This was way too long to post on facebook, but as most people know there is always a story behind every WAHM(work at home mom).  Our new skincare line is no exception.  Made in Canada(local to Ottawa in Perth). This blog was written by the owner Bonnie, and we can't express how happy we are to have her join our product lines.

 "Georgina Naturals is a body care company which creates 100% natural products without the use of artificial preservatives, colours or fragrances. I started the company along side my sister in 2010, after being struck with severe environmental allergies. In an effort to find safe alternatives to the chemically laden products on the market, I consulted with my grandmother – a strong advocate for natural health. I began making my own products - studying herbs, learning their unique properties and experimenting with oil infusions.

 Barnyard Bummz Fitted diaper

Please note:  Barnyard Bummz has changed the design of their diaper to be a One size- February 2012.  At the time of this review, the only diapers that were tested were a size large.  This review does not reflect the One size diaper. The One size fitted diaper that Chiquita baby sells and supports is Guerilla fluff (another WAHM diaper).

First the little things: I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I given free product.  The designer of this diaper is not my family or my best friend.  I paid hard cold cash for both the Barnyard Bummz fitted diapers that I currently have. I simply write it as I see it- and this diaper is a must have for every single parent.  Looking for an overnight diaper solution- look no farther- this is as good as it gets!

Cute patterns, soft and squishy, excellent craftmanship, a soaker that snaps in so you don't lose it, and a huge long overnight soaker that you can fold 2 times or 6 times(your choice). Made of Organic bambo and Organic Cotton means only the best for your baby.  It also means less stinky diapers. 

Did I mention absorbant?  One diaper that had been washed 3 times took 14oz of water, the other diaper that had been washed 10 times took 18oz of water.  Here are some pictures of what the diaper looks like after my daughter slept 13.5 hours in it. Our overnight solution has been found- 1 barnyard bummz fitted with overnight soaker, and wool longies. The paper towel is still dry on the outside of the diaper.  Also she doesn't wake up with a friction rash, or a wet/cold butt. Only suggestion I would have is to zig zag stitch down the middle of the soaker so that over time the soaker doesn't curl(which both of mine haven't yet). But if that is the only thing I have to suggest, and I have tested 100's of diapers that speaks volumes.

When you buy one of these diapers-Approx $26, overnight soakers are $4.50, you are supporting a WAHM(work at home mom) in Ottawa. This is her business.  She has 2 children, and in her spare time makes wonderful practical fitted diapers. Be warned...buying one Barnyard bummz will lead to another and another.  My children's review...when it is drying in front of the woodstove, they take it off the rack and say mine..and rub their face against it...that would be a big thumbs up! Now available at Chiquita baby.

The Laundry Tarts Stain stick

Confession: I am a mom, and my children spill stuff on them always.  Also I have a habit of leaving for work, and then noticing when I am at work that I have chocolate on my shirt(from my children rubbing their faces), oil on my shirt from making a healthy breakfast of tater tots, or wow I have what my mother used to call "the grey sickness" all over my white sleeves. Once a disbeliever in getting these stains out- now I believe.  I keep the laundry tarts stain stick in my kitchen and try to do stains as I see them.  Then I toss nicely down the stairs so it makes it to the laundry room at some point. The laundry tarts is also Canadian, and the stick sells for $5.99.  The stain stick lasts a long time, but I do find it helps to wet the article of clothing, and then wet the stick and rub it on stain.  The bottom is a picture of my daughter's favorite shirt that got a huge stain on it, and the picture after using The laundry tarts stain stick.

“Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. My motto for single parenting.  I have learned to be devious, charming, bribe, and multi task like an air traffic controller.

In 2011 I had the pleasure, pain, endured the torture of single parenting many times.  I have learned inner strength, patience, and how to shower and give timeouts through shower curtain.  I now have so much respect for single parents (regardless of if it is due to jobs/by choice or fact of life). I have no insomnia as my morning starts at 6:05, and end whenever children are in bed.  But does it ever really end?  Once children go to bed, there is the packing of bags for next day, laundry, meal prep, and sometimes your work.  There has been days when I sit down with a glass of water and realize that is the first time I have relaxed all day, and it is 9:10pm.

I have learned to let the house get dirty, eat leftovers for 2 days straight, and say “oh well” as many as 10 times in a day.

