Ingenuity Washable Playard: Review and GIVEAWAY!

A play yard has been an essential item in our household for Peanut. When he was born, he slept in a play yard in our room in the bassinet for the first 3 or 4 months. Since then, we use it as a travel crib when we stay overnight with friends or family, or when we go camping. And we use it as a baby containment unit (i.e. a playpen) when we need Peanut to have a safe place to play. Our previous play yard was alright. Nothing to really rave about.  The change table on it was so flimsy we couldn't use it from the very beginning when Peanut was only 10 lbs, as he would roll off the end if we didn't hold him up (and really, how practical is that? Changing a baby with 1 hand? No thanks!). The other thing that really bothered me about it was that I could only surface wipe it to clean up the inevitable baby poops, pees and pukes that ended up all over it. That always sort of grossed me out, really. Sure, you can buy the sheets for them, but really we all know that a mere cotton sheet cannot contain the mess of a leaky diaper, let alone a pooplosion. 
So, when I heard about the InGenuity Washable Playard, I had to admit, I was incredibly intrigued. Could it really be washable? Because if it was, it would be a HUGE improvement on the brand we have been using for the past year.

Mine is from the Sumner Collection. I love how gender-neutral it is!

I took it out of the box, and I didn't even have to look at the instructions to set it up. It is very simple and takes about 30 seconds. Score! The change table is so incredibly sturdy and snaps on all easy-peasy like. I can even change my squirmy 1 year old on it and it holds up wonderfully. This was enough to sell me on it! It also has a handy storage tray for diapers and wipes, etc. 

The tray folds over the bar so you don't have to remove it to use the play yard! 

But the thing that really flabbergasts me, and has me floating in clean-mommy heaven is that it IS totally washable. And it's completely easy. Everything just unzips and unvelcros (is that a word?!) from the frame and you toss it in the washer. 

See?! You can wash the whole thing!

You can learn from my mistakes and heed this tip: when you are putting the fabric back on the frame, make sure you line up the zipper in the correct corner! Duh! Of course I didn't realize until I had proudly reassembled the velcro on all the corners...sigh. 
For the mattress, you just have to slip out the 4 boards and toss the padding in there too. I have made a little video to show you how easy it is to use this play yard. I hate watching myself on video, so please be forgiving! I definitely say definitely too much...and you can see Kitty and Peanut making guest appearances. Peanut is obsessed with the play yard, so he's giving you a running commentary while investigating it. 
 I haven't been able to really test out the bassinet because Peanut is much too heavy for it, but it came already assembled with the bassinet in it, so it is easy to see how it sets up, and it looks a bit sturdier than my other one, actually, as it has straps supporting the bottom of the bassinet to the play yard. AND, you can fold it up without taking out the bassinet, which is also awesome. That was always a huge pain with our other play yard. 

Here's the bassinet all set up

And this is the magic that allows you to fold up the play yard WITHOUT removing the bassinet. Sooooo handy, trust me!

 The only thing missing from this model is a newborn napper-type device. We used that attachment extensively with Peanut in the first month or so, so if we have another little kiddo that would be a feature I would love to see on the InGenuity Playard! 

The folks at InGenuity are generously giving Up Mommy Creek readers a chance to win their very own Washable Playard!!! How awesome is that?! A play yard is a must-have for the little ones, in my opinion, and here's your chance to get one for free! Please note that this giveaway is only open to my fellow Canadians, as this snazzy line has not yet launched in the US. Just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. And GOOD LUCK! :) 
Reminder: Giveaway open to Canada only! Sorry my international readers!a Rafflecopter giveaway
**Disclosure: I received a playard so that I could write an accurate review of using this product. All opinions are entirely my own, as always! I truly did love this product.

MamaBargains: A Steal of a Deal!

I am sure you are aware of all the deal-a-day websites out there. There are a ton of them, covering just about every need you have. I am sort of addicted to baby-related deals. Honestly, I really hate paying full price for baby and maternity items, simply because you use them for such a short period of time. However, that doesn't mean I don't want good quality brands and items. I just don't want to pay for them! 
Enter Mamabargains.com (How cute is the preggo stick mama??)

