Gift for the Techie or Just About Anybody - Wallet TrackR

I heard about this cool device recently on the news and had to share.  It is called the Wallet TrackR and allows you to track your wallet, keys, purse, and just about anything you attach it to.

Via Wallet TrackR

Basically, you place the device on the item you tend to lose, like your keys, and the TrackR app on your phone will help you find it if you lose it.  The catch is that it is only available for iPhone or Android users.

Via Wallet TrackR

Here is an article I read that gives you more information about its history and use.

Sounds pretty cool.  I think I may get one for myself and one for my husband.  Once I try it out I will let you know what I think. In the meantime, if you would like to buy it for someone, you can purchase them as singles or bundles on the TrackR website. Click here.

How to Keep a Two Year Old Busy on a Long Flight?

I ask the question, but really, is there a right answer?  I found out the hard way that there is no right answer. Although my two year old was relatively good on the very long journey, it was still very hard to keep him occupied.  I prepared the following toys/activities, among others, but the first one was my favourite and of course his too.

I bought a bag of pompoms from the dollar store and put them in a yogurt container.  My friend had the wonderful idea of using a clear cover so he can see inside the container.  On the bottom of the container, which was supposed to be the top for this activity we pierced a hole.  He would empty the pompoms and take time putting each one back in through the hole.  At times he would give up and just open the lid and put them all back into the container in one shot. Regardless, it kept him busy and this was key.  The great part about the pompoms is that they didn't roll so they were easy to clean up and if we lost one or two, we didn't care.  I think this would keep older kids busy as well.  He still plays this activity - a total hit in our home!

I cut up faces, eyes, noses, ears and accessories in various felt colours.  I put them all in a bag with a glue stick and when my son was well rested on the flight, we spent some time placing the items in the right place and making funny looking character.  This required a lot of concentration so it didn't keep him busy very long, but it was fun while it lasted.

I also bought him a few new cars and a small mat from the dollar store on which he would roll the cars.  He really enjoyed this. The great part is about this activity and the others I have in this post is they were light weight and didn't take up much room.

This was another great find.  It is a box with fish and other water creatures with magnets on them and a fishing rod.  I found this at Giant Tiger.  It took him a little bit to figure out how to hold the rod stable enough to "catch" the fish, but not too long.  This activity kept him busy for a while as well and when he would "catch" one he would get so excited.  I also gave this toy as a gift to a few friends' kids.

He also received the Travel Doodle as a travel gift which was great as well. Easy to pack, mess free (which is so important on a flight) and fun.

Via Toys R Us

To keep him busy, we also played with stickers, had snacks and watched his favourite shows and movies on our tablet.  On other trips we have taken since, which were shorter, we found that all we needed was the tablet.  Now I have to think of new interesting activities for our long journey back home!!  Any ideas?!?

Absolutely in Love with the Lillébaby Carrier

I wanted to share how much I love my new baby carrier.  My son is now 7 months (I still can't believe it; I feel like it was just yesterday I was announcing his birth) and because we have been travelling I have been using the Lillébaby carrier daily with him.

I shopped around quite a bit for a carrier.  I was looking for a carrier that would allow me to carry him facing me and facing outward so he can see what we see, and something that has breathable material for hot climates.  I chose the Lillébaby Airflow carrier and here is why.

Via Fab Baby Gear

Not only did this carrier meet my list of requirements, I can also carry my son on my back or hip, it has a hood that allows me to cover his head from the sun while he is sleeping and it is comfortable.  I like the fact that the weight is balanced between my upper and lower back.  Plus it is very easy to switch from the position of facing me and that of facing out.  When my son is due for a nap I carry him facing me and when he wakes up, I take him out, switch things around and put him facing out.  He loves the carrier as he sits very comfortably in it.  I definitely recommend trying it out if you are looking for a carrier, especially if you are looking for one good for warm climates.  The 3D breathable mesh allows great airflow so we both don't get overly hot.  Even my husband and my mom loved carrying my son in it.

Via Amazon.com

I just wish I bought two so that we could carry our two year old son in one too.

Another year, another Christmas gift for our child's caregiver

Another year has gone by and I had to find a Christmas gift to say thank you to my eldest son's weekday caregiver. I'm so pleased with how her gift turned out. I ordered this calendar from Pinhole Press. I've raved about Pinhole Press in the past here. They really have unique and great quality products.

Acrylic framed photo calendar via Pinhole Press

I love that it took me just minutes to make this calendar (just upload 12 photos and slot one in for every month), that it was so affordable ($24.99 - the 25% discount they were offering), that it's a colourful simple design and that it is so child friendly in the acrylic case/frame (which comes ready to hang! Perfect!).

Our gift to our son's caregiver

We used photos of our son playing with all the kids at his daycare which my husband took throughout the year and so it will be a nice keepsake for her and fun for the children to see a new photo of themselves every month throughout the year.  It will be wrapped up with our holiday card and a gift certificate to a nearby restaurant and there you have it!

I can't say enough about Pinhole Press's quality and assortment. If you still have someone on your list to buy for, head on over and check out their gift guides!

You can check out what we gave my son's caregiver last year here and here.

Gag Gift - Stocking Stuffer

I had so much fun today looking through a bunch of Propaganda mugs (click here to see).  They made me laugh and I couldn't help but purchase this one.

Mr. P Lick - Via Propaganda

At first I thought it was dirty but then my cousin pointed out that it's a fake stain.  I laughed so much!  My husband had the same grossed out reaction when he saw it and then realized what it was and laughed as well. I can't wait to use it in the morning and start my day laughing at how silly it is (the little things that make our day!).

Propaganda is a Danish company.  They have a large collection of silly mugs and other fun items.  Click here for their website.

I found some of their mugs on Amazon.com and Kookik.com.

Mr. P Kiss - Via Amazon.com

Mr. P Thai Massage - Via Amazon.com

Guess What - Via Kookik.com

Mr. P Valentine - Via Kookik.com

Mr. P Boomerang - Via Kookik.com

These make a great gift that will put a smile on anyone's face every morning! Great way to start the day.

Another Great Gift Idea for a Two Year Old

As most parents do, I take a TON of pictures of my kids.  My oldest just went through a stage where he didn't like looking at the camera.  Most of his picture are of his head!  But recently, he is starting to like to pose and say cheese.  What's even more interesting is that he loves taking the photos.  I often find several photos taken by him on my iPhone.  They are usually of feet or the table, but once in a while I will actually get one of someone's face...haha!

For Christmas, my brother and sister-in-law bought him a Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera.  He has been having so much fun with it.  At first, he didn't really know how to use it because he was used to the phone, but now he goes around saying cheese to all of us and he even takes pictures of the view from our hotel room where we are vacationing.  The great part is that I don't worry when he drops it.  Plus he loves scanning through the photos he has taken and he makes sure to show us the picture he took of us.

Via Fisher Price

He leaves his camera along the window ready for picture taking the next day!

This was definitely a great gift idea for my almost two year old.

My latest fabulous & free find!

I'm finally getting around to decorating our newly painted and therefore, very naked walls...I've had some pieces ready to go up for some time now but there are still some spaces left to fill...Enter The Handmade Home's free download and I could not be happier as there's a perfect spot in our "nursery nook" for these. Just download here, print on quality/thick paper and hang with mini clothe pins on the wall. A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!

Free printable via The Handmade Home

Free printable via The Handmade Home

They also have numbers!

Free printable via The Handmade Home

Follow Yolanda's advice from her latest post and package these in colourful tissue in a pretty box, add a bow and you've got yourself a sweet and very inexpensive gift!