiller Photography is based out of Edmonton, Alberta and will travel around the greater Edmonton area for a photography session, or a wedding.  Edmonton offers some amazing background and scenery for a wedding or just a fun day at the park.  Bonnie Herschmiller Photography knows where they all are and will make sure that you are pleased with your outcome.  I would be more than pleased to be in any one of the beautiful photos that Bonnie Herschmiller Photography has put on her site and blog.

A good photographer is probably the most important thing you will need at your wedding (next to a groom).  You will never have that day again, and pictures and memories is all you will be left with. Bonnie Herschmiller Photography takes fantastic photographs that you will be able to cherish forever.  A good photographer is also important for special times like pregnancy and new born babies, because those times are so short lived.  In a blink of an eye, you are no longer pregnant and your baby has become a teenager.  Capturing those moments are very important.  A photograph will last forever, and you want to make sure it’s going to be a good one.

Buy it: If you would like to set up a photo session with Bonnie Herschmiller Photography, visit her online store

Win it: Bonnie Herschmiller Photography would like to offer a lucky My Wee View reader a free lifestyle urban or rural photography session (no weddings please )

OPEN TO PERSONS ABLE TO TRAVEL TO THE EDMONTON, ALBERTA AREA

To Enter: Visit Bonnie Herschmiller Photography and make a comment back here about your favourite photograph or something you learned on the site

Other Entries:

• Email 3 of your friends about this giveaway with a CC to info@myweeview.com
• If a friend enters the giveaway, you get another entry
• Have you ever had a professional photography session before?
• Post this giveaway on Facebook
• Become a Fan of My Wee View on Facebook
• Subscribe to my blog

Contest Closes July 6th @ 11:59 pm PST

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE CONTEST

Madi Couture is a posh online store that features only the best mom and baby gear.  Mandy Klimpke a mom from Alberta owns this store and finds the most popular and stylish items to bring to her shop.  She takes great pride in ensuring her customers are happy with their products and that they arrive promptly and beautifully of course.

Mandy sent me the GiGi Blanki to review.  This product is made in the States, but is very popular and thanks to Madi Couture is now available in Canada – Only at her store.  So Canadians if you are going to buy the Gigi and I suggest you do – buy it from Madi Couture.

I can see why the Gigi is so popular. Upon receiving my Gigi Blanki, I knew it had to be something special just by the packaging.  It was all wrapped up pretty in a little ribbon.  This cute little blanki has become my favourite.  I absolutely love it.  It is the softest, and most beautiful little blanket your baby will have.  This Blanki is definitely luxurious.

Although the Blanki it is a little small at only 19′ x 16′ it is the perfect size for little baby hands to grab onto and bring around with them.  If you want something a little bigger there is the Strollie which is much bigger at 30″ x 35″. I love the little size, it’s just perfect to bring around all over the house and out in public without it being too cumbersome and having it drag all over the ground.  My little girl can even carry it around with her cause it’s so light, so wherever she is, the Gigi is not far away.

This blanket is the softest thing your hands will touch.  The front is a beautiful pattern that is very soft velour, and the back is a pink (or blue) satin.  There is also a nice big logo on the Blankie that says Gigi!  How cute is that?  I can see my little girl run her hands over the front and then the back, then try to put it in her mouth.  I really like to watch her explore and I know this feels good on her little hands.  I like to rub it on her little face, and mine too, it just feels so good and comforting.

I was so sad one afternoon after my little girl threw up her sweet potatoes all over the blanket. I thought for sure there would be a great big orange stain left on the blanket. I was disappointed because the Blanki just looks so crisp and clean. I had tried to wash out her sweet potatoes from some of her bibs with on luck, but sure enough, the Gigi came out totally clean. There was not even a little tiny hint of sweet potatoes left on the Blankie. The valour must be high quality for the stain totally come out.

Last week I brought the Gigi Blanki with me while out on a day trip, a day later I noticed I no longer had my Gigi. My heart sank, I thought I had lost it.  I searched my house inside and out.  I was very disappointed in myself that I had lost the Gigi. I told myself that if I was unable to find it, I would splurge and buy another from Madi Couture. It’s not often that I would splurge on any items (and I do find the Gigi is a little pricy), but I really felt that the Gigi was something that I wanted my daughter to have.  Luckily I found it, but Mandy, if I ever do lose it, please know that I will be purchasing another one.

Both my Mother and Husband even like the Gigi.  My mom will always ask, “Where’s the Gigi”, while rocking her, so she can rub the soft material on her face and hands.  We refer to it in our house as “The Gigi”.  Do you have a blanket in your house that has a name?  If you get this, you too, will call it “The Gigi”.

If you are a Mom (or Dad) that feels like you are in a bit of a rut, and need something to lift your spirits, Madi Couture will have have a little something for you.  For me, this is the Gigi. I’m not sure why – because I am not a materialistic person, but the Gigi really makes me feel good about myself.  It is something I am very proud to own for my daughter, I feel very attached to it.

To buy the Gigi Blanki, please visit Madi Couture.  You can also buy the Gigi Blankie, Strolli and Toothie together in a package.  They all match!

Mandy is very personable, will answer emails very quickly and she will get to know you a bit as well.  I feel like I have made a friend in Mandy while working with her. Please stay tuned for more from Madi Couture in the future. Thanks Mandy!

Mandy hosts her own giveaways at Madi Couture as well, submit a pic of your baby and be entered to win $50 each month.

Giveaway:

Madi Couture is giving away a $50 gift certificate to a lucky My Wee View Reader.

To Enter:

Visit Madi Couture and write a comment on which items would put your $50 gift certificate towards.

Other Entries:

- Write your own review for Madi Couture

- Blog about this giveaway

- Post about this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter

- Link My Wee View to your website

- Grab my button.

- Subscribe and/or follow my blog.

Contest closes March 10th at 11:59 Pm PST.  Winner will be drawn on March 11th.