Eko Bear: EverEarth Activity Walker - Holiday Gift Idea {Giveaway}

Eko Bear is a Canadian online store based in Ottawa, Ontario. This mommy owned store offers affordable eco-friendly products and specializes in green toys that are safe for little ones and the planet.  I loved going through the different categories knowing that all of the toys available are safe an eco-friendly.

For my feature I got the chance to review the EverEarth Activity Walker (18 months+). This solid wooden activity walker is filled with super fun activities that my little one sure enjoys.   We use it a lot in his play area as an activity center and he can spend hours playing with it.

We don't really use it as a walker as he doesn't like pushing anything while walking and he has been walking unassisted since he was 11 months. To try out the walker I invited one of his little friends over (20 month old boy) and he took the walker for a few walks all over our living room, he absolutely loved it and squealed with joy the whole time ;-) 

The EverEarth Walker comes in eco-friendly packaging and it is made from renewable forests with water-based colors. The product was pretty easy to put together as well and the instructions were very clear. The box was easy to collapse and it went right in the recycling.

I love companies that really care about the environment and the safety of our children and I love sharing their awesome products with my readers. I now understand why  the EverEarth Walker won the Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine in 2009.  It really is a smart choice.

Some of our favorite activities in the walker are the bead Maze, xylophone, interchangeable animal puzzle (4 pieces), peg maze, 3 piece shape sorter and of course my son loves the netted storage area in the back. He uses it to store some of his blocks or other toys.

In general we really love the activity walker, it is made with high quality wood and it has many fun activities that keep our child entertained.

Buy it: (Price: $84.95) Visit Eko Bear's online store to purchase.

Win it: One very lucky Canadian reader will get to pick a toy from Eko Bear's online store worth $30 or less (free shipping). Just perfect for the holidays! Click "Read more" below to see the Rafflecopter form to enter to win.

Kimochis: Toys with Feelings Inside {Giveaway}

During my pregnancy I did a lot of research regarding emotional intelligence. It is such a fascinating topic!  Emotional Intelligence is a wide range of skills that kids of all ages can develop and improve. All of these skills are critical for their emotional wellbeing and success in life. 

There are so many ways to boost your child's Emotional Intelligence and Kimochis plush characters can help.  We received one of their characters: "The Kimochis Cloud" and one emotions kit to try.

Like the weather, clouds can be a bit unpredictable, one day they could be happy, the next mad and the next sad or maybe even happy again.  The Cloud's head can be turned around to reveal two different moods (Happy/Sad) and it also comes with three small pillows representing feelings (Happy, Sad and Mad) that can be stored in its front pouch.

The plush character also comes with a 48 page Feel Guide with a list of fun and super easy activities to practice with your child when using the Kimochis.  There are many activities that can help you engage with your little one and connect while allowing them to express their feelings in positive ways. Children usually respond to the characters a lot better than if they are just listening to you talk.

My little one loved the Cloud and all of the pillows. I can't let him play with it on his own because it is not made for children under 3 but I can use it to help him explain his emotions even as early as now.  I love that he can learn about his feelings and emotions with the fun little characters and with his favorite cloud.

You can also get different feeling packs to add to your kit. I received the Mixed Feelings Pack 1 and it contained six extra feelings, including:  Jealous, Loved, Grateful, Scared, Shy, and one Make-Your-Own Blank feeling. There are many other packs with some very interesting feelings.

I really think that these characters are making it easier for parents to teach their little ones to express their feelings in positive ways.  I know I will be recommending them to my friends and I will continue using them with my son everyday.

Buy it: Are you interested in learning more or purchasing any of the Kimochis products? You can find them all at LearningToys.ca

Win it: One lucky Canadian reader will get the chance to win one Kimochis doll (of their choice) from LearningToys.ca. Click "Read more" to see the Rafflecopter form and to enter.

Open Giveaways & Giveaway Link Up

Here is a list of all of the Open Giveaways happening here at OneSmileyMonkey.com

Plus a giveaway linky for even more family friendly giveaways!

TerraCycle, Outsmarting Waste. Feature & Giveaway

TerraCycle is a company that upcycles and recycles traditionally non-recycable waste (including drink pouches, chip bags and more) into a large variety of consumer products.

I received one of their upcycled backpacks and coolers for review and I was impressed with the quality. These products keep waste out of our landfills and contribute to a cleaner world so I absolutely support their mission.

