Baby Samples and Freebies

Are you a new mom? Or expecting another child? Then you will definitely want to take advantage of these freebies for your baby!

Here is a list of companies that offer free samples and products to new parents. Some are a one-time deal, while others will send samples on a regular basis as your child gets older and moves to different stages. I’ve also listed the items that you will receive, but it may be different depending on availability.

Go ahead and order yours. Don’t miss out!

Johnson & Johnson
One coupon for a free trial Take Along Kit, which includes baby lotion, baby wash and rash cream.
Call 1.866.565.2229 or fill out the online form to request the package: http://johnsonsbaby.ca/contact-us

Nestle Baby Club
Infant formula sample, backpack with change pad, coupons, baby bottle and newborn diapers.
Join the club: https://www.nestle-baby.ca/en/register/begin

Similac Baby Club
Similac Mom drink sample, infant formula and product cheques/coupons.
Join the club: https://www.similac.ca/en/similac-club

Enfamil Baby Club
Infant formula and coupons, including a coupon for a free pack of ready-to-feed formula.
Join the club: http://www.enfamil.ca/user/register

Heinz Baby Club
Baby cereal sample, growth chart and coupons.
Join the club: http://www.heinzbaby.com/en_ca/babyclub/registration

Babies R Us
Create a baby registry in-store or online and you’ll receive a coupon to redeem a sample package, which includes: newborn diaper, baby wipes, rash cream sample, baby wash sample, baby bottle, nursing pads, Lanolin sample, pacifier, baby spoon, wash cloth and coupons.
Register: http://www.toysrus.ca/registry

Shoppers V.I.B
Newborn diaper, wipes, baby food sample, baby wash and Optimum coupons for baby products.
Sign up: http://www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca/en/vib

Pampers Gifts to Grow
Collect PINS from diaper/wipe packages and redeem them for great prizes. If you follow them on Facebook and Twitter, they’ll also post PINS to redeem for bonus points.
Sign up: https://en.pampersrewards.pampers.ca/index.html

Huggies Rewards
Collect PINS from diaper/wipe packages and redeem for great prizes.
Sign up: http://www.huggies.com/en-CA

 

Minions…minions everywhere!

My daughter is obsessed with minions. Every evening, she watches the minion version of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” followed by random minion clips on YouTube. I have to admit, they’re just so cute and adorable, and always bring a smile to my face. So today, I’m sharing the minion joy!

     

Baked Cauliflower Tots

Yesterday, after coming home from work, and with only one hour to make dinner, I found myself lost. I looked inside the fridge only to find a big, white head of cauliflower staring back at me. I thought about steaming it alongside a bed of rice and salmon, but wanted to make something easier and more importantly – different! So off I went online and landed on Pinterest. I came across a recipe for tots. But with cauliflower? Sure, why not!

I made a few changes and ended up with these golden fluffy chunks with cheddar cheese on the inside, and best of all, my toddler loved them! It took about an hour, and only because I had to prepare the cauliflower. But if you do that ahead of time and freeze it, the baking only takes about 20 minutes. I’m definitely saving this recipe and making it again.

Here’s my adapted recipe:

1 head of cauliflower, washed and broken into florets

1 large egg

¼ cup breadcrumbs (I used Italian breadcrumbs but any will work)

¼ cup cheddar cheese

Salt, black pepper and garlic power to taste

Optional: red chilli peppers, oregano, finely chopped onion and bell peppers for an added kick

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F. Take a baking sheet and line with parchment paper. Set aside.

Take your washed cauliflower and start grating the florets with a cheese grater. If you have a food processor, that works well too. You should have something that looks like fluffy rice. Take the “rice” cauliflower and place it in the microwave for about one minute to steam (you may need to put it in longer depending on your settings).

Now here’s the fun part. Once it’s a bit cool, dump it on a cheesecloth and squeeze out the water.

Put the “rice” back in a bowl and combine the rest of the ingredients. That’s it!

Now all you have to do is make it into fun shapes. I made it into rectangular blocks but you can also make them into balls or flat disks. I also had some left over “rice” (as you can see in the photo) so I made two small pizzas for my husband.

Next, bake it in the oven for about 20 minutes until golden. You will need to turn them mid-way.

For the pizzas, once the base is cooked, take it out and put your favourite toppings on. Then put it back into the oven just until the toppings cook and cheese melts.

This recipe is very versatile.  Add in your favourite ingredients to suit your taste buds!

