1. Ocean Wonders Aquarium
2. My Little Snugabunny Cradle N Swing 
3. Infant to Toddler Rocker
4. SpaceSaver High Chair 
5. Discover’n Grow Jumperoo 
6. Brilliant Basics Rock a Stack
7. Laugh & Learn Love to Play Puppy
8. Laugh & Learn Say Please Tea Set
9. Laugh & Learn Click ‘n Learn Remote 
10. Brilliant Basics Stroll-Along Walker
11. Little People Wheelies Stand ‘ n Play Rampway
12. Little People Animal Sounds Farm

This weekend, I am giving thanks for the wonderfully warm weather we have been enjoying these past few days. It's hard to believe that we are now officially into the fall season. Before you know it, we'll be bundling up our children in warm layers, tuques and mittens, and bracing ourselves for cold, wint'ry weather. For some, the freezing cold temperatures are a welcome change as it is a time to enjoy one of Canada's favourite sports - hockey. And if your children are among those avid hockey fans, you will definitely want to check out the newly launched Stickheads Hockey Stick Hats.


Hockey fans both young and old can now show their hockey pride by donning their very own Stickheads Hockey Stick Hat, available in sizes 0-12 months, 1-3 years, 4-8 years or 9+ (fits average adult). There are seven different styles/colour combos from which to choose. My son ended up with Team Canada colours in a size 4-8 years. Do you think he likes it?


I'm pretty sure he does. Golly, is he ever cute!


I like it because it is made in Canada from soft, cozy polar fleece with detailed stitchwork. The quality in craftsmanship, or should I say craftsmomship, is evident and I have no doubt that the Stickheads Hockey Stick Hat will be durable enough to withstand our Canadian winters. And the price is reasonable at $24.95.

Stickheads was founded by two mothers, Susan and Melissa, who wanted to help kids get their head in the game. Susan was the designer behind the Sports Kids T-shirts that I had an opportunity to review last year. I was even so fortunate to meet Susan at the ShesConnected Conference last week. Although the customizable t-shirts are no longer available, you can still find similar designs in the Stickheads t-shirt line. They also sell hockey hoodies but I have to say, their personalized Sports Jersey Blankets are brilliant! Don't you think?


You can also get standard MVP blankets for $39.99 but if you like the personalized touch, the cost goes up to $59.99. Good news is that Toronto Teacher Mom readers can save 15% off any purchase by using the discount code teachermom. Also, one lucky reader will win a Stickhead Hockey Stick Hat of his/her own!


For a chance to win your own Stickhead Hockey Stick Hat, fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a Stickhead Hockey Stick Hat to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Do you have a Max & Ruby fan in your house? On Saturday, April 16, 2011, the Max & Ruby Bunny Party is coming to the Sony Centre here in Toronto. It's "a surprise party for someone special, and bunny siblings Max and Ruby have a-million-and-one things to do before the exciting event! Who could the mystery guest be? Find out by joining Max and Ruby in this lively theatrical production that will have the whole family singing and hopping along!" And when you use the code SUPER at checkout, you can save $5 off $27 and $23 tickets. (Ticketing fees may apply.)

Last year, I wrote about a fabulous Toronto based company called BOBA: Baby On Board Apparel. Founded by Toronto's own Ali McEwan, BOBA maternity fashions are made of recycled polyester, recycled polyester blends and cooling organic cotton. Her clothing is also made via an eco-conscious manufacturing process which includes local manufacturing within a 60 km radius. Plus, BOBA offers some really stylish staple pieces that will go a long way in your maternity wardrobe.

Molly Blazer - $92

From now until March 31, 2011, anyone who registers for their monthly newsletter will be entered to win one of three $75 BOBA gift certificates! (Fear not, they promise to send only one newsletter a month. ;) And, Toronto Teacher Mom readers can also take advantage of a special discount code which will save you 20% off your purchase. Simply use redemption code FRIEND at checkout. Also, shipping is as little as $7.00, which is an added bonus in my books! Man, I'm starting to wish I were pregnant again...

Connect with BOBA:

• Twitter @bobabyali 
• Baby on Board Apparel Facebook fan page 
• TheBOBAtv YouTube channel

Disclosure: I was not paid to share this information. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

A few weeks ago, my daughter and I attended the first ever Bingemans eNight, and boy, was it fun! This exclusive event saw many bloggers, tweeps and Facebook users unite as their kids enjoyed all the wonderful attractions that can be found at Bingemans FunworX Indoor Playground. From rock climbing to a ropes course, a three-level play structure and their crazy Ballocity, there was plenty to keep the kids entertained while moms and dads looked on, capturing it all on camera or tweeting the night away.