It hasn’t been easy.  It hasn’t been without screaming matches, and it hasn’t killed me (yet). As I chuck 2 new puzzles in front of the children, and I head out the door to shovel snow, I am reminded that I can ask for help. Something I am not very good at.  I prepare to take on the day doing daily chores(empty dishwasher, pack snacks, wash dishes, make beds, toss in a laundry, get woodstove going, and perhaps even bring in 4 loads of wood) and in between all of this eat a bite of toast off a plate, and say for the 100 time, stop fighting please…. I think and dream of a vacation, and then I picture the vacation starting with 1 child on my back, one holding my hand as I push a huge luggage cart with my foot…and I think maybe next year…

Lessons I have learned…

-crockpot is a lifesaver (though I still overcook every roast)

-if you can, having kids (or yourself) pick out their clothes in the evening for the next day saves time in the morning

- nap when children nap

-if you make plans for the morning it makes the afternoon fly by

-Why clean up- it just gets dirty again in 10 min

-although not a big fan of convenience foods, a box of Annie’s mac and cheese with frozen peas can be good supper in a pinch. So can tuna melts with frozen peas on the side (I almost always have cheese, bread and a can of tuna)

-cleaning washroom while children are in the bathroom are in the tub kills 2 birds with 1 stone, however flipping through a magazine is a better choice

-if you need to get something done and don’t want to use the tv (say you have already used this enough for one day, ha ha), let your kids look through some photo albums. They love nothing more than looking and asking all kinds of questions

-try to take some time for yourself. I know personally once the kids are in bed I do all the things I need to for the next day, then spend some time on myself- this usually involves just sitting, as I find I run around most of the day.

-packing lunches/bags etc. is a smart move to do the night before (still working on this one)

-if you are single-parenting for reasons such as spouse’s career, try really hard not to resent your partner. It can be really difficult, but they are working hard as well, and missing out on time with the kids

-my expectations of that workout class are very high, even more so if I am paying for a babysitter to do that workout

-putting on makeup and doing your hair is now called damage control and don`t forget under eye concealer!

-don’t be so hard on yourself…something we all struggle with, we can only do our best, and singing raffi very loudly keeps you in check.

 Thanks to staffer Jen, who added input.

Snowflakes are gently falling, it is like a winter wonderland, as you pull the 10th grey hair from your head. Screams of "No it's mine", "not fair", and "I'm telling" fill the air.  Being confined in a small area with children, no matter what age is a challenge.  At Chiquita baby we have compiled a long list to keep both young, and old sane this season.  Please add your ideas to the list!

Indoors:

1.Early Years Centre: I am a big fan of this place.  Perfect for ages 0-6yrs.  Also perfect for nursing mothers who have 2 children.  The older one can play with sand tables, water tables, toys galore, and crafts while there are chairs for nursing.  There are 3 in west area: Carp, and 2 located in Kanata. Keep in mind if it starts at 9am, you need to be there 15min in advance so it doesn't fill up.  The drop in's are free

http://www.wocrc.ca/Libraries/General_Brochure_languages/Fall_Regular_Program_Schedule.sflb.ashx

2. A Gym's Tale.  A very clean, well run play area.  They also host great birthday parties as well.  My children like the drop in play times, and it is perfect for snowy, too cold to play outdoor's days.

http://www.agymtale.com/

3. Starr Gymnastics- has a great drop in, think loud crazy music/children running everywhere, and balls flying.  Want to wear off excess energy or chocolate this is the place.

http://www.starrgymnastics.com/schedule.cfm

4. Funnhaven.  Located behind the massive new Ikea, the feedback so far has been thumbs up.  It features lots of flavours of frozen yogurt and hours of fun. Grand opening on Dec.14th.

http://www.funhaven.com/public/visitus/index.cfm

5. Gouldburn Recreation centre.  Located in Stittsville, there is an open play gym on sunday evenings, at witching hr. 4:30-6pm.  The gym is filled with plasma cars, balls, parachutes, and hockey nets. 1 person can stay home and make dinner, and other person can take children here. Draw straws to see who does what!

6. Carleton Place Pool- I have mentioned this before on facebook- however I am very impressed with this pool.  The larger pool is warmer then most, and they also have a smaller pool with a ramp/very hot pool(bring water). As well it has a baby section that is shallow that parents can sit to hold babies. During Christmas break they offer lots of free swims, that are sponsored by different organizations throughout Carleton place.

7. Crafts: Pinecones with glitter, peppermint playdough, gingerbread cookies or house, wreaths- to make crafts last longer then 15min, try walking to nearest dollerstore to pick up craft supplies.

8. play indoor angry birds.  We use blocks, and little people, and stuffies.  To make it harder make them sit farther away.