They offer one deal at a time for 50-80% off the retail price. The cool thing about MamaBargains is that they offer multiple deals a day, so you have a huge variety of designer items to choose from. They range from maternity items to the most adorable little kiddo items from birth to age 10. Since it switches at random, they have a handy alert tool to let you know when the product switches because, as always, the deals go fast! Check out the alert tool here: http://www.mamabargains.com/alertTool/
 (I have a Mac so I have to use the old-school methods of following them on Twitter and Facebook, which work splendidly as well!)
They have recently launched a voucher program, so you can score some high-quality items at a sweet discount, and at your own convenience. It also means they can offer personalized items, since you are free to deal directly with the shop offering the voucher. You can find the voucher program at http://www.mamabargains.com/vouchers/
The other thing I love about MamaBargains? It introduces me to awesome new products I didn't even know existed. Sure, there are some things I wait patiently for to appear (I have a weakness for baby carriers, and I am in the market for a new diaper bag!)...but honestly there are so many cool products out there, and it's a great way to discover them! 
Want to know what else I love about MamaBargains? They are going to give one reader a $25 gift certificate to try out Mamabargains.com. Woo hoo! Entering is easy-peasy. Just head on over to the Mamabargains website and let me know via the Rafflecopter widget which of the past features you would love to snag! (hint: at the bottom of the page you can find the "Past Features"linky). 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
**Disclosure: This is a sponsored post, and I received compensation. However, I am a long-time customer of MamaBargains, and all opinions (as always!) are my own! :) 

Nursery Art Giveaway From Printed Inc.!!

It has been an age since I've had a giveaway on the blog. Well, the time has come! And the only thing that I am upset about is that I can't enter to win...I seriously have a huge crush on some of these prints! 
Tracy from Printed Inc. is being super generous and is giving away 2 prints from her Etsy shop! These would be adorable in a nursery! 

These are 3 separate prints. Winner gets to choose 1!

                     

These are 3 separate prints. Winner gets to choose 1!

This giraffe print makes we want to die of cuteness. And she's got some awesome prints that would be great for weddings or for around the house...you really must check out her shop. 
Head on over and show her some love! 
Printed Inc. on Etsy
2 winners will each receive your choice of one of the above 8x10 prints from Tracy's shop! To enter, head on over to Printed Inc. and let me know which print in her shop is your favourite. Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget. Thanks, and good luck! (I'm trying to withhold my jealousy...ack!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Please note, I did not receive anything for this post. I just love Tracy's shop, and she generously donated some prints for the giveaway :) 

My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software: Giveaway!

I have a confession: I don't scrapbook. I love the look of them, but I have no idea how to do it. Nor do I feel that I have the patience required to scrapbook. But, the idea of digital scrapbooking does appeal to me. Why? Because it's so easy! So when the folks over at My Memories got in touch with me about their digital scrapbooking suite, I was interested. 
The My Memories suite is super easy to use, even for a scrapbooking newbie like myself. There are tons of options included with the software, and you can also purchase extra packs to further customize your scrapbooks. Actually, what I like the most about it is how simple it is to make collages. As we all know, the imminent demise of Picnik has left a void for me for easy-to-use collage creation. Well now I have my answer! There are a ton of included photo layouts, and it's way easier than creating them from scratch in Photoshop. If I only ever use it for this feature alone, I am happy. 

These are a couple of pages I created using the suite. I also did the graphic for my Bloggy Birthday post I did yesterday. 
If you'd like to try it, use the code STMMMS70689 to get $10 off! 

And here's the great news! My Memories is giving 1 lucky reader a free download of the software! Woo hoo! Just enter below using the Rafflecopter widget.  (Please remember to leave the blog post comment in addition to hitting "enter" in the widget. Thanks!) Disclosure: Please note I was given a free copy of the software so that I could write this review. All opinions are my own, and I did not receive any financial compensation.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Business of Being Born: Film Review and Giveaway!