Tweeps and bloggers unite.

After a long drive from Toronto and an erroneous detour, we arrived at Bingemans FunworX and grabbed a quick bite of pizza before my daughter dragged me to the playground. This is probably one of the best indoor playgrounds I have been to yet. The main feature called Ballocity can be found in a central location and is full of thousands of foam balls that you can use to fill a tipping bucket overhead or feed the explosive Ballcano.


Of course, I had to test out the numerous slides. Just to make sure they were safe. Right?

This steep slide is only accessible from the third level. Fun!

Regretfully, I didn't bring my runners with me so I couldn't tackle the wall climbing apparatus. But I have added it to my bucket list. I will one day own that wall. The Ropes Course looked like lots of fun, too. You are secured in an overhead tracking system and walk across a network of ropes two stories in the air. Man, that would have been an adventure.

Notice the Ropes Course in upper right of this photo.

In addition, FunworX has an arcade and a glow-in-the-dark mini golf, which we had completely forgotten about. But the highlight of the eNight would have to be meeting the lovely Bingeman's staff and connecting with other moms and dads. It was great to see @CynthiaCrumb and @JackiYo again. And even Deborah of IronKids Gummies vitamins (@KidsGummyMum) was there, too. As always, it was so nice to bump into Diane and Lisa @Those2Girls who, along with IronKids, Bre Creative and Grand River Shows, co-sponsored the event. I even got to chill with the one and only @CocktailDeeva, who now has a regular feature on the Steven and Chris show. And I can't forget the lovely Wendy @MapsGirl and her husband @BigDaddyKreativ who's two girls we first met last year during a meet-and-greet with Dora the Explorer. They had so much fun playing together at Bingemans!


It was also great to meet Erica @BassGiraffe and to shake hands with The Beat Breakfast radio host Carlos Benevides from 91.5 FM.

I almost forgot to include the video taken by Bingemans during the eNight. I know, I look and sound funny, don't I? Ha ha!


Passes for playground use only cost $8.95 per child and $3.95 or free with paid admission for children under 2. And if you book a FunworX Birthday Party Package, you can save 10% with promotional code "Share". If you plan on joining the Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday, May 8th, 2011, use promotional code "family" to save 10% off admission, too. For more information on Bingemans FunworX, visit Bingemans.com or follow the Bingemans FunworX fan page on Facebook.

I would like to extend a big thank you to Carolyn Marsh and Breann Cram who coordinated such a successful event!

Disclosure: The thoughts expressed in the post are my own honest opinions.

Ever look at all the toys and baby gear you've accumulated over the years and wonder if it was all worth it? Or are you a recent or soon-to-be parent and feeling overwhelmed trying to narrow down the products that will give you the biggest bang for your buck? Stop wondering and start saving. For the cost of your typical baby activity centre, you can now treat your wee one to a versatile and ingenious 5-in-1 baby gym called the First Toddle.


Designed by Mike Monaghan and inspired by his twins, the First Toddle is the solution to every parent's need for a quality product with multi-functional features. I'm telling you, this baby gym packs a punch. Suitable for babies as young as 3 months all the way to toddlerhood and beyond, the First Toddle promotes cognitive development and exploration as it grows with your child. The complete 5-in-1 system provides your newborn with a comfortable play floor mat and sturdy parallel bars to help him or her learn to stand and walk. It also comes with velcro fasteners from which to hang baby's toys as well as a large activity table.

Once your child is a bit older, they can use the parallel bars for some gymnastics fun. It has three adjustable heights and you can see my 5-year-old enjoyed balancing on the First Toddle at the highest setting.


My two-year-old son also enjoyed hanging around. And you can also tell that these are my kids since they like "hanging around" in their pyjamas.




Speaking of scoring, the First Toddle comes with a mesh net to convert it into a soccer or hockey net. With blue and pink balls, foam hockey stick and mini goal, it was a huge hit in our home. Just watch as my daughter attacked shot at the goal with fierce determination.


I gave the First Toddle to my friend who tested it out with her three girls aged 1, 4 and 7. The sports features were also popular with them, which I think is great because I feel it's just as important to promote sports among girls as it is among boys. Here are her two youngest sharing some mat time.