9. Dress up with different hats/coats/old halloween costumes

10. For a quiet moment, paint faces with water and paintbrushes

Outdoor:

Nature walks-Jack pine trail is great for feeding birds-located off Moodie dr. Keep in mind it doesn't loop around(from someone who hiked for 2 hrs thinking that....) Babywearing helps for timid children afraid of birds

Ice skating- canal and indoors

snowmen, and the whole family-snowcat, snowdog, and fish..

Toboggan hill- One located by Kanata leisure centre/off Terry Fox, or Bruce Pit as well

Paint in snow- put water and food colouring in spray bottles and have a painting party

Snow angels

family shoveling time...sneaky..

freeze coloured water in big rectangle boxes to make ice building blocks

Walking into kickboxing last week I overheard a conversation that a mother was having with her son. She was walking 5 feet ahead of him and stated that he was losing all his privileges.  The son answered but not hockey, the mother answered yes that too, and the son screamed across the parking lot- “Fine I’m sorry then”. As I drove away it got me thinking, was this where it started-“learn to be a bully”.  Recently my parents moved and as a result all the stuff I had stashed at their house came back to me.  Including pictures, poems, journals, and junk.  In the mess was this:

It is International babywearing week and what better way to celebrate then to do a blog!  I feel like I am dating myself here, however when I had my first child the selection out there wasn't as it is now.  I started off with 2 that I hated, and then worked from that.  I had a padded- very padded ring sling with large plastic rings, I couldn't adjust it, and it never felt safe and secure.  The other one I had was 'gasp" a snugli, one that had been used by friends and passed on.  It was worn exactly 2 times- both times my neck and back pain was intolerable.

After both of those I got a baby trekker that went everywhere.  My son would see me pull it out and crawl towards it with his arms up high as he wanted up, and right away.  I learned that it was impossible to go anywhere without it.  Once while leaving for a trip- we got halfway to the airport and turned around as we forgot the carrier, it was worth it to have on our trip but Extremly embarrassing to have to be escorted to the plane with a flashing red light(slightly late...). Did we have a stroller..yes, but it was used more as a push cart.  We would load all our luggage into it and wear baby,  or wear baby and pack all our towels and snacks in the stroller.

With my second child I had numerous carriers and wraps.  I had learned how valuable babywearing was, and I was on a mission to find the best ones. With 2 children babywearing became imperative as you are chasing after the older one while wearing baby(please note I did not jog while wearing baby). I used a wrap with my newborn as it was wintertime and I could wear the baby in a wrap and wear a fleece vest over and keep both of us warm. As she got bigger we went from carrier to carrier depending on what our needs were.  Catbird baby mei tai allowed my baby to face outwards, and it was super easy to fold into a diaper bag.  Also we went to a hockey game when infant was 9 days old, and baby was snuggled into the Beco Butterfly II safe and secure.  The carrier that we use the most right now is the Manduca.  I walk my older child to school and my youngest is worn in a back carry.  Although she is approx 38 pounds, I don't feel any pain while walking with her.  Manduca stays in the car at all times so I can run in to do groceries, walk through the carp market, or numerous other occasions.

The newest carrier on the block is the Onya baby.  It is durable, well made, and user friendly.  Plus it was designed by a mother who is passionate about babywearing.  Did I mention she lives in Ottawa! I am adding this one to my stash as my youngest pulled it around the house trying to put it on herself, as well as handing Onya baby carrier to me and saying "up please". Every little detail you can think of has been put into this carrier.  Our staff member has been testing it for the past year, so I will pass you on to her review.

 Written by Sara Mackey:

                I have recently had the chance to try an ONYA Baby Carrier. They are a new addition to the baby carrier market and will be released in September.  The ONYA Baby carrier is suitable for babies from 3 months and 15 lbs all the way up to 45 lbs.  The carrier is a soft structured carrier which can be worn on your front, on your back, or used as a chair harness.  The carrier has two different fabric options, The Cruiser, a  soft cotton twill, available in two colours and The Outback, the sport performance model which is also available in two colours.  My little test model is my 14mos old son who weighs 22lbs (he was 11mos at the beginning of my trial).  I also tried a back carry with my 40lb, 41” 4 year old son.

Front Carries – there are two options available for wearing your baby/toddler on your front in the Onya carrier.  The first method is using the straps in back pack style and the second is to cross the straps.  The crossing straps position is my favourite because I find they distribute the weight exceptionally well. The other bonus with the position of the buckles for doing a crossed-strap carry is that they are very user-friendly, I am able to quickly have baby strapped on before 4 year old can run away J.  What stands out to me with the Onya carrier, compared to all of the other SSC’s I have tried is that the straps are stitched down flat, so while they still offer tremendous comfort, they are able to lay flat against the wearer instead of puffing up where the straps cross or have tension pulled on them.

The two way adjustable straps allow you to pull the carrier closer to your body and gives you more flexibility for adjusting the straps to your ultimate comfort level.  These buckles also allow you to easily loosen them, giving baby a lower seat to nurse from.

Back carries in the Onya are extremely comfortable and can put my 14mos old to sleep just as fast as riding on the front.  My 4 year old was able to ride in here on a zoo trip until he saw a ride he had to go on.  The chest clip is easy to move into place, no tugging required.

By far the neatest thing about the Onya carrier is the ability to use it as a child harness on practically any chair, which means that’s one less baby item to buy and lug around. When the carrier is attached to the chair and the baby/toddler is placed in the harness, there is also a safety strap which allows you to wrap it around a leg of the table, thus preventing baby from tipping the chair back (never leave baby unattended in harness) 

A guest post by Kristy Smith

Approximately 5 months ago I booked a week-long vacation for my family at a rustic little cottage on Golden Lake. About 8 weeks ago we welcomed a new baby boy into our family. 1 week ago while my 4-year-old son was playing at the beach in front of the cottage, many inquiries were made about the age of our 7-week-old son. Words like brave were thrown around and later one mom even told me she secretly thought I was crazy.

That was before she figured out my secret.  

It's out of the bag now, so I might as well share it. I am in *love* with my Sleepy Wrap.

It gives me phenomenal super powers. The ability to put a baby to sleep in seconds, carry a baby around for hours pain-free, take a baby where strollers don't go, and most importantly - the ability to actually *use* my hands!

It makes me invincible.

I spent hours on the beach while baby boy slept peacefully snuggled up against me. I even took him fishing (strangely, he didn't catch anything). With him sleeping in the wrap I was able to sit on the dock and video tape my 4-year-old as he caught 4 fish! Thank you, Sleepy Wrap.

The weather wasn’t great last week so there only so much playing at the beach we could do. So we decided to go spelunking. Bonnechere Caves was close by and I love cave exploration. Stroller? HA. Real spelunkers need a Sleepy Wrap.

I strapped on the baby and he became the world's youngest spelunker. Or at least the youngest one on our guided tour...

He kept me warm through the whole tour and slept peacefully as we saw fossilzed cephlapods, stalactites and the giant sinkhole.

Of course, the Sleepy Wrap also works magically when your child is forward facing. Another family that we met on the beach decided to create a treasure hunt for the kids. They drew up cards with pictures of various places around the campsites and split the kids into teams to follow the clues and find the treasure (candy, of course). I thought this was more of a forward-facing carry kind of event.

He lasted 10 minutes before he fell asleep, even facing forward. I swear, the Sleepy Wrap really does have the magical powers of sleep. Facing forwards or backwards, no baby stands a chance against it.

By the end of the week nobody thought I was crazy. Instead, they were asking me where I got my wrap and if it was comfortable. Let me say - I have used many wraps, slings, carriers, etc and this is by far my favourite. It distributes the weight evenly, it doesn't dig in to me, and with the right top, I can breastfeed discreetly while wearing it. To sweeten the deal, it's only $50 (eat your heart our baby bjorn!) and you can buy it locally, right here at Chiquita Baby.

 Chiquita baby was approached to help a small town in Africa, and we jumped on it.  Within 1 week we have had numerous drop-offs of toys, books, clothing, used cloth diapers, blankets, bottles, sunhats and more

Here is some more information on the charity we are collecting for.  We will be accepting all donations until end of July.

Villages of Hope - Africa is a Canadian charitable organization registered with the CRA (Registration #84950 3073 RR0001).


VOH-A provides food, education and health care to children in need. We also provide housing for children who have no place to live. Our mission is to bring lasting hope to children at risk so they can embrace adulthood as independent and contributing members of society.


Villages of Hope – Africa (VOH-A) began in 1999 in Kitwe, Zambia and we now have locations in (Bujumbura) Burundi, (Kisumu) Kenya, (Lilongwe) Malawi, (Kitwe, Mongu and Chongwe) Zambia and (Harare) Zimbabwe.



You can sponsor a Village of Hope child through ChildCare Plus and help us provide them with education, health care, and other basic needs - $34/month.