*Please note that I was able to view these films free of charge in order to write this review. However, all opinions are honest, and are my own. Thanks!*

You may have seen my previous post about the release of the follow-up films to The Business of Being Born.  Well, today is the day! They are now available! The original film raised a lot of issues (and more questions) which weren't really explored in-depth due to restrictions in length. More Business of Being Born (MBOBB) attempts to answer some of these questions, and provide some more information about the issues raised in the first film. 

If you're not familiar with The Business of Being Born (TBOBB), let me quickly sum it up. The film by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein explores the maternity care system in America. It raises a lot of issues as to the motivations behind many common practices in the medical community when it comes to birthing. It basically shows the differences between home birth and hospital birth, midwife care versus care from an OB-GYN and "natural" birth versus augmented or medicated births. 

Hubby and I watched this film while I was pregnant, and it was a big influence in shaping how we wanted our birthing experience to be. Being in Canada, things are a little different here, but the basic trends are the same, and the issues it raises are definitely things I think all expecting parents should consider. I often hear feedback when discussing this film that it is biased. However, I think it's important to keep in mind that the film is presenting one point of view, and that the information it presents is valuable information to have, regardless of which choices you make regarding your birth. It's designed to make you think. 

It is true that after viewing this film that I had hoped that I would be able to have an unmedicated birth. But, if you have read our birth story, you will know things didn't go as planned. Mostly due to TBOBB we were hoping to avoid using medication to induce labour. Unfortunately, Peanut was very overdue, and in order to attempt to deliver at the hospital of our choice, we had to induce. I really feel like this was a lot of the reason our birth played out the way it did. I think my labour was so long and hard because a) my body wasn't ready to go into labour and b) the Cervidil caused my contractions to be much more intense. I had a hard time coming to terms with how things happened, and this was where I was a little worried about watching More Business of Being Born. I thought that it might be difficult to go back and explore these issues without feeling like I "failed".  However, I actually felt that watching MBOBB was helpful in coming to terms with my whole birthing experience. 

The first part (Down on The Farm: Conversations with Legendary Midwife Ina May Gaskin) was perhaps the least informative for me personally (I felt some of the anecdotal speculations one of the midwives brings up sort of lost me a bit), but it was definitely interesting to see the Farm and listen to Ina May speak. I read Ina May Gaskin's books in preparation for birth, and there is no denying that she is an amazing woman who has contributed so much to women and birthing. 

The second part (Special Deliveries: Celebrity Mothers Talk Straight on Birth) was probably the one I was least interested to watch, but it ended up being my favourite. It was actually really great to listen to the birth stories of celebrity women. They did a great job of getting many different types of birth stories,  from home births to c-sections. I especially loved hearing Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Laila Ali's stories, as their experiences were very similar to mine. I actually teared up listening to Kimberly's description of her c-section experience because I felt the exact same way.

Oh man, I <3 Alanis!! 

I was unable to watch the 3rd part (Explore Your Options: Doulas, Birth Centers & C-Sections) before writing this review, but this seems to sort of be the "meat" of the informational aspect of the film series for sure. Looking forward to it. 

I also enjoyed the 4th part (The VBAC Dilemma: What Your Options Really Are) because it is something I will have to consider if we have another baby. A lot of interesting things to think about, for sure. Hubby watched this one with me, and we both thought it was well worth the watch. 

I highly recommend watching these films. They are chock-full of make-you-think tidbits and information, and they are entertaining. In my opinion, they are pregnancy must-sees, and I found them particularly valuable as a potential second-time mom. Head on over to www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com for descriptions of the films, more info and to purchase either the digital downloads or the DVD set.

But, exciting news! One lucky Up Mommy Creek reader will get to watch them for free! All you have to do is leave a comment telling me which film you are most interested in seeing and you will be entered to win a digital download of all 4 films!

(I am trying out a new widget for the giveaway, so please use that to enter.)

 Good luck!! 

Our Baby Photos

I'd like you to meet someone special. Her name is Kinga and she is a genius with a camera. She runs Images By Frost. Check out her website to see some fabulous eye candy. 
 Hubby met her while in Thailand, and when the time came to choose a wedding photographer, he mentioned Kinga. We took a look at her website and fell in love with her photos. Even though she isn't from our city, we booked her anyway. She is awesome. 
We did our engagement session with her 

Our wedding

Our "Trash the Dress" in Banff

And finally, our baby photos. I love them so much!! I know every mom thinks this...but I have the cutest baby in the whole wide world! 

So, when I asked Kinga if I could post the photos on my blog, not only did she say yes, but she also offered an insane giveaway! 

Please Note: This Giveaway is now closed!!

She is giving away a FREE Kiddo photography session (a $399 value!!), which includes:

- One hour creative photography session

- Private online gallery with your images

- Complimentary 8x10 Fine Art Print

- Memories to last a lifetime :)

Soooo awesome! A little disclaimer: Kinga is in Edmonton, so in order to claim the prize, you have to be in, or willing to travel to, Edmonton.

To enter:

• Leave a comment below and tell us how old your kiddo is (or how old you kiddos are...) and "like" Images By Frost on Facebook (those ones are mandatory to enter, folks).
  
  
  
  

  For bonus entries, leave a comment below if you:
  
  1. Follow Images by Frost on Twitter 
  and/or
  2. Re-tweet the following message on Twitter
  "Win a FREE kidd-o session with @ImagesbyFrost at http://twe.ly/kesb"
  and/or
  3. Share this giveaway on Facebook

As always, you don't have to like or follow me, but if you like what you see around here, feel free to show some love :)

 The giveaway will be open until Friday, October 21 at 6:00pm MST. One winner will be chosen randomly from the comments posted using Random.org

Good luck!! 

Touchnote Giveaway

So, there is a new app out there called Touchnote. It's a pretty cool concept, actually. You upload a photo, and then it sends the photo as a postcard. Like by snail mail. A real, old school postcard. I think this is sort of genius, simply because I can think of a ton of cool ways to use it. For instance, when you travel you can send postcards of your own photos instantly, no need to head to the cheesy souvenir shop for the standard tourist fare. All those cool Instagram photos? Send 'em! 

(ok, I have to admit something here...I don't have an iPhone. 

In fact, I don't have a phone that can take pictures, or download apps. 

Is it sad that I want an iPhone just for the Instagram thingy?!

Those photos are so awesome...better than my camera sometimes. 

I am slightly jealous)

It could be a really good option for birth announcements too. I also think it would be awesome to send my brother a postcard of something stupid that I saw that reminded me of him. Such as this:

Aww...Buster. 

Sort of like when he text-to-landlines my house and the creepy robot voice gives me unsettling messages. 


I used it to send postcards of Peanut to Hubby and the Grandparents. It's cool because you get to write a message on the back, and so I thought it would be cute to send it to them from Peanut ( "Dear Daddy, ah-goo!' You know, that sorta thing). They, of course, loved it. Grandparents and parents are suckers for that sorta cheesy thing. 


You can't argue with the price. It only costs $1.49 per postcard. So basically, they print it out and mail it for you anywhere in the world for $1.49. That's cheaper than postage in some cases! I was pretty impressed with the quality, as well. The photo quality was bang-on and it's sort of a glossy, plasticy sort of paper, so it's not going to get trashed in the mail. Ours was a little bent at the edges, but that's sort of the charm of postcards. 


You can use the website to send them if you are like me and don't have a cool phone, or you can use their app for iPhone or Android. Also, it looks like they will be adding a Facebook option soon...


Want to try it out? The first 20 readers to send an email to mums (at) touchnote.com get free credits! 

Mixbook Photo Book Winner!!

And the winner of the Mixbook photo book is...


...


...


Comment #10: Adam Nelson! 


Congratulations Adam! Thanks for entering everyone! If you would like to make your own photo book or birth announcements, wedding invites, save the dates, etc. you can use the code UPMOMC20 to receive a discount of 20% off at Mixbook.com! 

Mixbook Review and Giveaway!

When I was contacted by Mixbook to review their photobooks, I was really excited. I took a quick look at the website and was really impressed with it. With Mixbook, you can create your own photobooks, cards, announcements and photo calendars on the web. You create or customize the design for free using their design software and then you have the option to purchase your final product. Hubby had previously created a photobook a few years back using the Mac software, and we enjoy having it around to show people, so we were really excited for the opportunity to create a new book. I would have loved to have done a book for the baby, but he was not yet arrived. Instead, Hubby and I decided to design a book about us, using photos from our travels and various adventures.