India’s other daughters – The village that plants 111 trees when a girl is born

After months and months of reading about all the negative treatment of women, girls and children in India, it’s nice to finally see a success story.

At a first glance, it seems fabricated. Especially considering this is in the same country that frowns upon women. From birth, they are considered a family debt and thought to only bring forth shame. But, shockingly, this is for real. A village in India gathers as a community and plants 111 fruit trees in honour of every female child that is born.

Here’s the full article. It’s definitely worth the read and share! Hope this message spreads across the globe and brings forth change, not only in India, but other countries with similar, archaic views towards women.

 

What is Oil Pulling?

I follow a couple of health and wellness pages on Facebook, and lately, have seen a lot of postings on the benefits of coconut oil. Can’t say I’m surprised, coconut oil is a hot trend right now. I have been using coconut oil instead of vegetable and olive oils in food, and have also found it to be a lifesaver for my dry, scaly skin. But what surprised me the most was oil pulling.

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurveda technique that attracts and removes bacteria, toxins and parasites that live in your mouth and lymph system. It also pulls congestion and mucus from your throat and loosens up your sinuses. And, apparently it helps whiten teeth and clear up skin.

How do you use it?
It is best to do this first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach. Take a tablespoon of organic, clean coconut oil and put it in your mouth. Now you have to swish it, similar to the way you would use mouthwash, for about 15 to 20 minutes. Do not gargle as the bacteria will be absorbed back into your body. Next, spit it out and brush your teeth as you normally would.

Sounds simple enough. So go ahead, try it out and let me know if it works for you!

Tips

• Do it while showering to save on time
• Make sure the oil touches all parts of your mouth: in between teeth, gums, cheeks, under your tongue. Avoid touching the throat and swallowing
• Swish until the oil turns a white, milky consistency
• Slow down – rushing can cause you to choke or sneeze
• Don’t spit it out in the sink as the oil can harden and clog up the pipe
• Experiment with other good quality oils, such as sesame or sunflower

Superfoods

If you’re like me, you want to eat healthy but can’t commit to a total lifestyle change, then this article is for you!

So what is a superfood? They’re nutrient-packed goodness loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and more. I love superfoods because they’re easy to incorporate into your diet.

There are many superfoods out there, but here is a list of my favourites.

Turmeric
This bright yellow coloured spice, very common in Asian cooking, is a hidden gem. Turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Just a small amount in your meal will make a big difference. For a complete list of benefits, click here. Beauty tip: make a face mask using turmeric, lemon juice and water for clean and clear skin.

Apple Cider Vinegar
Raw, organic apple cider vinegar has cleansing and healing properties due to its high probiotic content and acidity. There are many health and beauty benefits, such as combating infections including ear and skin conditions, alleviating fungus and warts, soothing digestive disorders, reducing allergy symptoms and inflammation, alkalizing and detoxifying the body, and treating seasonal illnesses. It’s best to dilute apple cider vinegar in water before consuming as it’s very acidic. Beauty tip: wash your hair with apple cider vinegar for luscious, soft hair.

Seaweed      
Seaweed is definitely an acquired taste, but if you can get beyond that, you’ll find it’s very healthy. It has twice as much Vitamin C as oranges, very high in Vitamin B12, calcium and iron, it helps get rid of toxins in your body, boosts your immune system, and most of all, contains iodine, which is essential for maintaining a healthy thyroid. You can also buy seaweed in thin crisp form, kind of like a healthy chip replacement.

Lemons
Clean, organic lemons are an excellent source of vitamins C and B, proteins, carbohydrates and phosphorous. They’re antioxidant and offer an endless list of benefits. It’s best to drink a glass of water with freshly squeezed lemon every morning as this will flush out toxins from your body. Beauty tip: rub lemon on dark spots and scars to lighten them.

Coconut Water
I just love coconut water. It’s so versatile. You can substitute it for water in smoothies and other drinks. This hydrating drink is filled with electrolytes, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Just remember to get the right one. There are many brands on the market and some are high in sugar, so make sure you read the labels properly.

I’m not a medical professional, so make sure you consult a doctor before incorporating any of these into your diet if you have underlying health issues.

Black Bean Burger

As a new mom who just went back into the workforce, I find it difficult to manage a decent work/life balance, especially when it comes to dinner time. Trying to feed a toddler and a picky husband can be challenging. I want something that is nutritious but not time-consuming. So I’m always on Pinterest and asking friends and coworkers for the next best (quick) recipe.

