A while back, I shared with you my thoughts on a super chic 4-in-1 tricycle by smarTrike. It was right around the time my youngest nephew was born and my niece, his sister, was about 30 months old. It goes without saying that the versatility of a 4-in-1 is so practical and definitely helps you stretch your dollar. I had first assembled it as a training bike for my niece and then my brother could transform it to Stage 1 once my nephew turned 10-months-old. Brilliant, right? Well, today I share with you how smarTrike has taken their innovation even further with their new smarTfold 500, a revolutionary fully foldable, portable combination stroller and trike, now available in Canada. 

The smarTfold Trike is the ultimate portable multi-phase stroller and trike for children 9m-36m. Available exclusively at Toys R Us and Babies R Us throughout Canada for $229.99, the versatile smarTfold trike is the latest game changer from smarTrike, which features Touch Steering that provides smooth maneuverability, even with one hand. What makes smarTfold so unique is that it is 85% smaller when folded for travelling, transporting or storage, making it the world’s most compact folding trike. 

Unlike the smarTrike Chic, it comes mostly assembled in its folded state and it took me approximately five minutes to fully assemble it for the 9m stage, seen in the first photo above. I love that it has a storage bag at the back and a tray that easily mounts to the handlebar to store baby's bottle.

I haven't had to fold a stroller for travel in quite some time but it was fairly intuitive with the smarTfold and the mesh cover keeps everything in its place with a top flap that has hook-and-loop fasteners. While in folding mode, you can adjust the handle to your preferred height, making it perfect for travel, or you can lower it all the way, making it ideal for storage in cars, planes or even cluttered closets. It is heavier than I thought it would be but, luckily, it has a roller that allows you pull your smarTfold alongside you while folded. 

If I were to ever have a third child, this smarTfold would definitely be on my baby registry. Its quick-click design enables folding the trike, while it stays intact, just like a stroller and, in just a few clicks, you're ready to go. Plus, it will grow with your child, providing the ideal ride at every stage of their growth, from 6-months to 3-years. The smarTfold is a true winner in my books!

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Thinking back to when my kids were wee babies, I recall those special toys and baby gear that saved my sanity during what was an overwhelming time in my life. Sometimes, all I needed was just ten minutes to myself to recoup. Luckily, I could turn to Fisher-Price gear such as the Snugabunny Cradle Swing to keep baby content while I relished in a much-deserved cup of coffee. Or, when baby wanted to play, I could count on Baby's First Blocks to enjoy a special moment with baby, sorting shapes and having fun together. They are moments like these that have inspired the Fisher-Price Mom’s Top 10, a collection of Fisher-Price baby toys and gear that moms have relied on for years. Plus, you'll find new favourites that are sure to become instant classics.

Want to find out which toys and gear made the Top 10? Join us for the #FPMomsTop10 Twitter Party! In addition to sharing these top toys, we will also chat about those special #fpmommymoments and giving away some truly fabulous prizes.

Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Time: 8:00 pm ET

Party Hashtag: #FPMomsTop10

Host: @Listen2Lena

Prizes: One of each of the #FPMomsTop10 baby toys and gear. PLUS, one lucky winner will walk away with ALL TEN!

RSVP below for a chance to win. (Prizes are available to Canadians only.)

New to Twitter and/or Twitter parties? I have written the following tutorials to help you out, complete with screenshots:

So, I have this problem. I like to shop. More specifically, I like to shop for kids. Whether it's kids' toys, baby clothes, books, or more specifically, toys, I just. Can't. Stop. The good news is that, since my brother and his wife first welcomed their baby girl into the world nearly three years ago, I have been able to pass along bin after bin of my kids' gently used clothing and some of their old toys that were still in good condition. We even passed along our stroller and playpen as well.

When I compare what I had purchased, I noticed that I had bought a lot of clothing for my daughter, because really, those baby girl outfits are too cute to resist. For my son, however, I had purchased more practical bigger ticket items that I was hesitant to buy the first time around, such as a playpen with changing station. But boy, was it ever worth it! I wish I had known that the Graco Pack n Play Playard would have been a saving grace for me. I would have invested in one much sooner so I could have taken advantage of all the benefits of having one with my firstborn. But being a first-time parent, I was unsure if it was worth the expense.

Wouldn't it have been great, though, to have had someone available in-store to help us make more practical decisions and determine which playard would best suit our needs? Someone whose sole purpose it was to help answer any and all questions when planning a baby registry or preparing baby's nursery?

Fortunately, parents-to-be across Canada can now plan their shopping lists more accordingly with the help of in-store specialists. With the aim of offering a better shopping experience for new and expecting parents, Walmart Canada baby departments will feature "Let's Talk Baby" kiosks where you can speak to specialists who will provide support and product knowledge on everything baby. These specialists will also be equipped with tablets for easy access to the Walmart baby registry and Walmart.ca. With a wide selection of baby products from everyday basics to baby gear essentials and nursery necessities, both moms and dads can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they can find a helping hand at Walmart.