A page from our book

When creating a photobook, it is essentially online scrapbooking. Mixbook has a whole array of templates you can choose. Then you just upload your photos and start arranging. Or, you can also use the auto mix feature and the program will arrange everything for you. I loved this option, since the templates look great. They have gorgeous backgrounds and stickers and even appropriate quotes already arranged for you. Since I am not a scrapbooker, I would have chosen this option. However, Hubby had a vision of what he wanted, and he also had a ton of fun playing with the software, so he created our whole book from scratch. Basically, he chose the photo layout for each page and then customized it all. My job was to go through after he was finished and add some quotes, stickers and other design elements to make it look purty. We were really happy with how it turned out, and it is the perfect coffee table book. The shipping was very quick, and I have to say that the  customer service has been phenomenal!

More of our book

Things I really loved about Mixbook:

• The software is super easy to use, and it looks sharp! 
• You have the freedom to create something from scratch or to just add your own photos to an already designed template
• The colours on the photos turned out exactly as they were on our computer (one of the drawbacks we had with using the Mac program on our other book). 
• The Mixbook software will tell you if your photo's resolution is too low to turn out in print, if you have margins which won't look nice once printed, etc. It's basically a goof-up protection plan. It's fabulous, and you don't find it out at the end when you've already arranged it beautifully; it tells you as soon as the photo is uploaded. 
• The quality of the book is awesome. I was very impressed.

They also have a ton of wedding invites, save the dates, birth announcements, etc. Their birth announcements look awesome. They have a ton of great designs, and most are double sided, which I think makes them look much more high-quality than the ones with just the plain white photo paper backs. We will be ordering a bunch once we get some nice photos of the Peanut. 

Head on over to the website and check out their current promotions. 

They are also offering my readers a special discount of 20% off any Mixbook product!! Just enter the code UPMOMC20 at checkout! Woo hoo! 

The Giveaway!! 
**The giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering! **
One lucky reader will receive one free 20 page 11x8.5 landscape hardcover photo book with free shipping! It's a great way to show off travel photos, or create a fun wedding album or a personalized baby book. 


To enter: 

Leave a comment below telling me what you would create with your Mixbook. 


For bonus entries (leave a separate comment for each entry): 

• Like Mixbook on Facebook
• Share this giveaway on Facebook/Twitter/your blog
• Follow Mixbook on Twitter

The giveaway will be open until Monday, August 29th at 5pm MST. I will choose one winner randomly from the comments posted here (using random.org). Contest is open to both Canada and the US. Woo hoo!

Please note that I received a free photobook so that I could write a review on the product. All opinions are my own, and are my honest feelings about the product. Just want to be honest! 

Well.ca Giveaway Winner!!

Well, the time has come! The winner of the Well.ca Baby Club launch $50 giveaway is ready to be announced!  Thanks everyone for entering, and I hope you had a chance to check out the new Baby Club over at Well.ca. Lots of great deals on there. Plus, now that Canada Post is back up and running, I won't have to run to the drugstore anymore...wahoo!!


So, without further ado, the winner (as chosen by random.org) is...






Comment #12: Nat and Phil!! 






Congrats! 

Well.ca Giveaway!!

******This Giveaway is now closed! Thanks for entering!!******

The folks over at Well.ca, Canada's online health and beauty store, are launching a Baby Club! This sounds like a great program; you get discounts on baby items, gifts, exclusive emails and incentives. The best part is it's all online, and free shipping within Canada, so the most effort I have to exert is walking to my mailbox to pick up my purchases. Sweet! 

They have some great stuff. Great deals on disposable diapers, and for those of us who use (or plan to use) cloth, they have the Bummis kits too! The Baby Club gives you a nice little discount, which is awesome because I love a good deal! Interested in signing up? Head on over to the Baby Club website. It's free to join! 

Giveaway! 

