Put Me in the Story: Personalized Books for Easter

Easter holds different meaning for different people but in our house, it's an opportunity to welcome spring, celebrate family, and enjoy some chocolate. Poor Poppy is too young to participate in the Easter egg hunt / chocolate fest that we've put on for Grady in recent years, but that doesn't mean she'll be left out.

Put Me In The Story to the rescue!

Put Me In The Story takes bestselling books and beloved characters and creates personalized books complete with the child’s name, photo, and a message from the gift giver! Reading becomes more fun and engaging for kids when the book stars them!

Put Me In The Story has lots of options to choose from, appropriate for different religious aspects of Easter (including non-religious options) and age levels. The ordering process was quick and painless. I was easily guided through entering specific information (child's name, personal message, photo, etc.) and in no time flat, I had a perfectly personalized I Love You Honey Bunny on its way to me to put in Poppy's Easter basket.

I was slightly skeptical at how the personalized content would be integrated with the rest of the story but my concerns were unfounded. It all fits together beautifully and doesn't look like someone swapped in different pages for different people; the book truly looks like it was custom-made for our honey bunny.

You can win a personalized Easter book and plush gift for your own honey bunny! Enter here:

{Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this review; all opinions stated are my own.}

Spring Cleaning with Pine-Sol Spring Blossom

It's snowing again today. We've had the snowiest winter in recent history. We are cold and we are weary. Spring feels like a foreign concept.

Pine-Sol sent me a bottle of their new Spring Blossom Multi-Surface Cleaner to try and the dreary skies and frigid temps made me reach for it this morning. Spring may be a long way off but that doesn't mean I can't start my spring cleaning.

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I'm not a big fan of strong fragrances. Really strong or complex smells give me a headache. I was worried that Pine-Sol Spring Blossom might be too much for me because it's a blend of Jasmine, Magnolia, and Orange Blossom scents but I was pleasantly surprised. The smell is fresh, light, and not overwhelmingly floral. In a perfect world I could find cleaners that are effective and fragrance-free but until that day, I'm happy to use Pine-Sol Spring Blossom. It cleans well and I like that I can use it on a variety of surfaces so I don't need to buy multiple cleaners for different rooms.

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Have you started spring cleaning? Or are you staring out the window at snowflakes, dreaming of a tropical holiday?

Learning to Embrace My Body

I saw Taryn Brumfitt speak at Leading Moms in 2014 and I've followed her online ever since. She's enthusiastic, thoughtful, and engaging, and her message is one that speaks to me both as a woman and a mother.

We’re on a quest to end the global body-hating epidemic.

The Body Image Movement (BIM) is an internationally recognised crusade that was founded on the belief that your body is not an ornament, it’s the vehicle to your dreams. BIM believes that everyone has the right to love and embrace their body, regardless of shape, size, ethnicity or ability.
— bodyimagemovement.com

Taryn is bringing Embrace to Vancouver this weekend for two screenings on February 26th (more info and tickets here). She's also hosting a question & answer reception after the second screening and I encourage you (woman, man, mother, childless) to check it out. It pains me to think of my children (any child) growing up feeling inadequate or worthless because of the shape, size, colour, ability, etc. of their body. I want to learn as much as I can about body positivity so I can help my babies, and all the babies, feel secure and confident in the body they've been given.

Partial proceeds from the Vancouver event will support G Day, a national rite of passage event series that supports positive body image, self esteem, leadership, and supportive peer and family relationships for tween girls.

Venue
Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre, Arts Club Theatre Company
162 West 1st Ave, Vancouver (Olympic Village)

Date & Time
February 26th at 12 noon (screening only) and 3:00 pm (screening & reception)

BUY TICKETS

World Breast Pumping Day January 27th

Today is the first annual World Breast Pumping Day!

Pumping has been an important part of my breastfeeding journey with both of my babies.

I suffered (yes, suffered) with oversupply when Grady was a newborn. I pumped to relieve pressure, which triggered my body to make even more breastmilk because it's all about supply and demand, baby. I wish I had known then what I know now: pumping to relieve oversupply can actually create an even bigger supply. I would have saved myself a lot of engorgement (and maybe I wouldn't have stretch marks on my boobs now!). Grady couldn't drink all of the milk I produced (though he certainly tried; looking at his baby pictures always makes me laugh because of his giant, smooshy cheeks). I donated my surplus to the BC Women's Provincial Milk Bank.

This time around, I started with the same oversupply and then it suddenly dipped. I'm not sure if it was stress, my thyroid hormones, or the phase of the moon, but my supply started to taper off. I pumped to give my body a nudge to boost my supply and keep up with Poppy's needs. I'm lucky that my body quickly responded to the pump and my supply was sufficient in no time.

I'm lucky. My breastfeeding issues were fairly easy to manage and were resolved quickly with pumping.

There are a lot of women who aren't so lucky. Latch difficulties, structural issues with the breast or baby's mouth, emotional or physical trauma, baby loss, medical problems, separation, premature birth, the list goes on and on. Some women are unable, or choose not, to breastfeed. And that's perfectly okay. Women should make the choice that fits for them and for their family. But for some women, pumping bridges the gap between wanting to provide breastmilk for their baby, and not being able to breastfeed directly at the breast.

World Breast Pumping Day celebrates these women. The women who spend hours hooked up to a machine, literally draining themselves (both of breastmilk and energy!). The women who sterilize pump parts and bottles and nipples...and then do it all again the next day. The women who can tell you to the ounce how big their freezer stash is. The women who pump in offices; on airplanes; in bathrooms; while driving; at work; every two hours; while eating; for months. These women deserve to be recognized. These women are amazing.

If you want to show your support for moms who pump, there are a few ways to do it: