Canadian baby products that I love!

Hello friends,...

Today I decided to write about some Canadian baby products that I used and I recommend. Please note that this post was not sponsored by any of the brands/products listed below. This is just a mom sharing her findings with you!

I came to know and bought all products below at Baby Shows. These are baby products that Isabella used and we recommend.


ZippeeMax: this is a baby car seat cover made of a very soft fabric and it can be used as a shopping cart cover, nursing cover and as they mention on their website, the possibilities are endless. We got Isabella the black with white stars - black & white is a classy combination, right?

We got the one with the zipper and it was great to protect her from the wind and/or water if we were outdoors - we only zip closed for very short periods of time for proper air flow. Most of the time we left the zipper open and we could see her adorable face. Look at this pink one,....

You can find more information about this product on their website: http://zippeemax.com

Baby Nimbus: in fact this is a platform that help promote and support local doodlers to showcase their work. They have a variety of products, but what we like the most are the Canadian themed onesies - they are adorable and you can see the Canadian roots in most of them.

Isabella had the 'Fully Caffeinated Squirrel' onesie. It is hilarious! My husband and I love coffee, so we thought it would be fun our baby wearing such a whimsical top.

You can find more information and other designs on their website: https://www.babynimbus.com

Love Squared Kids: Ron is an enthusiast for hats,... in fact anything you can possibly think on wearing on your head,... caps, touques, bandanas, hats (all styles - believe me!!!!) and when he saw the slouchy beanies from Love Squared Kids he just couldn't stop asking me to get a matching set for the whole family (maybe not the whole family since they don't have dog fashion).

Anyways, the fabric is soft, light and the styles are soooooo beautiful. Isabella and I have the mauve (or rose) with white little stars and Ron got his favourite colour/theme: camo.

As you can see, it is possible to create a Mommy&Me style :)

Check their website: http://www.lovesquaredkids.ca

Lulujo: I am a fan of muslin blankets and swaddles,... they are so versatile and can be used for a lot of things: cover the baby (when is not so cold), cover for the car seat, nursing cover, I even use them as towels... We have a ton of them around the house. And the muslin blankets we have from Lulujo are great! They are eco-friendly - made of natural bamboo - lightweight and ultra soft. They come in different sizes and designs are soooooo cute. I could not believe how soft the fabric gets every time it is washed.

We got Isabella the one with the XO print.

Who doesn't like those cute pictures taken every month with baby's milestones???? I certainly do. With this in mind we got Isabella a Baby's First Year Milestones Blanket, we chose the one with pink flowers and cards set,... and here is a picture of my little baby when she was 4 months old. I was not a good photographer though,... but it was a great way to create memories and track her growth.

At this point in time she was rolling over by herself (and supper excited about it!) and it became a bit tricky to take pictures.

Fore more products, please visit the website: www.lulujo.com


Gertie the Good Goose: this is an adorable teething toy made of natural rubber and it features food-grade paint. It is BPA, phthalate and PVC free,... in other words, chemicals free!!!!!! Gertie is lightweight and the contrasting colours are perfect for catching baby's attention.

We bought Gertie at a Baby Show in 2017 and it was love at first sight (Bella & Gertie)! Gertie's shape was designed specifically for small hands, and I can tell that she was able to hold the toy by herself since the beginning. Isabella chews her beak and feet with no mercy, and it helps to alleviate the pain in her gums when she is teething.

We also had the chance to meet Gertie's creator at the same Baby show, she was lovely and took the time to talk to us and explain about what makes Gertie unique.

Gertie became part of the family instantly,... she made it in time to be part of the 4 month-old celebration!

Look at Isabella and Gertie together! She was 5 months old!

You can buy Gertie and her friends (yep,... there is a family!) at Amazon or Well.ca

Any other suggestion on Canadian products this mommy should know about? Please leave a comment here!

Costco - Our Experience

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Do you like supermarkets??? Oh well,... we love them! So today I decided to write about the Costco experience and things we like to purchase there.


Costco is a store where you buy in bulk, which most of time means savings. A membership is required  and needs to be renewed every year.

Once you are member you are able buy in store, online and fill up the tank at a Costco gas stations. We save about 0.10 per litre on gas. We became members when we got our car and this was one of the main reasons.

As people say, Costco is a one stop shop, where you can get things that you need from birth till the end of times. Here is a list of some products that we usually buy there:

1) Clothing: I always stop by the clothing area to check on the "latest arrivals", prices are reasonable and quality is good. We have purchased some brand name clothes such as Calvin Klein, Levis, Puma, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, just to name a few. We also got quite a few outfits/ pyjamas for Isabella there, I mean Carter's, Disney, Fisher Price, Gymboree.

2) Baby Wipes: Huggies Natural Care are my favourite for Isabella. They are fragrance free and the texture is soft and gentle. They come in a box with 1,152 wipes in total, however there packed in18 smaller packs. The regular price for this box is $26.49, but you can find them on sale for $20.99. I also see that Kirkland wipes are pretty popular, but I haven't tried yet. Soon I will write a post with Baby products you can buy at Costco.

3) Rotisserie chicken: Oh my, oh my,... we absolutely love the Roti chicken,... it is already seasoned and ready to eat. Delicious! It is a great option when you don't have the time or don't feel like cooking. I also think it is a pretty versatile choice, since you can eat as is and the following day have it on a wrap or salad. The bird is 1.2Kg and costs $7.99. For us it means at least 3 - 4 meals that we don't have to worry about the protein.

4) Dairy products: We usually buy our dairy products at Costco. Milk is the same price when regular supermarkets have them on sale, so we know that the price is good. We also like their variety of cheeses (brie, provolone, cheddar, shredded, ...).

5) Fruits & Vegetables: We try to keep healthy habits, so eating fruits and vegetables/salads is part of our daily menu. That's why we buy some of the produce at Costco. We usually buy berries, clementines, grapes, lemon, mushroom, asparagus, romaine lettuce, spring mix containers, grape tomatoes, celery, cucumber.

6) Meat: Our go to in terms of meat is ground beef and I always like to have at home. Prices are way better than regula grocery store but be prepare to buy a huge package. Honestly,... it is a lot - remember that our family = 2 adults + 1 baby. What we use to do is divide it into smaller portions and freeze them. If you like to barbecue you will find good steaks for the grill. I would also consider their Salmon.

Costco also has some seasonal merchandise that are pretty good - patio furniture, bikes, Christmas decoration, winter gear, are a few examples of what you can find. Ron likes to buy the windshield fluid there. Isabella was so excited when she saw this bike, we had to take a pic of the "test drive":

We also got Bella's first Halloween costume at Costco. She was an adorable baby unicorn!

Costco is very generous with their return policy. If you buy an item and you don't like it you can return and get your money back! Yes,... no hassle, no questions asked. This policy applies to most items, but there are exceptions. Please check your store policy.

There is a food court in each store where you can find some snacks such as pizza, ice cream, coffee, French fries,... but our favourite is the Hot dog + Pop combo for $1.50. Sure thing it is not the healthiest snack,... but I like it and it's a good deal.

When you go for a Costco run, make sometime to have some samples, they're kind of famous for having them and I need to confess that a bunch of things ended up in our home just because we tried them in store ;)

Kirkland is their own brand and quality of products is good. We have already tried the yogurt, spices & seasoning (garlic powder is our fav!), some Deli, batteries, maple syrup. I need to try their baby wipes.

I am a couponer and for my disappointment coupons are not accepted at Costco, except if you are an Executive member and receive Costco coupons in the mail. Sometimes they have in store coupons for lightbulbs.

And you guys,... have you been to Costco? What are your favourite products?

Where to buy Baby stuff & Registries

So, this is one of the questions I get asked all the time. Basically prices in Canada are way different from prices from the US. But it is possible to find good deals without crossing the border.

Ron and I keep monitoring prices in our favourite stores/websites and we purchase the things when they are on sale. Honestly, I don't think I paid full price for anything so far!

Creating a registry is a great way to list the things you wish for your baby and most of the stores give you up to 6 months after the due date to return the merchandise in case you don't use it or change your mind - as long as it has not been used!!!!

Here is a list of the stores we decided to create a registry:

Buy Buy Baby: this store has a great variety of products and it is the same store as Bed Bath and Beyond. Their customer service is awesome. We had an appointment with a specialist from the store who helped us to create our list. She was great! I really like the quality of the products they have. On my perspective, they are not the best with sales items, however they price match* any advertised price and sometimes they have 20% discounts that you receive by email.

Once you set a registry with them, you will receive a goody bag with some samples and discounts. It is not big, but definitely helps! Click here to visit the website.

*price match policy is a little tricky, make sure you are price matching the same product, manufacturer, and even colour.

Babies R US: this one of the biggest baby stores in Canada, and it is pretty easy to find them around Toronto and GTA. Their customer service is ok, and you end up doing everything yourself. They have items going on sale on a regular basis, so price wise they are really good. They also price match and accept coupons (and sometimes you can combine offers). Click here to visit the website.

From time to time Babies R US has the following offer: if you make an online purchase and pick up in store (no fees for shipping), they give you a $10.00 off coupon for your next purchase :)

Every week they have a new flyer with offers as well as sales that happen in store only (not advertised).

You can delete and add products to your registry online (convenient, eh?!) and also monitor its status. The store also gives you a goody bag with a few samples when you start a registry with them.

One advice: decide the best moment to create your registry with them. Sometimes they give you $25.00 off of a purchase of $50.00 (and it can be combined with items that are already on sale).

Amazon.ca: we already used Amazon for other purchases, but then we decided to create a registry to better monitor prices and sales. We didn't buy a lot of baby things from them so far, but they have competitive prices, and some articles that we can't find in stores. For example, we just received baby hangers - all other stores had 10 velvet hangers for 12.00, and at Amazon we got a box of 25 pink velvet hangers for $10.50.

I also like to price match with Amazon!


Regular Stores (meaning: did not create a registry with them)

Walmart: they have a whole section for babies including diapers, food, toys, gear, furniture and clothes. I was impressed when I realized they sell Carter's there. It is worth taking some time and walking around. I also like their own brand.

Walmart is really good accepting coupons and price matching.

Winners, Homesense and Marshalls: for any of these stores you need to have time to search for what you want,... I may say that some luck also helps! I have been there and found nothing at all,... on the other hand, sometimes I want to take a lot of things. They have clothes at a discounted price, toys, baby gear, books. I definitely found good deals there.

If you have their card (TJX Style), you will have up to 45 days for returns or exchanges. If you change your mind after that time (up to six months) you can have store credit.

We purchased some clothes, Aden+Anais swaddles, and other things.

Aden+Anais swaddles

Clothes in general: I like Carter's, GAP and Tommy Hilfiger - from outlets/factory stores.


Am I missing any store? Advices are always welcome!

Nursery - decisions

Hello!!! I hope you are all having a great week so far. Mine is flying!!!

Anyways, today I am back to with another post about the nursery. After a lot of research, hearing advices and visits to stores we decided on the main furniture for our baby's nursery.


Crib: we decided to go with Pottery Barn. It was on sale and I was able to get an extra discount (yes,... I am the type of person who likes discounts and coupons!!!). The crib seems to be sturdy and will last for a while since it becomes a toddler bed. We already assembled it.

Mattress: we have been looking in stores and supermarkets however we could not make up our minds on the mattress yet. We don't plan on spending a lot of money... also, I am a little bit concerned about buying the ones with a plastic exterior (I keep wondering if it makes a lot of noise when the baby moves or if it gets too warm). On the other hand, we already purchased a waterproof mattress cover - I believe we will buy another one. Would 2 be enough?

Still on this topic,... we are aware that it is important to have a firm/ super firm mattress, however should we pick the one with coils - which are really heavy and will make it difficult to make the bed - or should we go with the organic foam ones? We are open to suggestions!

Dresser/ Changing Table: we decided to go with the Ikea one. I like the idea of having a lot of drawers and storage space to organize my baby things. I will definitely change the knobs to something more girly.

We also got a changing pad to have on the top of the dresser. This is a non-allergic foam and comes with stripes to be attached to the dresser. 

Rocking Chair: after a long search, we also decided to go with the Charleston Chair from Pottery Barn. They were having a sale and I was able to negotiate an extra discount. We chose a light grey - to match the theme (pink, grey, white). We don't have a lot of space in the nursery, so I like the fact that this chair is not really big and it is firm. This is a rocking chair, but in the future I can convert it into a regular arm chair - just switch the base.

We didn't buy the ottoman though. If we feel the need to have some support for our feet/legs, I will buy something cheaper.

Blinds: we got the cordless blinds from Levolor at Lowe's and already got them trimmed according to the size of our windows. I preferred to buy two (smaller) instead of a big one considering that only one part of the window is functional. Hubby still needs to install te blinds,... but we have been so busy lately! 

Ideally I will have time to get a pair of curtains,... in my mind it will give a charming touch to the nursery.

I believe these are the most important furniture for the nursery. Am I forgetting something?

I would like to paint one of the walls or have some wallpaper on it - as a feature wall, but I know that time is an issue right now and we are each day closer to the birth of our little princess.

Soon I will be back with a post about stores and baby registry,...

Advices and recommendations are really welcome!

Baby gear - part I

Hi guys,....

We already bought some of the things we will need for the baby. We have been watching videos on Youtube and also had a great amount of advice from friends - and we really appreciate them!!!!

It is difficult at a first moment to determine what will be important/useful for the baby. When you visit baby stores, everything seems to be important,... and after talking to a sales consultant I am under the impression these products are a "real necessity"!!!

That's why I rely more on the advice of my friends that already have babies! They make the process less overwhelming and more real.

I also understand that people can talk about their experience and that each baby is different.

So, here is a list of the products that I believe we will use with our baby and that's why we already purchased them.

1. Stroller
That the first thing we got for the baby. It is a difficult task finding a stroller, there are so many options and price points in the market. We decided to go with a travel system from Graco. It seemed to be good quality and durable. Some features that caught our attention are: the possibility of having the baby facing both directions; the large storage compartment, the click and connect system, the fact that we could use only the car seat. Ron picked the colour, he liked the grey. According to the manufacturer, this stroller can last for a long time, since it "grows" with the baby.

It is important to mention that, if you live in Canada, the car seat should be bought here (and not in the US). The Government has specific regulations regarding safety. We were informed that the day we leave the hospital a nurse will come to our car to ensure that it has the "National safety mark" and it was installed properly. For more information, please visit the Government website.

National Safety Mark

2. Baby Monitor

Since we live in a 3-story townhouse, we thought it would be really important to have a baby monitor  allowing us to keep tabs on our baby while  we are in another room. The model we chose from v-tech has good reviews and comes with 2 transmitters (cameras with night vision and audio) and one receiver (monitor). We bought ours at Babies R Us.

3. Diaper Pail

After some research online, we decided to go with the diaper genie. I like the idea of having a foot pedal to open and close. It also offers odor control through a carbon filter. There are special plastic refills (bags) required, and they can be pricy, however you can find good deals on them at Costco. We picked the white one to match the furniture.

Plastic refills

4. Nursing Pillow
I read that "nursing pillows work wonders", and honestly, I can see it being pretty useful when breastfeeding in a glider or anywhere around the house. We purchased the Jolly Jumper, however it is not machine washable (my bad!!! did not check that before buying it), but it was a great deal. We are considering buying a second one from Boppy - machine washable, if we find a good deal.

Jolly Jumper nursing pillow

5. Car seat mat:
We thought it would be a good ideia to have something to protect our car. I hope it works!

6. Playmat:

I think this mat is adorable and I hope our baby will like spending time on it. I also think it is easy to take with us to our friends' house.

Any advice on these or other products?

Nursery ideas - part I

Hey guys,...

As I mentioned in a previous post, my idea for the nursery is to have white crib and a white dresser. The rocking/gliding chair I am not so sure yet.

I always liked the sleigh crib - the one with the"headboard"that goes against the wall. But right now I am second guessing myself since we have seen one at Pottery Barn that is really cute,... a little more traditional, but cute.

Sleigh Crib

Kendall crib from Pottery Barn

Ikea furniture is always an option, right?,... 

Ikea crib - Gulliver

Not so sure what to do now,... but I know we gotta make a decision soon, since we are 27 weeks pregnant. Another thing to consider is that, Ikea cribs/mattresses size are slightly different from all other cribs.

Also, instead of buying a changing table or a "baby dresser" (the dressers from the baby stores), we decided to go with Ikea Hemnes dresser. I believe it will work perfectly, with great room for storage!

Ikea Hemnes dresser

My plan is to paint the nursery with a greyish neutral color, and one wall (the one where the crib goes) will be a darker grey; and mostly all the other decoration - pillow, throws, crib skirt,... will be in shades of pink.

What do you think of these ideias?

Next post I will make a list of the things we already got for the baby!

2017: We are having a baby!!!!

I don't think it is too late,... so: Happy New Year!

I know it's been a long time and I have no excuses for you. I was considering to stop with this blog if I can call it like that.

Another year has ended and I can say that 2016 was a year of changes, surprises, ..., it was a year of emotions. Talking about the house, we didn't finish or started any new project, although ideas were not an issue, we had a busy summer! We got the high chairs for the breakfast bar and the pendant lights (I will post pics in a near future).

But the most important thing that happened in 2016 is: our family is growing. Nope, it is not another dog. We are having a baby!!!

We are really excited with what 2017 will bring us. We still don't know if it is a boy or a girl, but according to our last doctor's appointment baby is developing really well and that's what matters, right?!

We have been visiting baby stores, not to mention searching for tips and advices from friends. It is overwhelming, but we are enjoying the whole process. We are reading books recommended by my friend that lives in NY and just had her second baby.

Have you guys seen how many cute stuff there are for babies??????

For now, we decided that the nursery furniture will be white (crib, dresser/changing table, rocking/gliding chair) and the decoration will be according to the gender. Pinterest has been of great help for ideas.

We already purchased the stroller, baby monitor and a few clothes - gender neutral.

Advices are welcome! Please don't hesitate to leave your comment here!

Next post I will show the things that we already have for the baby.