So, in order to celebrate the launch of their new Baby Club, Well.ca is going to give away $50 to use at Well.ca for one lucky reader. Woo hoo! (I have to admit, I am a little jealous though...can I enter??)

Here's the deal:

1. Head on over to Well.ca and check them out. Take a look through their Baby Club section, browse around and scope out all the goodies. 

2. Comment below this post with which item or items you would love to have, and how you would spend your $50 if you won.  

3. If you share this post on your Facebook, Twitter or Blog, just add another comment with the link and you will receive extra entries. 

And that's it! 

• The giveaway will be open until Monday, June 27th, 2011 at 6pm MST. 
• One winner will be chosen randomly from the comments posted using random.org
• The winner will have their choice of a $50 gift certificate to Well.ca, or $50 worth of product, which will be shipped directly to your home!
• Once again, only open to Canadians...sorry international readers! 

Good luck everyone! 

And The Winners Are...

Thanks for participating everyone! Without further ado, here are the winners of the Cineplex movie passes! 

1. Sarah-Eve (Comment #1)

2. Eileen (Comment #8)

3. Taylor (Comment #14)

4. Holly (Comment #5)

5. Vicki (Comment #3)

The winners were chosen using Random.org. Send me an email at upmommycreek@gmail.com to claim your prize. 

Congratulations, and I hope you guys enjoy your night out at the movies! 

Our 1st Giveaway: Free Movie Passes from Cineplex!

Note: This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks!!


One thing you may not know about me is that I am a huge movie fan. My first job was in a movie theater, and I worked for quite a few years in a movie rental store as well. I have seen a lot of movies. It is one of my favourite things to do on weekends. There is nothing quite like a night out at the movie theater. Just the smell of the popcorn is amazing...mmm...popcorn...

This summer, one of the most anticipated movies (probably ever) is being released: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. After seeing the first movie, I started reading the books, and like most other people, I loved them. Such a great blend of adventure and fantasy, all mixed with a little teenage angst. And the movies have been phenomenal so far. So it is with great anticipation that I look forward to seeing the last installment of the series, which comes out (coincidentally enough!) on July 15^th; the same day Peanut is also supposed to come out!

Cineplex Entertainment and Warner Bros. Pictures Canada have an awesome deal this summer. They are offering a Harry Potter passport, which means you get to see all 7 Harry Potter movies in the theatre on the big screen again. Plus, you get 700 Scene points, and priority ticketing for the Deathly Hallows Part 2. You also get a contest entry, and download deals. To check out the details, go to the Cineplex website. The passport only costs $24.99, which considering the price of movies these days, I think is a steal of a deal. The best part about the whole thing, in my opinion, is that they are showing one movie each week, so you pretty much have plans for you and your Hubby or your kiddos all summer. They run each weekend (Saturday mornings and Monday evenings) until the new movie comes out. So it’s also a good refresher for those of you who are like me, and  have trouble remembering what the heck happened in the last movies. You can also grab tickets for the individual shows for only $5...I don't remember the last time I only paid $5 for a movie. 

Now for the exciting news: Cineplex is giving 5 of my readers a night out for 2 at the movies! Yay! Who doesn’t love free stuff? And who doesn’t love movies? So, for your chance to win, here are the details to enter:

• Post a comment below this post telling me what your favourite Harry Potter movie is, and why you love it. This doesn’t have to be a book report…just let me know what turns your crank. Maybe you have a thing for snake-men with no nostrils? (ewww…)

• If you share this post on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter, you will receive a bonus entry. Just post an additional comment with the link. 

• At the end of the contest period, I will choose the contest winners using the random number generator at Random.org, and post the winners here.

• The passes are good for general admission for ANY movie of your choice at your local Canadian Cineplex theatres...sorry my international friends. Just to be clear, it is not the passport you will be winning, and you don't have to use the passes for Harry Potter, you can see whatever movie your little heart desires. 

And that’s it! Easy-peasy, no? The contest will close at 7pm MST on Friday, June 3, 2011. 

If you are a Harry Potter fanatic, or even if you just sorta like him, you can check out all things Harry here.

I feel like I should end off with something wizardly, like a spell or something…goodicus luckioso???