So... I have some exciting news to share. I am an auntie yet again! My brother and his wife welcomed a baby boy last week and he is seriously the cutest baby I've seen in a very long time. My sister-in-law checked in at the hospital at around 9 o'clock in the morning, had the baby shortly after 11:20am and then went home at around 2pm. She didn't even have to spend the night. Can you believe it? With two kids to look after now, I know how having the right baby gear can be crucial to getting through those busy times. Fortunately, baby's big sister has a new tricycle to help her enjoy some 'daddy and me' time outside. It is the latest SmarTrike Chic, a 4-in-1 Touch Steering premium tricycle that offers the ultimate in outdoor fun.

Assembly of this uber cool SmarTrike may seem a little daunting at first when you consider the number of parts that are included in the box. However, it took me about 20-25 minutes to put together. Following the instructions, I first attached the wheels and handles to the body frame.

I made the mistake of screwing on the seat without including the strap for the restraints but that was easily rectified. You will need a screwdriver, not included, to attach the seat and the basket at the rear. Hint: Activate the brake to help keep the tricycle from moving during assembly.

It also includes a supper cute toy phone that has its own compartment and is secured with a cord so you won't have to worry if baby accidentally drops it. It requires two AA batteries, not included.

For Stage One, assemble the high back padded seat support which includes a surrounding bar and a 3-point harness. This stage is for babies that are 10 to 18 months old.

In just a few short months, I will be an aunty yet again. My brother's wife is expecting her second child and I couldn't be more excited. A part of me misses the anticipation of giving birth to a newborn but luckily I can live vicariously through my sister-in-law. She always has on the cutest outfits and looks so beautiful sporting her baby bump. And now she will have a new maternity dress to add to her wardrobe courtesy of Dressed to Deliver.

Dressed to Deliver first launched last year and was created by Guelph Ontario Resident and Mompreneur Julie Berg. Her 3-in-1 birthing gowns can be worn as a maternity dress, labor and delivery gown, and postnatal nursing wear. When she had her first child in March of 2012, she wore a beautiful Dressed to Deliver birthing gown which allowed her to feel comfortable, concealed and confident on one of the most important days of her life.

Dressed to Deliver offers ladies an alternative to uncomfortable, ugly hospital gowns. These roomy dresses provide easy access for hospital staff to conduct baby monitoring, administer IV's and epidurals, c-section incision inspections, and provide ultrasound access. Expectant moms can freely walk the hospital hallways without worrying about being exposed and allows them to be covered up and still look great. Dresses are sold in a variety of colors in sizes small-3XL.

My sister-in-law was sent a royal blue Monica gown in a size medium. I tried it on myself and I could see how versatile it could be from the first trimester to the weeks that follow the delivery. The dress reminded me a little of the dress I wore on Mother's day, which I wear all the time. The Monica gown is made with a soft, breathable jersey knit fabric and has an empire waist. It is really such a smart idea. No wonder Julie Berg was recently named a top finalist for the 2014 MOMpreneur of the Year Award of Excellence!

Remember when you first discovered that you were expecting? While I look back on that day as one of my many moments of joy, my first thought was, "Holy cow! I'm going to have to share my body with another living being?" I was shocked that I was pregnant mainly because it happened on our first try and only a mere three months after getting married. I mean, we wanted this to happen. But I wasn't prepared for it to happen so soon, or for the feeling of panic that ensued. I wondered, how is my body going to change? Will I make a good mother? How do I know what to buy? Unfortunately, I missed out on having a formal baby shower, with the exception of a surprise party organized by my dear office mates. So I never got to fully experience the excitement of putting together a baby gift registry. It would have been so easy: Pick out what I thought I would need and then family and friends, many of whom would have had more experience than I, would buy the ones they thought I needed most, right?

After having two children, I have seen my fair share of baby gear and children's toys. As such, I can easily point out my favourites, a couple of which have made their way onto the Fisher-Price favourites list of moms’ “must-have” items. They are:

At the top of my list is the Fisher Price Cradle N Swing. It was undoubtedly THE best piece of baby gear that I owned. I kid you not. With my first, I had borrowed a standard baby swing from a friend but my daughter never really liked it. With my second, I bought a Fisher Price papasan cradle swing second-hand and till this day I regret not buying one for my first-born.


My son absolutely loved this swing and he would use it every day. He would often fall asleep in it and by often I mean about 99% of the time. And as a sleep-deprived mom, it was a huge relief to be able to count on the Fisher Price Crade N Swing to lull my son to sleep.