Malawi:

The population of Malawi as recorded in 2008 is approximately 14.8 million, with 7.9 million being under the age of 18. The average life expectancy is 53 years and the adult literacy rate is 72%. As of 2001 an estimated 1.1 million children (age 0-17) have become orphaned.

Village of Hope - Malawi opened in the city of Lilongwe in 2007 and provides the children of Malawi with food, shelter, health services, and education.

There are 12 completed children homes with over 65 children living on site in 8 of these homes. A school complex is under construction and our goal is to have all 12 children's homes operating with 8 children in each home. Each house has a “house mother” who lives in each of the houses with her children and cares for them as her own. The children are placed in each of the houses in such a way to create a family unit, so boys and girls of various ages. Each house has a boys room and a girls room, kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and mother's bedroom.

Misson statement:To give orphans a place to call home and a family that loves them.To bring hope for today and tomorrow to children at risk so that they may become independent contributing members of society.

Meet some of the children:

Joseph & Gome -  They were the 3rd and 4th children to come to live at Village of Hope – Malawi. Their mother was 43 years old when they were removed from her care and suffers from mental illness. She was not physically or mentally able to care for her children. Most of the children prior to Joseph and Gome died young due to starvation. They mother would beg for money or food on the streets but did not understand that she would need to feed her children as well as herself.  When the children were removed from her care they were found eatting off the ground like dogs because they had never been taught how to eat properly.  The children were taken to a Crisis Nursery Centre where the two boys lived until Joseph became 3 and the centre needed the boys to be placed in a permanent situation. Normally they don't keep children past 2 years old. So, Joseph and Gome were brought into the Village of Hope where they lived together in a house with a wonderful woman who cares for them as her own. She was never able to have children and these kids mean the world to her.

Leslie age 8 - On March 17, 2008 she was removed from her house by authorities and brought to live at Village of Hope – Malawi. 90% of the girls in her grade 4/5 class confessed to being psychologically affected by either an attempted rape or an actual rape. In Leslie's case she was being raped on a regular basis and it had been going on for years. As she lived in safety at the Village of Hope she started to heal and feel safe with her new family and mother. In the summer of 2008 the government decided her fate...and sent her back to live with her abuser...her uncle.

Estere age 2 week - One day we received a call from a pastor in a village who knew us and about Village of Hope.  The phone service kept cutting out and we kept getting disconnected from him, but he did not give up!  He kept calling back and finally we were able to find out why he was calling.  He told us that a lady in the village had given birth to a baby and that she had died during delivery.  The baby had not eaten anything in 2 days and the father and grandparents don't have any jobs or sources of income to be able to purchase milk for the infant.  So, after much discussion the decision had been made by the family and the chief that the baby would be buried alive with the body of her mother.  We could not believe the situation, but took action just in case.  We sent the orphanages Malawian social worker out to sort out the situation and find out if what we had been told was indeed the case.  Sure enough to our astonishment it was the truth.  The pastor was begging us to take the baby right then and there for her safety, but we had to follow certain procedures that the government had in place.  So we got together everything a new baby needs - formula, bottles, diapers, blankets, clothing, ect.... and sent it with the social worker back to the family.  They had never seen formula before and didn't know how to use it, so I was explaining the necessary steps over the phone to our social worker who was sitting in the village with the family showing them what to do, with the entire village looking over his shoulder to see what he was doing.  He told them that he would be back in two weeks to collect the baby and take her to the orphanage.  When that day came and he went out to get Estere he found that the family had not bonded with her and they were very eager to give her up.  We are extremely happy to say that she is an amazing little 3 year old girl now and loves her family at the Village of Hope.

More information:

Grand Re-opening this Thursday June 16th, Friday June 17th, and Saturday June 18th. Great sales, Door prizes from Tag Along Toys, Little Cakes Cupcakes,  Beco baby carrier, NDS Photography and samples from Crunchy Clean and The Laundry Tarts.

Want some hints on what will be on sale? And yes we will do on-line too-I will change prices early thursday morning. Buy any carrier/sling/wrap and receive a free pair of UV baby legs-new patterns as of wed, 25%-50% off all consignment(not used diapers/carriers)-this includes toys/some wicked shoes. Huge bins priced at 2.00, 5.00 and 10.00!

More hints: Manduca carriers(2) will be marked down to $159.99- regular $180, Momzelle nursing tops 25% off lots of tanks and t-shirts, Pikkolo's $55.99, 2 sleepywraps reg $49.99-marked down to $29.99.