My friend sums it up by saying that, all in all, it is a durable toy and because of the many configurations it's great for kids beyond the 3 year recommendation. And I tend to agree. Oh, and I'm inserting some more pictures of her middle child because she's just too cute not to.



Here are some more noteworthy features of the First Toddle:

1. Contains no lead, no paint, no PVC and no BPA
2. Safety tested and certified
3. Assembles easily without tools (no flimsy allen keys required!)
4. Disassembles just as easily for storage or transport in reusable box
5. Eliminates the need for a multitude of toys
6. Great for children with special needs
7. You can count on great friendly service from the people at First Toddle!

It is also the recipient of several awards including the National Parenting Center 2010 Seal of Approval. The First Toddle is truly a unique must-have for babies.


The First Toddle retails for $129.95 US and is available in over 30 specialty stores and e-tailers in the US along with a couple more here in Canada. You can visit FirstToddle.com to find a store near you. You can also order directly from the First Toddle online store. Readers of Toronto Teacher Mom can also save 10% off their purchase by using the promotional code FT10.
One Toronto Teacher Mom reader will win $50 towards their First Toddle Purchase.

For your main entry, which is mandatory, visit FirstToddle.com and tell me the name of another award that the First Toddle has received. Leave a comment on this post along with a way to contact you if you win.

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following:

• Add my blog button to your site. Copy code is located on the right sidebar. (Worth 2 entries. Please leave two separate comments.)
• Become a follower of First Toddle on Twitter.
• Become a fan of First Toddle on Facebook and leave a comment saying Toronto Teacher Mom sent you.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom using Google Friend Connect.
• Become a fan of the new Toronto Teacher Mom Facebook fan page.
• Become a follower of Toronto Teacher Mom on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Tweet daily for additional entries. Feel free to use the following tweet:  

Contest ends October 7 at 10pm EST. Open to US and Canadian residents. Winner will be selected at random and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

One of my co-workers is due to have her first baby in July. Colour me envious! Yes, I have two of my own already. I kind of want a third, mainly to be able to experience pregnancy just one more time. But I don't think I'm cut out to raise three kids. It's a lot of work. So, instead, I have been living vicariously though my colleague and can't help but feel so giddy every time I'm around her. And then there's the baby gear, cute baby clothes and nursery decor - all the stuff I go ga-ga over. There are so many fantastically chic and innovative products out there for babies that didn't exist even just two years ago when my second child was born. And then there's Corner Stork Baby Gift Store.


CornerStorkBabyGifts.com is an online store that offers a nice assortment of unique baby gifts, personalized baby gifts, baby shower favors and gift baskets. You can shop by collection (boy, girl, surprise, twins, etc.), by price or by category such as, get this, NASCAR, which includes items for both boys and girls. What I really like is their selection of organic items, such as their GI Joeys Organic Baby Socks made with 100% organic cotton and natural dyes. I also like their Eco-Princess Onesie and their Strawberry Fudge Organic Outfit which is currently on sale for 15% off.



Unfortunately for us Canadians, we are not eligible for the free shipping offer. But if you're sending a gift to someone in the U.S., you can benefit from free ground shipping on orders over $70 by entering discount code FSSUMMER at checkout. Also, if you subscribe to the Corner Stork Baby Birthday Club, you'll be emailed birthday reminders two weeks before the date along with special offers. You'll also be entered for a chance to win a $75 CornerStorkBabyGifts.com certificate with no expiration date. I almost forgot to mention that orders over $60 come with a free gift like the baby bibs seen below. Who doesn't love free stuff?



Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by CornerStorkBabyGifts.com. The opinions expressed are my own honest opinions.

In early January, I wrote a review on Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion. It's an amazing alternative to conventional lotion in that it helps to restore the skin's natural protective abilities by bonding to the outer layer of the skin. Because of this, it protects the skin from moisture-robbing irritants and toxins, all the while locking in the skins' natural oils. I am happy to announce that Skin MD Natural has graciously offered a 20% discount to Toronto Teacher Mom readers on all purchase made on www.skinmdnatural.com. Simply use the discount code "TTM" at checkout to take advantage of the savings. Please note that the code is case sensitive, must be typed in all caps and will expire on April 15, 2010. A big thank you to Skin MD Natural for offering up this discount. Who doesn't love to save?