My favorite thing about the backpack was how cool the design looks like and how it definitively starts up conversations. The perfect way to share their upcycling efforts with friends and family. 

Their insulated cooler is great too. It has a removable hard shell liner that is made from waste packaging material. It works just like any other cooler on the market but what I love about this one is that by purchasing one you are supporting TerraCycle's efforts to minimize waste.

Something interesting about TerraCycle is their Brigade program. They run free recycling fundraisers for schools and community groups across Canada.  The schools and other interested organizations earn two cents for every drink pouch, cookie wrapper, snack package, yogurt cups and sandwich bags they collect.  I love that they give the extra incentive so more people start recycling and in turn get involved with their program.

Do YOU want to get involved or get your community or school in the program?  Be sure to sign up for their free program by visiting: www.terracycle.ca. They just collected their one millionth drink pouch from communities across Canada, donating over 20,000 dollars to school and charities just for recycling. That's pretty neat isn't it? 

Win it:  Do you want to win one of their fabulous upcycled products? Enter here to win a set of Koolaide pencil cases from their store. Click read more for the entry form.

Burt's Bees Natural Products Feature & Giveaway $150 value

Burt's Bees is a natural personal care product's brand that has been around for 25 years. I have seen their products being sold at many stores all over Canada and I have tried some of them  before,  so I was delighted when I received a hand-picked selection of their products to review.

Their Fragrance Free Shea Butter & Vitamin E Body Lotion is formulated for all skin types.  I usually have very dry skin and I have to use a daily moisturizer after my shower. I started using the Burt's Bee Body Lotion and I noticed my skin looked healthier after just a couple of weeks of use.  I love that it is fragrance free and hypoallergenic.  I also like the fact that it is non-greasy and I don't have to worry about getting oil stains in my clothes after applying it.

Along with dry skin I also suffer from cracked lips.  It is very painful at times and the only thing that works for me is using a natural lip balm multiple times a day and right before bedtime.  I usually don't wear any lip gloss or lipstick because it is hard to apply those when your lips are already so dry and they contain awful chemicals that make it worse.   I received a Tinted Lip Balm from Burt's Bees to try and I was happy to see that the lip balm came with a hint of color.  Not only was I moisturizing my lips but at the same time I was adding very subtle color to them.  What I love the most about it is that it is made with 100% natural ingredients.

I have never used a skin firming anti-aging cream before.  When I received the Burt's Bees Naturally Ageless Night Cream I suddenly realized my skin was not that of a 18 year old girl anymore and that I needed to start taking care of my newly formed wrinkles. I guess all the sleepless nights do catch up to you!  The main ingredients of their skin firming cream are pomegranate and white birch bark.  I really like the "fresh" scent and the fact that it is not greasy.

I really liked the products I received to try and I love that all of Burt's Bees products are free of petrochemicals and synthetic ingredients such as Phthalates, Parabens and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate plus they have never been tested on animals.

Win it: Do you want to win $150 worth of assorted Burt's Bees Natural Products? Enter here! (Open to Canadians only/sorry!) Click Read More for the Entry Form.

Gro-egg Room Thermometer Review *Closed Giveaway*

I still remember the very first few days after coming home from the hospital with our brand new baby.  Nothing really prepares you for the responsibility and what it actually means to be a parent. I read many books, watched videos, took prenatal classes and talked to a lot of parents before the big day but at the end there are just so many things you need to experience on your own as a new parent.

Monkey Doodlez Swim Diaper Review *Closed Giveaway*

Quacker

I finally decided to take my son for his first swim while on a mini vacation a couple of days ago.  We did great and thanks to Enfant Style Diapers we had a super cute swim diaper to try.  I was sent a Monkey Doodlez "Quacker" Style Swim Diaper for review.

Sears Stars On Ice presented by Samsung UPDATED Review *Closed Giveaway*

Are you a figure skating fan?  Are you in Canada?  We absolutely love watching Figure Skating so I was super excited when I was given the opportunity to work with Sears Stars on Ice on a fun giveaway for my Canadian readers. Keep reading for an updated review of the show.

Pippalily Diaper Clutch Review *Closed Giveaway*

Handmade in Canada (Pippalily) Diaper Clutch

Pippalily is a Canadian family own Company that is committed to creating practical parenting products with style! They sell slings and other accessories including Handmade in Canada Diaper Clutches.  I am always happy to connect with local companies and I love their products.