A coworker shared this recipe for a black bean burger. It’s a healthy alternative to a meaty burger, without actually looking like a vegetarian burger. So, I tried it last night, and I must say, it was fairly easy and quite yummy! My husband even approved it!

Here’s the link to the original recipe. I had a hard time finding “seasoned black beans” until I realized it could just mean “salted” but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the healthy low-sodium beans. I opted for one can, and cut the portions in half. It made about six patties. Perfect for my little family. Next time, I’ll try making a larger amount and freezing the patties between parchment paper.

You can try adding different seasonings or perhaps making it spicier with some jalapeño chunks?! Yum!!

Vaseline Hacks

I must confess – I’m lazy. Not all the time, but most of the time. I rather sit on the couch and watch TV at the end of the work day than spent a few minutes taking care of myself. So when I find a good product, I stick to it. I tend to have dry, itchy skin, and I’ve tried a lot of products with little success. Recently, I bought the new Cocoa Butter Vaseline, and I just love it! For about $4-5 for a medium-sized bottle, it smells heavenly, nourishes my skin, and best of all, it’s not as super sticky as the original Vaseline.

Here are some neat Vaseline hacks I love:

• Massage a small amount on your eyelashes nightly to condition and promote growth
• Use it as an eye makeup remover
• Massage into your nails and cuticles for nail growth
• Rub a small amount on your hair to control unruly flyaways and split ends
• Before you spray your perfume, rub a small amount of Vaseline on your skin and then apply the perfume on top – this will make the scent last longer
• Mix with sugar and use as a lip exfoliator

Spiralize your way to a healthier you

Zucchini. Even the word sounds unappealing. I have never been a fan of this cucumber-looking vegetable. However, a couple of years ago, at a weekend getaway with my friends, zucchini became my new best friend. A health-conscious friend pulled out this gadget with metal prongs, inserted a zucchini and then began turning it. What came out were beautiful long curls. I was still skeptical. Curly zucchini? She took the spirals, soaked them in hot water for a couple of minutes, poured this white sauce over and out came this delicious creamy “Alfredo pasta.” That’s right, zucchini as noodles! And I must say, it was divine…genius to be exact. The “zoodles” had a crunch, but since zucchini doesn’t have much flavour, the sauce gave it the flavour. I didn’t feel guilty for over-consuming and the best part, no post-carb bloating.

Lately, I’ve been making an effort to cut carbs and incorporate more vegetables into my diet. Naturally, I made my way over to Kitchen Stuff Plus and came home with a similar gadget, (Microplane Twist Spiral Vegetable Slicer) but much smaller. It looks like a pencil sharpener, with one large slot and one smaller hole, good for different sized veggies. You can also spiralize carrots, potatoes, and squash – just about any oblong vegetable. At a cost of less than $15, it’s a must-have in the kitchen.

Recently, I tried a Thai zoodle recipe for lunch and it’s now a staple in my diet. I adjusted this recipe slightly and used regular peanut butter instead and garnished it with lime chili flavoured peanuts on top for an added kick.

So go ahead, take your favourite pasta recipe and adapt it with zoodles.

Don’t forget to share your recipes below!

Cha-Ching!

Who doesn’t love saving a few dollars?! I certainly do! It’s not about being cheap, it’s about being financially savvy — and smart. If you’re into price-matching flyers at grocery stores, then you’ll love this mobile app called “Flipp.” Not only does it automatically update and organize all the flyers for you, it also lets you find the cheapest price. With the recent upgrade, you can now create a grocery list, which shows you where that item is on sale. This makes it easier to manage your shopping list. No need to lug all the flyers to the checkout counter.

If you want to go one step further, you can download grocery rebate apps that allow you to upload your receipt and get cash back on featured items. Cashbacks ranges from 25 cents to a couple of dollars, and are valid for a certain period of time. The ones I use and recommend are Checkout 51, Snap, Zweet, and Save.ca. For most, the receipts are approved within 24 hours, and you get the rebate cheque in the mail once you hit $20.

And of course, there’s PC Plus. If you shop at any Loblaws stores, you can collect PC points even if you don’t have a PC debit or credit card. Each week, you load new offers to your mobile app, and then purchase the items.

After price matching, using coupons, and uploading the receipts for cash backs, sometimes you end up with freebies!

So go ahead, download them and start receiving those rebate cheques. Happy shopping!